The New York herald., 1874-12-16
OWEN VS.. KING"
How . Prominent Spiritualist Re-
pudiates His Faith.
from the Philade elphia Bulletin,l

Circumstantal evidence, which have Just obtained
me 70 whdrsw ~ G ae which have
acer OF certain mani estatons presented last summer
IN my presence through Mr. and NJ, Nelson Howss
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 6. 1874
Learning that Er. Robert Dale owen had afixed
his signature to he letter quoted above. orr rep
resentative called upon him and had the following
interview
REPoRrER-What are your grounds for this
withdrawal OF confidence?
Mr.. OwEN-Cnderstand me; do not make any
accusation but slmpy do not wish to give rise TO
any confidence in these manifestations. Myself
and friends have every reason 10 believe that the
manifestations o! last sumIner were what they
were represented TO be- but the katie Kingn
lately shown us Is not the sane.
KEPoRTER-!n what way does she diner-in facial
Mr.. OwEN-The latest ..Katie King'i differs in
both lace and form. She IS shorter tnan the
"Katie King" we saw lasf summer. Let me say
to you that upon tne return o. the Holmeses the
''Katle Kng'' OF last summer reappeareI to US
and said, not IN the words l am about to
use but TO the same purport, that she had
been advanced in the spirit world and 1t
would be more difficult Tor her to appear LII the
future. Alter that there was break OF about
three weeks, when '.Katie King' again appeared,
but my trends and myself look upon her as a
bogus one. CT course you VIII understand tnat
the .'dark circle" manifestations were continued,
hut IN these nave taken little interest. don't
care Tor these ring and other ntiestatiOns. AL
they never interested me. Wnat am interested
in is the naturalization OF spirits; or, in other
words, is IT possible ior spirits to materlallze
REponrER-what led You to suspect that the
"katle kIng" OF to-day Is not the one you saw last
Mr.. OwES-As have SAID, never like to vouch
for anything that canuot thoroughly authenti-
cate; had not so strongly ind0rsed the mani
iestauons would have SAID nothing. Ally suspl-
cions were first aroused, aud those OF my friends.
.Katie Kings.n The arran emant OF the cabinet
did not satisfy me, ana so stated to the Homeses
requested that the cabinet 0e placed on castors
c.t hlt hn ~. thap
ana also tnat IL be tnrOwn open ior examination
Now, wnlle they did not reuse to DO this. they
neglected TO accede 10 my request which
amounted to the same thing.
Mr.. owen then described the proximity OF the
cabinet to window (tnat mad been boarded up)
and door, and stated that the arrangement
might have allowed OF traps. He urtner stated
that before writing the letter published above he
called on the Holmeses and auvlsed them that he
was not absolutely satisfied with their manner or
conducting their seances. In the case VI their
Ninth street seances Or. Cnild, myself and some
others TOOK down partition tnat there existed,
and mad q practical builder TO aid US, but found
nothing to shake our belief. saiu to The homeses
dispel all suspicion, yet they did not accept the
ldea. Again, Dr. Chld, who went with them
seemed admirably suited 10 the purpose, but these
did not meet the ideas OF the uomeses, VINO COM
planned Of the rent and some other matters. Dr.
child, You Will understand, was Just as much in
terested In lreeng the manifestations OF all susp.
ciOus sur oundlngs as ny sell.
REPORTER-Do you think the HolmeseS would
practice a fraud
MIR. OWEN repeat do not make any accusa-
ton, but certainly none couid better 40 1t than
they. Failing TO produce the original "Katle
King" they might be led To produce a bogus one
REPoRTER-Wlil this discovery hurt the cause Of
Splrituansmf
Mr.. OwEN--Oh not at ALL 1t is merely the fail.
ure OF one experiment; that Is ali.
REPoRrER-Wno is Katie King ~
Mr.. OwES-Ihat cannot answer. Dr. Child has
published letter whicn he believes came through
her, but 1t must be taken WITH a lew grams OF
allowance. am never III favor OF accepting any
thing OF the kind witnout corroporative evidence.
MIR. owen concluded the interview by stating
that he had been informed iby some friends that
the Holmes were willing to accent the suggestion
he had made. which ne MR. o. hoped was true.
The matter these friends intend following up, but
for the pres mt Mr.. owen desires to withdraw all
that ne has SAID in the way OF v0uchlng Tor the
correctness OF the manifestations.