New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-29
;PIRITUALISM IN COURT.
THE MUMLER EXAMINATION CONTINUED-P. T.
BARNUM, ESQ, ON THE STAND.


many lawyers merchants and other persons drawn 70
the scene by the unusual interest of the case Although
the rush was great marked falling of In numbers h
compared with past days was percepllpio. anu ~ was
only by deyrees that the Court became hed Tbe audi
ence however consisted principally Oh most respects"
BILE and apparently intelligent class
Abraham Borardus having been placed on the stand,
testified have been photographer nearly % years
and am connected with the National Photographic Asso-
citation Of the United States the Association formed
for protecting honest people in the trade from patents
and for putting down any hunbug We could discover
MT. Mumer is not member OF that society that am
aware Of 1 have heard most of the witnesses for the
Mr. Geary-How many processes are there OF taking
these socalled spirit photographer A. cannot say we
angel over his head, with PAIR of horns on his head
Just as wish .
TO detect i A very cute photographer might detect
it; have exhibits by process not already described
II in the usual way having an impression taken ny any
camera out OF reach or sight OF the slter ana neh
ting the plate back into the coating BATH 1t might be LEFT
there long as you like, and when sitter comes ~ can
be used, and the first impression VIII appear WIN the
figure OF TIE sitter this is easily done; in referring To ex'
hibit No. %. for The People in which hano OF INC
shadowy figure is represented as placed IN inc mar
audi by little maneuverng the arm might DC mace 70
encrcle the waist; numbers q and y are mace from
S OT sno WE Wts' rs sA' take dim impression from
sitters prepared for that purpose, sometimes from
n
Impression might be preserved for almost any length OF
time could take them less dsiinct thS can ne dohe
by not having proper focus mo more Tue ScS te
perfect tho miniature perfect seh rs the
brows DC; the recognition Of the spirit hkenesses de-
pends upon the Imagination OF the person sitting have
known persons TO come INTO NY gallery ana requro q
portrait OF Henry Clay as Gen. Jackson; nave seen
perfect picture taken and heard four or five relatives
standing by say there likeness whatever; nave
psT nI Of chd believing it to be that Of one OF their
Children when have known IT has been taken from
from T. Barnum esq Nos 81 and 10 for the defense
the so-called spirits could not have Deeh IN roht
OF the me camera n,nfTrG E and Believe was made by
the process have described If the camera was GOOD TOT
ANYTHING the focus would have reached the picture had
it been in 'front.' No o. for the defense he m
pieture), to speak onphatcay. TRANSPARENCY ITO on
its face the SHADOW the sitter being on one sde ana
the shadow of the spirit on the other IT SLOWS tnat ne
two pictures must have been taken nj dlHerent times
No a. for The People is taken by the process rave de-
Cross. examined-I do MT know the person who con
whether sho had those two persons; the pad
ness OF the picture might have been the reason why my
to- cannot produce the likeness Of person after death
unless from copy neither can any other mortal am
MIR Townsend then read the sd to the last verso
the @ chapter Of the st fe asking n e to
therein had language and apnears,nee n o,,oo.
70 the reading Bible in Court because be thought
person would not be injured by the scriptures anywhere
but these theological questions put for the purpose
of confounding the witness The objection was sns
Mr. TowpsendI do not propose TO direct any question
in regard TO theology, but to question hin as photo
grapher put the question and desire an exception
o. IL from the reading OF that chapter IL appears a
spfit appeared IN form aud language would you con-
sider IL remarkable that spirit portrait could nave
been taken. provided photography had thon eMstedi
Mr. GeaTy raised objection. which was sustained py
Mr.. townsend then said he would offer, as showing
snI1t appearances the 10th chap. Genesis, Gtn 10 9th
verse l9th chap. Genesis from LIST to 27th verse h
chap and 10Th chap 10th to 18th verse NUMBER
22d chap and 35h verse s Joshua 18th TO 18th verc
eth chap Judges IL to 49, 18th chap Judges, TO ~ 18Th
S 20 1s b Terse t chap Era nth chap Matthew sad
to 6th verse 2sth Matthew. ls TO 9Th verse; tho l2h
APOSTLES ist to 5th 18th chap Corinthians. tih v{se.
Mr.. Mason whose evidence was unfinished at the al
gsd that in Exhibit No 10 for the defense the socaec
spirit could not have been in front OF the camera
the pcure was TAKEN because the shadow on tho sitter
was on the opposite side TO the shadow on the ghost
Cross-examined-By no process know could t9Ke inc
likeness OF a person after death without copy knew
there were modes OF making shadowy pictures; the
David Brewster wa; one whcn nao Gee
the introduction OF small plate In the camera ths
has also been previously e
reside at No ass Fifthave, corner on IhftynhthSt
have devoted portion OF my lie TO the detection OF
humbugs; have not personally bad any interview win
Mr. Mumer.
Mr. Mumler by reputation in connection with the produc
ton OF these spirit Photographic
Mr. Townsend made objection 70 this question lie
said these questions were intended 10 elicit answers
which go 70 the papers ana prejudice inc minus 0i '"o
The Judge said the question might DO asked and ruled
ont the objection. ,,...s
Mr. Mumler as the original spirit photographer
Mr.. Geary: Did yon have any correspondence with
Mr. Townsend mterposed an objection.
The Judge said II the correspondence was In existence
Mr. Townsend: Your Honor has been so cose in ruling
against that do not why you shoSd allow corres
pOndence which TOOK place seven years ago 10 DO Drought
The question having been allowed the witness replied
,dppc i
letters were burnt with the Museum.
Mr.. Geary-state the evidence Of their contents
called lost evidence as the witness cannot swear that
they are destroyed.
MIR Townsena-I object to that also.
The JudgeDd the letters relate to tho matter OF In
Mr. Townsend-Tnere ia no evidence hitherto that the
witness ever had any correspondence with tbs Mr. Mum
The Judee-Porhaps the counsel for the prosecution
can prove MI. Numbers location at that time.
After the discussion Of other forensic points, witness
said The eorT9sponacnee was dated m Boston during
owelry firm OF Bigiowe Brothers kennard ne was en-
gsed there as od ep pSs mem @
to my knowledge the letters received from Mr. Mum
Ter all dated from Boston the substance OF the cor
Tespondence was this was about to write book repre-
sentng the buubugs OF the world, ana wrote MT bum
Photographic ard that wished purchase specimens Of
his So-cailed spirit photographs FOR the Museum; be-
leve Mumler had no studio at this tlnci bought n
number giving 50 piece for them and they were hung
on the walls OF the Museum for three or fonr years
SmaSr them were the socalled spiritual appearance of
Napoieon BOnapate and Henry Clay and the positions Of
tho figures exactly like the welknown engrayings
of these personGges; the title OF my book the Hum
bugs of the World % all the chapter rotating to spirit pho
tOgraphs referred to this Mu9ler; went yesterday TO
ME- BogaTdnss gallery and asked him II he could take
a spirit photograph telling him that did not want any
huinbng about ~ he said no could 90 II; Examined
the glass and discovered nothing In ~ saw Tue
process of ponrng over the first liquid and after
ward the pouring over OF nitrate OF silver and then
saw it placed In the cameras when done IL mad my
Il md he Lincoln. i
fire ghost OF Lincoln 10 was developed in the
dark room; was unconscious OF any Spiritual presence
Crossexamiped: / have never been In any humbug
business where did not give value for the money;
these spirit photographs were labeled humoug on the
hT,, tha n