Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-01
PIT. Barnurn u Witness.

Ih6 taking OF evidence IN the spirit phot0-
graphing case in New York was closed yester
day Among the witnesses examined was p. T..
Barnum, whose testimony as to "humbugs'
created much merriment. Mr. Barnum S
evidence was as follows:
PIT. Barnum, sworn for the prosecution
Lives at No. 42S Fifth avenue; had devoted
much time and study to the detection Of hum
bugs: wrote work called The Humbugs OF
the World" do not know Mr.. Mumler per-
sonally.
Q. When did you become acquainted with
him by reputation?
Here argument sprang up between Mr. Ger
ry and Mr. Townsend as to the admissbility
of the question, the latter gentleman having
objected to it, and was continued for some
time. MIR. Gerry varied the question in many
sion ia every instance. The Court finally al
lowed the question to be asked.
Mr.. Barnum-I have known Mr.. Mumer
by reputation for about seven years, as the
original taker of so called spirit photographs !;
| wanted to get some OF his pictures, and to
expose his process in my book of Humbugs :;
had some correspondence with him on the
subject do not know where the letters now
are, but think they were burned in the Mu
scum fire; have searched for them, but could
not find them;
Witness was here asked to state the contents
of the letters, but objection was made by Mr..
Townsend. After some argument between
counsel, the Court suggested that the prosecu
ton should first prove this defendant to be the
Mumler with whom witness corresponded -
Mr. Gerry offered to prove this by showing
hat defendant lived 10 Boston when his pamph.
let on spirit photography, given to Marshal
Tooker, exhibit No. l0,) was printed. Ii is
dated 1862 Witness continued: Mumler' 5
letters to me were dated in Boston, and the
Mumler to whom wrote was in the employ
of Bigelow Brothers 4 Kennard, tho large
jewellers; | do not remember his hIst name
| correspondent with him subsequently all the
letters were dated from Boston; | wrote to
Mumler, saying that wished to expose all the
humbugs of the world he sent me lot of
photographs which he had left over, (the
thing was played out in Boston by that time,
and paid him about $40 piecs; they repre-
sented Colorado" Jewett in company with
the spirits of Henry Clay and Napoleon Bona
parte; they were placed in the Museum as
curioslties, and labeled "spiritualist humbugs;"
and in nv book | devoted one chapter 10 the
Mumler humbu9; | believe in "spooks it is
very easy to see them # you only believe la
them; when Was boy used to believe in
them, and saw lots OF them otentimes; | went
into Mr.. Bogardus gallery yesterday Tuesday
and told him | wanted spirit photograph
taken, but that | didn't want any hunbug
about il; Laughter, | examined his opera
tions thoroughly, but | could detect no fraud
on his part. although | watched him closely;
my photograph was taken, ard on it was
spirit form. so called my photograph was that
OF the departed Abraham lincoln | didn feel
any spiritual presence.
Gross examined never considered myself
as being in the humtug business; never made
use of humbug except by way OF advertise
ment; always gave people the worth OF their
money.
Q-How about the Woolly Horse The
Wooly Horse was remarkable curiosity; 1t
was exactly what represented it; the appear
alce was what represented it to be it was
not horse wooled over | am glad to enlighten
the public on this point there was no decep-
ton about it whatever; did not intend to
humbug the public in that matter the horse
was exhibited just as it was born; the Mer-
maid was represented to me to be what L rep
resented it 10 be to the public aud have never
been disabused Of the idea; the Mermaid was
presented to the public as believed it to be ;
never owned it; l hired 1t.
Q-Have you never taken money for exhi-
biting curiosties that were not what you re-
presented them to be? A.-Well, | may have
g gwen my cpriosities little drapery, at times.
Laughter
Q-how as to Joyce Heth ?-A-She was
represented to me as having been the nurse OF
Heorge Washington; she did belong to Wash
ingt0ns iather; bought her; had a bona
nde elli OF sale Tor her; before got through
exhibiting her may have entertained doubts
as to her being the real nurse Of Washington;
have endeayored generally not TO have a yery
profound belief in what did NOT actually
know 10 be just so; paid 81 900 for her: /
believed in her at first, but subsequently NAV
have had little doubt about her; | never nnt
myself out Of the way to disabuss the nnbIic.
even after began 10 doubt the genuineness NJ
the old lady: never saw Mumler write, bn. i
ne Will write his name now | can tell whether
Is like the hsnd in which the letters to mo
we're written; can't say how many letters
passed between US; there were three or four
etters or more, just enough to complete the
transaction, MIR, Kennard told me about the
mumler humbugi he said that Mumler had