The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-08-08
KATIE KING IN PHILADELPHIA,
l. She Ghost ora Fraud ?-Remarkable Mani
testatiOns at "a Seance.
Correspondence New York Times.

Next to the intense interest felt in the Ross
abduction mystery, the Philadelphia mind is
most exercised about katie King" and her
associates. This lady, of whom we have all
heard some very extraordinary, but not IL.
markedly lucid accounts, purports to be the
latest browning wonder and most complete
development of the occult science of Siritual.
ism. An inhabiant of spirit land these two
or thee hundred years. she has progressed"
sufficiently to be able to revisit middle earth
in n nineteenth century garb, and whisper
bad grammar and nonsense in the ears Of the
privileged ones admitted to her seaRces.
Ny own OPINION, derived from several in
tcrviews, is that she is one part Spiritualism
and two parts humbug; but rs that opinion
is quite at variance with the belief of her no.
bic army of followers numbering several
hundreds in Philadelphia, and | know not
how many in England, permit me to lay be
tore you the most authentic account obtain
able of the newest and highest development
of our "knowledge of future state"
Katie, then to begin with, is neither a fac
rie queen nor "noblc dame of high degree
though both these classes of ladies were in
their prime at her demise She comes Of Il
bad lot altogether. Her father, who Is even
yet obliged to follow her whenever she visits
earth and kcCpa strict eye on her movements,
| is John King" better known as Henry
Morgan" one of Capt. Kids worthy Sncces-
sorS in business in the days before the laws
of meum and tuuD! had been EXTENDED to the
Spanish Main Whether he died as John
King" or "llenry Morgan" do not know,
nor does it matter; he is John King now,
and Katie is his daughter Many spirits, we
ar: told by those deepest IN their confidence,
have aspred to reappcar in robes of flesh and
tflmy muslin; hut Katie is the only one who
has succeeded in doing so to the alarming
extent of stepping boldly out before her au-
dienCC, sensible to sight and touch as a
healthy, wclldcveopcd. and withal, very
iinc-luoking ilcSh.and blood girl; appearing
and disappearing at pleasure, and OF carrying
with her when she mcltS into thin air not
only her corporal body and her vOluminOus
raimcnt bat any little tritle of bouquets, fans,
Jcwelry, and other more or less substantial
gifts presented to her from time to time by
her admirers. Conceive the rapture one cx.
pcricnccs in gazing upon features which for
centuries have been glowing with immortal
youth; in presenting centennial almanac
to one SO cminently qualified to use it, and
receiving in return gentle pressure from
fingers that have lost none of their magnetism
by having been laid away since the time OF
Cromwell. at Is to me-" says DR.. Child,
katie's chief apostle to the Philadelphians,
the strongest possible evidence of the immor-
tally Of the SOUL But why not of of mus
lin dresses aud dollhouse boQuetS as well, DR..
Child does not seem willing TO explain.
The first appearance OF this remarkable
young woman Was in London short time
ago, where and when she used a Miss Flor
ence Cook Il think her name was Florence)
rs her medium, and set some OF the most
learned scientists half wild about her. Among
gate and scott, and renamed to believe and
champion. After a successful season with
Miss Cook, Katie announced that she would
appear 40 more; "her mission was ended, |
apd she was going TO higher sphere'-re-
icrring, It would seem, to the United States, |
Tor she presently turned up as the familiar
spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, mediums OF
long standing anu wide experience, where |
her maniies atiOns during the season just
closed have been spiritually most cytraordi- |
nary, and financially most successful.
There was no Juror about the business; no
hall was taken or public entertainment given
but the mediums narrow sitting groom, at No.
Do North Ninth street, WAS crowded nightly, |
AMI sometimes twice of an evening, at dol
lar head, and this, too, in spite OF the fact
that the pubic was not Onl /; not invited, but
not admitted Only those who could produce
good testimonials, or were introduced by mn .
tual friends, could gain admission. Among
these was yoHr correspondent, who paid lis
dollar like the rest, and, therefore, feels at
liberty In tell all be knows. The house is IN
old fashioned, thrcc.story brick, occupied, as
Ia ITS first story, 10y a music store, and as to
The rest of IL by the Holmes family and tbe
spirits The sedEccs are held in the second
story front room, an ordinary apartment, per
haps Is feet wide BY IL feet deep, with two
windows looking out on Ninth street, and
with nothing uncanny about it except the
cabinet" which i made by stretching Il
LARK partition across one corner thus cutting
lf triangular space. The partitian reaches
10 the ceiling. and contains a small door,
with threshold about six inches high. Over
lac door, and about seven feet from the hoor,
IS a small pcniagonal opening. while another
4 .inlilnr .ltnnn Inn lIrrnr siIr l. nhnni 4