Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1874-12-23
ANOTHER HUMBUG.

Our exchanges come to US of late,
filled with the details OF the great er-
pose of the spiritualistic swindle of the
Holmes at Philadelphia. Of late Mr..
and Mrs. Holmes have given " sean
ces at their private rooms, at which
departed spirits appeared in person.
They were materialized and ap-
peared in flesh and blood for the in
spection of guests. So cleverly We're
these exhibitions managed that some
very reputable and prominent citi-
gems of Philadelphia were deceived.
Visitors come from every part of the
country to see these manifestations
bringing costly presents for the % ma
terialized - spirits. One of the promi-
nent departed spirits who appeared
was the noted Katie King. But one
I-shrewd, sharp citizen, suspecting a
trick, for weeks watched the operations,
and finally by personal interview
obtained from a young widow Of the
city a confession that she was
the "Kate King" described
in the January number OF
the Atlantic Monthly by Robert Dale
Owen. He publishes in the Philadel-
phia papers what he discovered, and
shows up the humbug as follows:
The seances took place upon the second
| floor of the building, two rooms being ne
| rializstion." In the front room the audi
] ence assembled, witnessing here the Sc
I ance, and thoroughly unconscious OF the
part which the other room took IN this
lkbogus drama of the spirits.
The cabinet was placed IN 9the front
!. room, with its back against q door which
| opened into the adjoining apartment. The
door was taken off, and there was substltu-
| ted by Mr.. Holmes a walnut board partl-
| ton. and this partition he declared ire
| quently might be examined by anybody
prior to the occurrence of the seance, and
/ many, including DR.. Child and Robert Dale
IgIwen. did so examine it, finding nothing at
! the time to engender suspicion. These wal
/ nut boards were secured by four battens on
| each side and frequently the gentlemen
1 above named were invited to come and tai g
/ these battens offand examine the boards: IT
| has since been discovered tnat hoInles haa
the means of taking out one OF these boards
t-the center one, which was about fifteen
inches wide-and of substituting IN Its place
| a board that was cut across the center, ad-
hitting of the removal of the lower halt,
and easily admitting q person from the
back room into the cabinet through the
aperture This was the way in which ha-
tie King entered the cabinet.
4 But there were further discoveries made
/ subsequently,, which were OF an intensely
interesting character. If Katie entered the
cabinet in this way, where was she kept
concealed prior to the seances, and during
the intervals when she disappeared? In
III md
which ladies and gentlemen attending the
eeances were in the habit of depositing theil
superhuous clothing. This room was, as 8
matter to be expected, subject to close scru'
I tiny, the closets and the beds being exam
lined, and more than one pair of eyes cas
their chances beneath the bed, to see if any
| confederate might be hidden there. Blu
no search resulted in such a discovery
Yet. as it afterward turned out tho bed
Ike Maelzel's wonderful automation, die
hold o confederate at the time, and the
confederate was none other than the lady
whose confession we have given above.
But where could she burrow? The at
tendants upon the seance had the freest lib
| erty of examination The bed was open
! some doubters even probing the mattress tc
ascertain if it did not for the time cage the
beauty. Who would have thought Of
looking OF the bolster? The bolster was sc
Il unimportant matter that it never once ex'
cited suspicion. Yet it held the living
mystery, none other than the ruby-lipped
and fair-armed creature who was in few
moments, via the walnut partition, to burs
upon the delighted vision of the breathies'
| spectators. Inc bolster, then, was none o
your old-fashioned striped ticking bags
puffed up with down, but instead, q wicke
. cage, ingeniously CONSTRUCTED, and as in
genious1y oyerlaid, in which the charming
confederate to all this spiritualistic tom
foolery housed herself. until she was to is
sue like golden beauty from cocoon.