New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-24

| 10 Mr. Townsend-Thcre IS no distinct form Ia such
Mr. LHhera Reeves was then called and in answer to
| Mr. Townsend said: know Mr. Mumler; brst saw hm
! ut No. GO Broadway. whore l called with my nephew
Charles WeDgj my nephew. then sat in my presence.
aud with his likeness was the spirit form Of boy OF sinS
who passed away year ago; vent myself for "a SITTING
aboui the 25th Of March, 1869 went with my nephew
about tho middle OF January In March with my SS
Likeness appeared portrait OF my Ittle 10y his
recognized my boy was il years Old woh no ia
likeness was produced both on ny card the
likeness rcsembled him as he appSaIIeiu reoith
he passed away: in mine ho looked he ala ~ nc
to Mr. Numbers, first MIS- Mumier, " did not
state to her what went there for she pnt my hch1%
the book Brs. Mumler went RInS the pro
cess heard raps tho floor; they contheo IN i"P'u
SnI iU' os Won looked down the floor to see
| What il wasi A. We might have done so 800,
@ Is your nephew a believer IN sprltst A. lc"hho'
q. Do YOU believe deceased persons revisit their
O. Did ycu entertain belief sprGal,n previous to
the production OF these pictures a. did not
@. From these pictures you believe IN supernatural
o. You thought tho raps as well as the pictures
O. Where was Mr.. Mumlorl A. Don't know; he eamo
UP after the rappiug had ceased pig ana Mrs hin,ep
both standing at the camera at the time the picture
was being taken; Mr. Mumler had hls hand on Tue
camera all the time.
Mr. Garry handing the witness tho pictures, asked
she could possibly toll whether the spirit form there
represented boy grill Witness sad it represented
Mr.. Gerry-Have you ever examined this spirit picture
WITH microscope or magLlying gassl A. hdso
anined ii with microscope, but b0s Wllh haBnJin6
glass. 49,,
O. Aud Yen believe this TO be portrait Of your boy
~ DO; my boy was suffering from disease o. ie e
and the appearance vi his complain is visible IN oo "
the Portraits the time which elapsed between inc taA
ing OF my portrait and that OF my nephew was ABOUT
three months.
Mr. Townsend-Is there any question in your mind rs
the mother Of that child about that being MS portrait
a. None Gt all. 49,
called her and requested her to examine the por'Ia1
through naguiiyhg glass, which she Immediately aiu,
bnt still Adherns to her opinion that inc AeHeSs "
samuel r Fanslaw was then sworn. he said am an
artist OF pUrtraiture, &c, and reside at MOiflsanla,
| WestChestcr County; have had some experience III
photography and have soon the process constantly G9r
ug tho last year, first mado the acquaintance VI MI
| Mumler at his gallery last November. 81, - 80
Mr. 6 %H9i S %acr ssd G his spirit
pictures and determined II ever went to New ork
s at Soi GO BfoadWay and told her object
dn!ont otter pictures made examination n6 s.i aud
could distinct difference IN me 1atane sndn
with Mr. Mumer exchange portraits OF art for me pc
ment Mr. Mumor asked me II was familiar with pho
Biography, and told HIN was; he allowed me TO SO lnIo
the operating and make all the gallon lhheu
took the glass used aud DTeathed on H. huing 10 q'o
clean; he took tho glass and poured coAoulOn on IL
A. For tho purpose OF making tho surface sensitive.
G. What was then donei a. He TOOK the pISte anu
O. What is tins done fort A. To produce sensitive
moss
VI.
ness was going be examined as gu expert he should eA
anime him ird out how far his knowledge OF photog'
Repf close watch on all the proceedings Of Mr. Mumler
bn was quite unable to detect anything in the shape OF
no concealed in any part Of IT. but could mot
discover anything which denoted decelti MT NUN,
Ter was standing IN the room at the time was making
| the examination. In answer TO Mr.. Townsend; when
having my portrait taken | was facing sideway Ways;
SS' sec SSGs ST Ma@ler 'a re'ed bis hand fatty
plate out and throw the cloth It before he took it
into the darkroom accompanied himto TIE DARKROOM
tho plate; when the picture was developed, with myself
Mr. ToasendoI will ask you as an artist was the form
portrait of any one you knewi A. Ii was, and very
Crossexamned: What sort OF painting have you been
| engaged int A Canvas oil painting, DO
O. Have you ever studied chemistry or photCgraphyi
! expert; I know nothing about chemicals producing
of NV deceased mother who has been dead years the
| likeness has been recognized By all my relatives;
and they ali recognized without hesitation my mother
had no portrait taken during her life, but painted ono
from memory some time after her dccease the portrait
Itook large oil painting the spirit portrait has
totally different view to my portrait during inc taking
of the portrait Mr. Mumlcr had his hand on the rear OF
Sir Gerry tproducing picturc)-wn you look on tho
sbadowy form on that and tell mo N yOu recognize IT,
a. No lido not 10 does not bear the slightest resemblance
MI GerryBefore You went TO investigate these forms
you believer In spiritsf a. canpot answer that
In answer to another question. witness said, "As
Christian believe that spirits do visit the earth and
was moro convinced Of SITTER had my pictures; havo
also spirit portrait OF deceased son, bat is not 80
correct as my mothers This picture was here pro
Mr. Gerry-Is the amount OF your belief entirely de.
pendent upon the strength OF tho ouLlnesi A. not en-.
tely it depends upon the appearance Of the strong
likeness.
q. How long since he dedi A. lie died I'VE six
years ago; lie killed In Virginia during the late
from the portrait taken when living such picture as ts
'G TO Mr. Townsend@be oil painting Of my mother has
always been In my studio and one has ever had any
opportunity Of taidnE picture from q.
Mr.. William =. Kidney, photographer or PouRbkcep
then do'eGS o have gsn s9S STD fifteen aa y5 IN
the business boI , na; w. sisrh ~ rae nrssent
year.
Mr. Townsend then put several questions referring to
What Mr. @S@eE Sd sy ey O S
tie Judge as inadmissabe; After some discussion on
this point the witness continued, giving analysis OF
tho component parts Of the chemicals used IN photo
M Townsend-Q You say the silver bath is composed
Of iOdde Of potassium and nitrate or silver what eneet
as Oq 1e expeenco aid you ever know that after
washing the glass; form OK the previous figure re-
In cross-examnation, he said he know the difference
between a whto and yellow light; the latter had no
effect in photography The ordinary color Of the sun is
O. Could you photograph with red light A. never
o. Could you with bluei A. Yes
q Aud with ereeni A. TO some extent; ,..,.
the eGef A. Blue effect and white light would give
light effect.
q Surprising 1t to be through prism, what theni A.
do not know.
Charles r. Livermore formerly member OF the firm OF
LivermOre, Cep d Co. having boon sworn testified BY
request OF friends In London aud other places made an
Investigation into spirit photography aud went 10 Mr..
Mumler; told him wished to SIT for my photograph as
had desire TO examine the phenomena; ola not pre-,
tend 10 expert, but went with my eyes openi
accompanied him and his wife up stairs, and saw Mr.
MumleT put the plate In ana develop inc peture made
careful examination Of the glass before the process
sat twice and each time went into the dark closet
aud spirit forms developed neither OF which
however, recognized at the time; was not sat's-