New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-04
CAN A SPIRIT BE PHOTOGRAPHED

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: 1t is sometimes q thankless task to ex-
pose villany. 1t is always thanklcss task TO throw
yourself against popular belief with nothing your
hand but a new truth. Mr.. Mumler may be a villain
do not know the man never him II he is trick
ster his yany Of the darkest hue, for no speeuaes
the hoest instincts Of men, have nothing 10 do with
Mr. Mumler. He may be honest. or the Court may fad
him swndler The questions raised in this trial do not
turn Oh the Innocence or quit OF one man.
Can spirit DO photographed Whether Mumler
is acquitted or convicted, most intelligent men
they cannot tell YOU They have certain
vague ideas Of spirit something incorporea They
versation with Herbert Spencer, told him Of certain
facts which had led Alfred Wallace TO belief In the
Of world OF spirits and tho communion OF spirits
with mortas Mr. Spencer met the facts by saying that
he had settled the question on ProI grounds Wallace
is Of the first naturalsts OF Europe. lie tells ho
has and heard certain things, and making my
experience measure OF the universe dismiss his testi
mOny as contradeting nature Is That tho method OF
modern philosophy
wisdom above that Of common sense but have no fol
flowed tho Spencerian method. In common with many
others sought only find the truth and have been
content TO keep the results have reached TO myself
Some OF there results Will now give 70 the public. Cen
temen OF the pTtor1 method may dismiss the subject
now and here.
In February 1867, formed the acquaintance OF pho
tOgrapher living In the Connecticut Valley had gone
10 his rooms for photograph while sitting for the pic
ture saw that the artist strangely agitated when
the plate developed alright but yapOry female form
appeared, standing at my side had never heard OF
Mumlerior spirit photography asked the photographer
could only say that while he was photOgraphlng me he
saw that standing at my side he did not want
the picture taken from his gallery and wished not TO
speak OF II he told me that now and them for years. he
had taken such pictures that they came through no
agency OF his that he could take them almost any time
by Welding the control OF beings which he believed to
be spirits but no wanted nothing 10 do with it. lie
would not have his name mixed up with Spirtuallsln In
any form" .
i lad such confidence in my friends honesty that
wished 10 make Investigation Of this strange power
was only after many interviews and much urging that
he consented to give me sttings ana yield to the hyis
he declined any considerations saying That he could not
be tempted 10 this mysterious GIT Tor gam lie gave
me every facility IN making the investigation. took
friend TO assist me. We had his time for four Afternoons
VestigatiOn II he trickster assisted Ia pre-
pairing the plates and stood by while the pictures were
developed We took epy precaut0n to prevent or detect
trickey At almost every sitting we got the photograph
when went alone, or thought was alone! AUD at al
most every sitting the photographer was partially en-
tTaneed What shall we sayl He Is a man OF 20;
sitiOn and character. / would as think OF
hlngng tho charge OF fasehood against the CbiefJus.
tce lie had no motive to deceive. lIo would not sell
MS glft Tor money III believed him capable OF false
ood sun should DC unable 10 account for the pictures
Know OF only two ways by which photograph can DO
taken II must be taken either by reelected OF by trans
mtHed hght To get picture the sensitiZed plato,
something capable OF refecng light must be placed at
v!e aSsaee peIore inc lens or the plate may be
seshhed ana covered by another picture, aud then
posed 70 the light. dim picture will be printed ON the
sehSuIe9 pate 10y transmitted light These arc tho only
nos 10y when photograph can be taken, The artist
suit OF latent impression left by an old photograph
rms last IS the solution proposed by writer I'm sotur.
day TRIBUNE My artist did not use old plates lie
must md tue solution I'm OF the other
Now know that my artist did not hold an old gatve
TO the scnsitzed plate and get rlosy Iunress I t,
transmitted hsht We have ono moro alternative: was