Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-10-28

MIND READING "-Going about the
country is one J. r. Brown, who calls
himself a mind-reader He made quite a
sensation in New Haven, Connecticut, and
4 certain DR.. G. NJ Beard of New York
City was disguised and said to the New
Haven people he would expose him,
Brown accepted the challenge.
Thursday evening was set aside for the
trial, and Boards attempt left it about
where he found it. He certainly failed to
prove that Brown is 4 charlatan, and some
OF the exhibitions of the mans powers the
doctor will find it very hard to explain
away. In some cases, however, Brown
frankly admitted that he could not do what
was required of him. The audience were
for the most part in sympathy with Brown
Music hall was well filled with the most
respectable people of New Haven, among
them number Of the Yale professors,
whose presence Dr. Beard pal ticularly re-
4uested The doctor required in the start
that Brown should declare plainly what he
proposed to do-namely. to read the
thoughts of other people-that every pre-
caution should be taken against collision
with others, and that Brown should as
sumo the burden of proof, inasmuch as
the phenomena were so contrary to COM
mon experience. The doctor expected to
prove that when Brown, blindfolded, was
in search Of some concealed object. he
was guided to it by the unconscious mus
cular action of the pcrs0 On whose hand he
held
Postmaster Spcrry was president of the
/ mi tor IN Il
on the results of the experiments were as
follows: Chosen by Mr. Brown-Professor
Brewer. NJ. 5. Phelps, Judge Foster and
Judge Robinson; by DIR. Beard-Dr. S.
l.. Sanford, Dir. Charles Lindsey. DR..
Burge of BROOKLYN and Gen Colin NJ. In
ger>oll. They chose Prof Newton chair
man and took their places on the stage
The first task was to find 4 person in the
audience thought of by some one selected
by the committee. Brown was blindfold-
ed, and. having established connection
with Henry Is. Harrison, the well known
lawyer, by taking Harr>on's hand and
placing his own hand on Uarri>on's fore
head he went almost directly to the per
son thought of. whose name had been left
with the chairman; and the audience
broke out into vocferouS applause Nh
Harrison stated that he WAS conscious of
no muscular action that could have led
Brown to the proper person. Mr.. Beard
desired Mr.. Brown TO repeat the expert
ment with himself, but Mr. Brown stated
that he was unwilling to operate with DIR.
Beard, Is he WIS an interested person,
and a> he did not claim to operate sue
cc>>fully with him. The mind-reader :
attempted to find small articles that had
been hidden by others, but failed. One
striking success he achieved. however.
in connection with Dr. Frank Gallagher
Thr latter imagined Il pain in Il certain
part of his body. and Brown instantly
de>i Enated the spot.
After the experiments Were over DR..
Beard promptly threw aside the charge OF
fraud. He said that Brown WAS the only
man that ever gave him 4 fair chance to in
ve>tigatc the phenomena, and that he. in 4
previous test ut New York. had confessed
ly failed. Brown 1t the last. refused t,
operate any more. alleging that he WAS to,
much exhausted.
The committee consider DR. Boards cN-
plantations quite unsatisfactory. The show
men have already cot holl of Brown. ;.nt
he i soon to BE- exhibited in the larger
cities.