The New York herald., 1869-04-29
SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY.

Mermnid-The Tombs Closed Upon the
Spirits-Exeunt Omnes.
After vigorous hammering the last coffin nail has
been driven into this apparently everlasting case
The funeral services were read yesterday at the
Tombs and the dejOinted bones OF the mysterious
visitor quietly deposited IN the grave which has now
closed forever. 1t was a bright morning and
a most auspicious one for the joyfu. event.
II was not quite certain whether the last rites would
take place yesterday, but ntraoAe dtcfu the spirits
quietly disappeared. their departure being unaccom
panied by either the canking OF chains or sulphur
Gus vapor. Briefly, the testimony is over, and
nothing now remains but the summing up Of coun-
sci. Considerable merriment was caused by certain
'woOlly horse" developments, at which the loungers
perched at the 1urther end OF the court grinned
broadly. Mr.. Elbridge Gerry and Mr.. Blunt appeared
on the part of the prosecution. Mumer being de-
tended by Messrs John T. Townsend and Baker.
Mr.. Abraham B0gardus was the first witness exam
ner in which the 50 called spirit Photographs could
be taken by mechanical MEANS which were exceed
ingiy varied: photographers could take man with
an angel on his head or pair or horns, Just as de-
sired, without being detected. Mr.. Bogardus pro-
duced several photographs with the so called spirit
forms which he himself had photographed by me-
chanica means. He further testlded that he had
known many persons to mistake pictures In his gal
one person to mistake the portrait OF Henry Clay
for that OF General Jackson.
The witness was cross examined at length by Mr.
Townsend and IN reply stated that he did not be-
lieye spirits could be photographed Counsel then
proceeded to read from the tweniy-eighth chapter
regard to hs belief in the Bible, whether the spirit
referred to had language and form, and If
whether 1t was impossible for the spirits to appear
for the purpose OF being photographed.
Mr.. Gerry objected to the question. He did not
object to the Boe being read in court for the reason
that no one was injured py listening to the words of
Scripture. but he was opposed to the Bible being
produced for the purpose or confusing the witness.
1t was without precedent for a theological
O "A
witness was present as an expert, not as a theo-
logical student.
Mr.. Townsend read several other texts IRON the
Bible detailing the appearance Of spiritual beings
upon earth and was about to question the witness,
but objections having been offered the examination
in that respect was not proceeded with.
Mr.. Mason was recalled and In answer to Mr..
Blunt stated that with regard to the photographs
shown him they could not have been produced by
being In front Of the camera the shadows the
figures falling differently on each, which was i'm
possible; witness did not believe In the alleged
supernatural production Of Numbers pictures.
Mr.. p. T. Barnum was then produced from the
erowd ana put INTO the witness box and examined s
said he had devoted some time to the detection OF
humbugs at which answer many winked signf.
Mumler about seven years ago, and knew HIM by
reputation as the original taker OF what was known
with him; made search for the letters, but could
not find them; thought they were demolished
with his museum; Mumler sent HIM photo.
REPRESENTED Colorado Jewett Henry Clay and the
ghost OF Napoleon; they were labelled spiritual
Humbugs;' he had seen great many ''spooks," and
he thought 1t only necessary to see them to be-
leve III them he went to the gallery OF Mr. Bogardus
ana asked for photograph with spirit on 1t; de-
tected no deception; he accompanied Mr.. B0gardus
into the dark rOom saw him take the plate and de-
yeop on 1t the shrouded figure of Abraham Lincoln: (:
during the process he was not conscious OF any
spiritual presence.
Mr.. Townsend severely catechised the witness re.
lative to his being engaged IN the humbug business
The witness said he always gave people value for
their money, in other words, that they paid
their money ana they had their choice" He thought
his woolly horse" was just what II was represented
TO be: u was actually woOy and curiosity and II
was for that reason he purchased II, and he was
glad to enlighten people upon the subject; he had
the horse just as it was born ana created. Beng
questioned as to HIS mermaid he contnued:-The
mermaid was represented to me to be what repre-
sented il TO be to the public and have never been
dIsabused OF the idea; the mermaid was presented
to the public rs believed 1t to be- never owned 1t;
hired lt: have never taken money Tor things that
! had misrepresented.
.. Have you as public entertainer ever presented
matters 10 the public alsiying the facts, and taken
money therefor! A. | may have given 1t little
drapery sometimes. daughter, The witness then
Nurse, in which lie said he believed but yet he
never endeavored to have profound BELIEF regard
ing 1er bui nc nevertheless beneved IN her ana pald
$1,000 for her. lie was further interrogated CON
cerning his correspondence with Mumler, whose
employer told him lwitness) that Mumler was a
sharp fellow, ana advised him 10 negotiate with
him Tor an addition TO his sJoc& OF humbugs: when
he visited Bogardus gallery he asked him 10 bring
down the spirit of Heth; he said he could not
hausted.
Mr. Charles p Boyle was next examined and said
| have been III the Photographic business twenty
years and am connected with the American Instl-
iue: am familiar with the so-caled spirit photo
graphs. ana have known IL for seven years when
Mumler first commenced II: saw Mumler In Boston
IN Mrs. stewards Photographic gallery; can lden-
tfy Mumler as the person | saw there; when saw
him he seemed to be attending TO business there: |
have here some photographs taken at Roekwood's 3
gallery under my supervisors; Instructed Mr. Rock
wood and his men how TO do the tnIng.
The balance OF the testimony OF this wit
ness technical, and although II might
Roye o al ,sTsy % e Sre, saa
tnued:-l proposed the screen test 20 expose this
spirit photograph aGar, ana committee OF the In
stltute appointed to investigate the affair." was
not on that committee, and can only say by hearsay
what they did or discovered.
Ia crosse Xamination he said he was not spirit
ualist but had examined the subject Of Spntuasm
closely. Counsel then produced tue Bibe ana inter
rogated him as 10 the passage stating tnat Christ
win some OF Ills apostles went upon the noun
tain and saw Moses and Elias upon II. The wit
ness replied that anything he could not comprehend
ne suspended MS belief regarding II. lie never took
the picture OF . deceased person who, during life,
had not had portrait taken.
Re-direct-Q. Is there anything whatever IN the
passage which has been read or connected with it
stating that those spiris shine from men own light
A. 80.
Mr.. d. c. Chapman Substantially corroboratcd the
testimony OF the previous witness, who tad de-
scrbed The various mechanical means OF taking the
s6-caled spirit photographs.
Charles ID. FTedfcks, photographer, IN answer
TO MIR. Gerry, deposed-l have made few expert
ments spiritual photography three pictures pro-
ducedl; these were taken by making negative TO
represent ghost, making positive irOm tins then
took the picture. and on developing the Photograph,
] found an ndistlnct spirit form ,so-caedl; II -
impossible 10 take picture from an article which
one cannot see; no one can photograph spirit: ]
am practical photographer although for some years
! have done but little practical WORK a rejected
light codd not be thrown on an object In sunlight;
IL would not make a double shadow.
Mr.. John Jones mathematical instrument maker,
gave testimony relative to Photographic appliances
and stated that he could construct o camera that
would deceive an expert unless he took II To pieces.
Mr. Gerry said he desired To call ly Parsons, one
OF the physicians Of the Hlackwes Island Insane
Asylum TO provo some points relative TO insanity.
He desired 10 rebut the testimony OF Judg Edmonds
and Mr.. Pnul Fremont concerning nallucnatlon.
Mr. Townsend objected.
After considerable discussi on Judge Downing sug.
rested the prcpriety OF allowing the case 20 rest
whore IL sto0l and the summary OF counsel was set
down for NOniay morning
B0lRb Or FIRE COMMISSIONERS
The Board OF Metropolitan FIRE Commissioners
held their regular weekly meeting yesterday morn.