The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-10
garieh.
GEN. LIPPITTS ACCOUNT on
KATIE KING.

KATIE KING.
Inthe GALAXY for December, Gen T,
]. Lippitt. Of Rhode Island-who is a
lawyer by profession, hasserved his coun-
try with his sword in two wars. and was
the secretary of Alexis dc Tocqueville-
gives narrative of personal observa-
ton at Philadelphia last spring, in the
well known matter Of Katie King" We
quote .......
THE LOCUS IN QUO.
While in Philadelphia, in May last, !
witnessed some surprising occurrences
in Mr.. and Mrs. Holiness little parlor.
they belong to that mysterious aud some
what suspicious class of persons known
as mediums. - AS they had been quite
famous in London, whence they had
lately arrivedI gladly ayailed myself of
DIR. Henry Childs courteous offer to adj
nit me into private circle Of his friends,
about twenty-five in number, who had
been formed for the purpose OF witness
ing some exhibitions of their strange
powers. The circle contained a goodly
number Of skeptics as well as believers.
The sittings were mostly held in the eve
ming. The locus IN QH0 was the front
room of the second floor at No. 5oNorth
Ninth street. The room had but two
doors, one opening onthe landing at the
head of the stairs, the other on bed
room, which was the only other
room on that floor Both rooms were
directly over stationer's shop. The pass
age into the bedroom was entirely closed
by board partition nailed across the
door opening, secured above and below
to the door frame by iron clamps firmly
screwed into the wood. On the bedroom
side this partition was found to be the
front of a closet or box, some ten inches
deep, standing vertically against the
door-opening, nailed to the floor at the,
bottom, and the top ofwhich was closed
by boards firmly nailed in. Through
both the front and rear Of this upright
box, from the top to near the bottom,
auger-holes were bored through which
one could see frem one room into the
other. The cabinet or sanGtum in which
spirits were said to clothe themselves in
mortal forms, consisted ofthe following
simple arrangement; The bedroom door
was left openatan angle Of sixty degrees;
on the opposite door-posta second door
was attached, which came ont toImeet It
at the same angle; when the two doors
thus met, the recess formed was obvious
ly an equilateral triangle, just large
enough to comfortably contain the me-
dium, Mr.. Holmes, seated IN a chair
Whenever this little sanctum was to be-
used, the light was excluded from above
by triangular piece wood laid across
the tops of the two doors. This cover
was lined on the inside with black cloth,
as were also the insides Of the two doors.
The air beingthls shut out from the little
closet, the necessity Of the air holes
through the wood partition was appar-
ent. Through the one Of these two doors
which faced the spectators, at the hight
Of some FIVE feet from the floor, was a
circular aperture or window about ten
inches in diameter, at which the faces
were to be seen. A Black curtain hung
on the inside oft which was drawn aside
Just before face presented itself. 20
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FRAUD,
The most searching examination ofthis
sanctum, which was usually by invita-
ton Just before the sitting commenced,
both on the parIor and on the bedroom
side of the board partition, failed to de-
tect the slightest indication OF any trap.
wire, or other arrangement for the use OF
machinery or for deception. The first
two or three evenings attended l made
a careful examination myself, and on
one occasion jointly with a professional
magician, pupil of Blitz, who told me
he was perfectly satisfied that there was
no chance for any trick there lust be-
fore the sitting commenced skeptics were
invited to examine the bedroom, which
was done, the only door leading into it,
that on the stair landing, was locked
by Mrs Holmes, who retained the key,
and who then took her seat IN front ot
the sancuni, ,remainingt there in full view
during the entire sitting. The other parI
lor door, opening on the landing, was
then locked on the inside, and the spec
tators were invited to draw up their
chairs as close as possible to the window
-an invitation Of which hey always
promptly avaiIed thenselSes. Before
Mr. Holmes entered the sanctum, skepd
tics were allowed to examine his person
from head to foot, 70 AtisfX themselves
TIT there was nolhfng ip5hs hp but his
ordinary clothing n. Ryself fused this
permission seyefa9 u Is, Doth on his
entry into thefeabinst aid his-exit FROM
Il and discovered 1cthihg but very close,
fitting garmefIts Any Sceplic wi DO wlshL
ed5further satisfactionyo1 his point was
invited torehre, with Mr. 8 Hbtdies int9
ne bedroom, and tlIalige clothes With
him. On ehteAngthe sa6iaethe he lock ksd
ltheItwo doors together onsthetnbiie, and
seated himself in the chat dBing the
board partition. / repeatedly opened
DE doors, which always found unlock
"a. immediatelt on is beng ganhouncedI
81 RPS frohthe inside chat The ekhi;
hho8o ID faces kasover, and inkariahIy
foded him thus 4ated, with his headiI
bent down and apparently just waHibgiI
from a sound sleep.
EXHIBITION OF FACES AND HANDS.