New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-21

M TO tho cabinet 10 explained away took no do
cisve action until December On the morning OF that
day. o gentleman whom I know we-a spiritualst or
10 40 years. standing who had been regular attend
ant during Summer sesnees and at tho supple
menary strings held here this to Dr.
Child and myself under solemn promise OF secrecy MS
firm belief that be had and conversed with per-
son who had persOnated katie KING" during last
Summer. and who, with great appareDt contrinon'
now confessed the ofense. He told u.s. further that no
believed had been tempted to this deception unoer
the pressure Of sheer want OF Bread that having pecn
unable to pay the rent OF boarding honse whch Emo
occupied her furniture had been sacrificed at forced
sale. she herself with child and an OLD mother
dependent her for suppor turned into the street.
without o dollar In her pocket or q homo (uncss she
sought ono OF pOluton) To which to 10. Chder
these circumstances the tempter offered her s.
o night to "play o part" Aud 1t was only 10
my informant said) when she was so far committed
to be afraid TO withdraw that she fully realized the
enormlty OF the ofnse which she had consented 10 aid
Ny informant added that he had required our word OF
honor to refrain from disclosing this abiding 10 II In
any way until he released from the promise not De-
no had the slightest intention OF suffering the
ornaors OF the fraud to escape but because be had OBJ
tanned the Information under conditions that bound him.
self. With hesitation ho allowed us to take one
other gentleman for whose discretion we youched into
confidence. He gave no names, no addresses nor
his statement was backed by such oircumsaniia evil
dence that within half hour after received IL. tel
egruped to The Atlantic (but too lae) to withhold my
January contribution.
DAMAGING REPORTS ABOUT THE HOLMEsE5 From
ENGLAND
Next day received important letter from London'
In July or August last hearing some reports touching
disropuabe pecuniary transactions by tho Hoinses IN
England wrote to highly respectable gentleman In
kno us a
II he could procure authentic proof OF this, to send II 10
me- His reply written only In November. did not reach
me hero till Dec. He apologized Tor THIS long deay'
caused by the absence OF the gentleuan thr MarIbes
who could aono give him direct testimony. ana
added that lie had seen him aud had 90
talned from lin tho statement tnat 10 tar'
MI had given tho Honcses two checks. each for fs
sterling both OF which had been altered 10 3d. and that
the HoIneses had drawn the money aud then LEFT Tor
tLis country The next day DE-. Caild aud called on
tue reasons which caused mo TO believe they were pay
ing false, among them OF the Martneso forgery anu
added that had Withdrawn oil Ounlenco rom then.
There was a soenc. Mrs. Holmes. WIN uptted hhbus.
calling upon God to strike mr. deal tnat ,,nerr
or aecsPt ,Ch s,a nsvor wiinrs'ed before AID
/ Icn tho room without word OF reply. l may add
that Yesterday received from Mr. Holmes letter pro-
nouucng the Marthes story TO 90 without iounuAon,
and reminding me that had deposition unier oatn
TO sustain the charge. Lot him have the benefit OF the
DOUBT. ga the evening Of tue gay On "n,Sn the
two chief spiritual papeTs mi wh hSs na
sDt1.aaiiss letter OF explanation. bound oy !ns
promise made to my informant l was restricted
to the ground Of my personal obseryaiions. and
the suspicious which these had aroused, SAITH ing to cast
a doubt all that had seen. but not auJrdlng just
ground 20 pronounce the whole friuf.
Eish days after tDs came he exposure. "a published
dee s) ia lie Inquirer of this city derived from the
same person VINO had previously given me In conn ence
outline OF his discoveries. Wnie lacknowiedge tne
nh all
owe this gentleman Or his pdnSakiug perseverance
In unearIhing the evidence, much regret that instead
of writing out a calm. clear and exact narrative OF
the events leading his disclosures, lie suffered these
first reach the world as they dd true 1t may Do as 70
the AIN facts, but with epshOi iDaccuracy VI detai
nnd tecked out in and In terms OF sensational
evty which think must have been highly oneDsivi 70
himself a. they surely were 10 every earnest Hprtiast
IN the land and IN tone aud IN terms utterly unbrnt-
ting gravity alike OF the subject i'sen anu VI tne
As 10 the main question, aside from the presentation
OF the made OUT not probably so as - sat
.fv court Justice, but so AS TO produce moral con-
vctiOn. sufficient To render worthless az evidence OF
spirit materallzliion. every tAlns 10 u teiSned OF
psuuine which tho Honeses have pat forth. do not
affirm mat all tue manifestations exhibited Dy them
we're frauds. Thcy held seancos througbout Eheland
for moro year, obtaining many favorable "otces.
which have read. aud not being detected, SO FAR
ao scn n@ WHO ~5e me- tue details Of the Mar:
these aifaE adds: "Stl, the Holmeses arc powerful
Iondoa Spritaaist for February 1873 the fun details
sizing ueid Wy them 10 London tue hiohtn previous
during wnich, Is affirmed; tIere showed ne1Sen
through Nils Florence Cooks med.umshp. The
report OF the written, aud signed by Mr
Luxmore, "a London magistrate, gentleman OF wealth
nnd position whose residence IN Gloucestersquare
MI. coos:, ,:ences were often held. He ~eot up To
s inns I ihs5 no o vino mar with Katie who APP
pears at Hackney (l.s CccSs place OF les.denceI can
Tor DOUBT the identity W." an ns may
have been Imposition, Tor tae task OF sepaOna the
genuine from tue spurious IS not easy. Certain coguI.s
spiritual studies Ii we stfy refuse assent ~ these
experiments may fail, our way may be barred II.
On n1 nav ne snr,,ted from araduaS esactins
necessary and reasonable tests. We expose ourselves TO
imposition by unprhclprd mediums IL Is Ihing Tar
two extremes. observing the Just medium
between too much and too little suspicion.
TIE EXPOSURE A BENEFIT TO sPIRIrUALIsM.
erred last Summer IN accepting as necessary cOnd
tons what TO have been precautions to avoid
detection In fraud. to-day (ls usually does
when things pi.D certain tests which might prop
erly have demanded, believing as now do. that the
reasons gned for declining TO give them futile.
Yet may happen that other observers incorrectly
terpreing experience, may urge conditions stru-
gent totally to arrest the phenomena, and may thus
5e iempted TO abandon ID disgust what might have
proved satisfactory Investigation. yielding nvau ,Oe
results. II the golden mean be hard 10 attain, we ougnt
the less diligently to strive for It, II the result 10
sprtualism OF all that has happened no TO check It's
progress Tor tho tune. II lew weak brethren iai on
aud If others doubt me phenomenon OF
OF "A counterfeit being detected, still the Result viii he
good Medium, for matcniz ,tI0n are sprinElg up all
the country, some genuine, some spurious The
former will stand the test, and spritualsm will thrive
all the better mat the decepons attempted by the lat
ter are now likely 10 he brought 10 lSnt. Tue
excitement produced, and the inquiry awakened.
Will all In tho end WORK beneficial effects.
Or course, have had pile OF letters subject.
One writer takes quite cheerful view Of tho mater,
declaring hat my contribution to the January AHInhc
~, ut the worst charming romance, which he has
with great pleasure, and shall always deem worth pre-
serving Pernap.itis for tho moral 1t points and the
lesson OF caution Il teaches.
BY the latest Homeses remain Ia the city
protesting their innocence, nud holding
half
ers. They have not had their say, aud The
clears away, they are found guilty. there Is crime In
the decaogue more benous IN the eye OF justice Of
religion than the Onose against all that Is hoest
most sacred which they have perpcrated. If ss