The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-06
sp1R1r PHOTOGRAPHY.
MumIer Is DIscharEed-.-HeT Tells His
Own Story.

who pretended to photograph spirits
has been discharged, and the case
against him dismissed. Besides the
plea of counsel, the accused spoke in his
own defence, and claimed that he had
the power of photographing spirit
forms. Certainly it was shown by
abundant evidence during the exami.
nation that other photographers could,
by mechanical means, produce the same
sort of snowy figures that Mumler at.
tributed to spiritual agency. During
own story, as follows:
In 1861, in the city OF Boston, while
engaged in business as an engraver, /
man who was employed in photo.
graphic gallery kept by Mrs. Stewart.
on Washington str eet. Occasionally,
would experiment with the instrument
and chemicals. One Sunday, while en-
tirely alone in the gallery, attempted
was that l first discovered, while de-
veloping 1t, that second form
appeared upon the plate. AT this
| time 1 had never heard of spirit
pictures, although had been some.
what interested in the doctrine of spir-
IL L
| Is now the general impression, that the
plate upon which the picture was taken
could not have been clean, and that the
form which showed itself beside my
own must have been left on the glass,
and I SO stated to my employer and
others. Subsequent attempts, however,
made under circumstances which pre-
clude such possibility, have confirm
ed me in the belief that the power by
which these forms are produced is be.
Yond human control, and the experts
that have been called by the People
have failed to produce picture made
in that manner. I wish to state that at
the time 1 Developed the shadow or
form above alluded to, 1 was COM
plete novice in the art of photography,
and had no experience whatever in the
composition of chemicals used In the
business; and that my use of them in
my experiments at that time was simp-
ly in conformity with what had seen
my friend do while himself engaged in
the business. After getting the form
on the plate, at the suggestion of sew
eral friends to whom l showed the plate,
I made other attempts, and generally
with most remarkable results. then
determined to leave my own bust
ness and devote myself to photo.
graphy. Before long the subject of
spirit photography, and particular
lv my success, became the theme
OF every tongue, and l was overrun
with people of inquiring minds, and
Obliged to go over and over again, for
their pleasure, the routine OF taking and
developing the pictures. For long
time never refused any person who
came to investigate. 1t soon became
apparent, however, that l must either
stop it or cease to support myself; for,
as q general thing, these SGUGnS, while
greedy themselves for intellectual food,
seemed entirely obliviOus to the fact
that I myself was material body.
TIauphter.l However, 1 can truly say
that / have never refused Intentionally,
any person who desired to have pic
ture taken, from making every exami-
nation or inquiry he chose to make =;
and had been allowed in this exRmi-
nation to have produced evidence from
abroad, could have shown by scientl-
fic men, whose names would have
satisfied every one, that the most cares
full and minute examinations have
often been made into all the details of
my business while l have been engag-
ed in taking pictures. l sOlemnly as.
sert here that have now but compare
lively little knowledge photography,
or Chemicals, or science OF any
kind, further than is absolutely needed
to take ordinary Photographic pictures.
positively assert that in the taking
of the pictures on which these forms
appear, have never used any trick or
device, or awaited myself OF any decep-
sion or fraud in producing them; that
these forms have appeared in each and
every instance when they have been
presented without any effort, except
nv willApower to produce them. In
regard to the testimony of Mr.. p. Il.
Barnum, 1 would say that I can SOL
nicated with him verbally or in writ
ing, nor did ever know that he had
written or was writing anything in re.
gard to spirit photography; and fur
Their say, that If he had any pictures
taken by me, he must have received
them from some other person. In re.
gard to the testimony of Mr.. TOOker, l
have only to say that he came to my
gallery apparently in the same way
that other strangers were wont to come.
AS there was nothing particular to keep
him in my remembrance, my memory
In regard to him is stronger in its ap.
plication to the form which appeared
upon his picture, which then thought
the most villainous l had ever taken.
I am now satisfied from the manner in
which he came there, under an assumed
name, or, more vulgarly speaking, with
lie in his mouth, and with the purpose,
which subsequent events have shown
that he got what was promised him, i.e.,
the spirit nearest In sympathy with
himself, In regard to my conversation
with him, 1 can only say that 1 have
never, under any circumstances, guar
anteed to any one that spirit form
would appear. AS to my refusal to en-
terrain propositions from the self.ap-
| pointed committee OF photographers
who appeared in my rooms since my
arrest, and who desired, as am in
| formed by Mr.. Quay, to make me take
pictures for them, whether I would or
| not, have only to say that's since my ar
rest have placed myself entirely in the
hands of my counsel, and have been
guided by his advice; and I am pleased
| to say that one of the first cautions he
gave me was to refrain, during the ex-
animation, from being led into any trap
of that kind. Having been charged
with a crime which, temporarily at
least, places me before the public in the
same category with gamblers and men
of that ilk, 1 have been deprived of the
privilege OF having my utensils seized
at the time OF my arrest.
Judge Bowling here interrupted the
prisoner by saying: I was applied to to
have your tools and apparatus seized;
but refused to make iany such order,
because disapproved OF the proceed
ing under the circumstances. recol-
lect that when Mr.. Gurney's esta bltsh>
ment was seized, during the war, the
act was regarded as an arbitrary one.
disapproved of that act, then, and
disapproved of any similar one, when
applied to in your easel The prisoner
then proceeded!
II had been engaged in such nefari-
GUS practices as am charged with, the
implements themselves would have
\ f..r,k