New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-04
SPIRITUAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

To ne Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The question has been frequently asked
during the umer trial. why II It he not deception.
cannot he produce his pictures in some other establish
ment thaa his owni"
In answer. beg space Tor a brief statement Of facts
within my own knowledge and experience. win a
desire fully investigate this subject invited MT 81
70 visit Poughkeepe. He accepted aud on inc JUN VI
had previous TO his visit made every arrangement
possible for full investigation, removing az oid hega
from glass never before used aud putting everything in
shape 10 prevent or detect any attempt ~
reward 81 80 offered by me 10 any of our ePoyes
who should succeed In detecting any trcAeiy Oh &C.
Biz 81 entered our operating rooms without any pre-
preparation appliances whatever and win inc
camera, chemicals &C. In daily use NY US anu uhler o
closest scrutiny OF my operator and myself produced at
his socaed spirit pictures Ia three instances our
ing our experiment my operator ~ % tg 70 Tho
doyeopns Of tho Pctures tc gst ~ cal 49,, Ss,S being
one instance the was taking into the developing
room by him, the plaehOldor there removed ana thor
OugAy examined and the picture developed Result the
same no second negative or mechanical Arrangement
whatever being discovered ono fact u worth more as
evidence than all the theories In e1i,tenIos n -
fact that Mr. Ma"igTs Ti.,a- heal n n our
fourhn4 plates taking part Ia their produc-
ton whatever, only that Of laying hrs hand upon
ones advanced by s0caed experts all Involve previous
preparation Of cameras plate holders, &C. none Of which
sion. The different processes described by them, by
which Mr. Ms pictures may be Initiated, are known TO
explanation 20 tho minds Of said experts none OF whom
have Investigated Mr. ma operations themselves. but
far from satisfying those who have Messr- Gil
more, Quincy Silver, aud myself with host Of Othors,
know they fail utterly 10 afford solution OK tho prob
lem account for the facts within knowledge.
VIII pay &lOO TO any expert who viii 20 Rooms,
and under the same circums stances that Ar Numbers
pictures produced there do tho Same by natural
without detection. IL lie succeeds, and give
satisfactOry explanation of the matter will promptly
acknowledge tho fact 60 tho world aud thank him for the
solution Of & mystery beyond my comprehension. NJ
operator present az the trial Friday last ready 70
give his sworn testimony 10 the facts stated. His tcs
DIOuy was not aduttCd, tho ground that what oc-
CURED IA POugbkeep5e foreign to the and yet
the question Is asked, Why cannot Mumer produce his
pictures In some other gallery than his Own 10 would
seem, II tho desire was 10 arrive at tho facts In
the case, and not 10 condemn tho man, innocent
or guilty that evidence tending 10 a
solution OF the matter should not have been
ruled out upon mere technical grounds sworn state
mont OF the facts mentioned has been made by my
operator, and Is now In tho hands Of Mr. MS counsel
Mr. NJ, while here, was not only thoroughly watched by
those Immediately about him. but also by printers
WhO stimulated by the reward offered aud believing tho
whole thing deception had lOOpholes prepared looking
from the printing above into tho developing and
dark rooms below, and during the little time Mr NJ
left unmatched or supposed himself 10 be, his every
movement was noted by them. They failed % detect any
thing In his operations different from tho ordinary pro-
cess. have no personal interest IN Mr. NJ and had
TO his rooms In New York where, at his invitation,
learning was photographer, investigated the sub
eCt far possible Not being fully satisfied there
although unable % detect any Hign OF impOsturo IN
duced him to visit my rooms, with tue above result.
POughkeepsie, N. Y. WM i. SLEB.