Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-22
THE "KATIE KING" FRAUD-HOW II
WAS EXPOSED.

The following are the principal parts of the ar
ticle of the Philadelphia Inquirer describing the
detection of the Katie King fraud:
"This gentleman visited these seances on sever
nj occasions, and was disposed to look at the mat
ter from scientific standpoint than otherwise.
He failed to see how spirits could cover themselves
with flesh and blood; in fact, to him such q thing
Stands not within the prospect OF belief, but ne
was still willing to be convinced if facts sufficient
existed. One evening, when in proximity to
"Kate," he ascertained she had bad breath,
which produced rather an unfavorable impress
sion. E
flowing into the Golfers of the mediums, and
Kste's friends were jubilant at the number Of
converts daily being made to the cause OF spirit
ual naturalization put suddeniy, w;saeas wssa-
ing, Katie disappeared. Night after night her
devotees assembiedto welcome ner return. me
! medium with plaintive voice sang / am coming
am coming but she did not come. Various
were the reasons assigned. Some said she was
offended at unkind remarks that had been made
about her.
entered the cabinet and taken all the magnetism
out; and, furthermore, that Katie had assembled to
a higher sphere and exhausted her strength !;
others were uncharitable enough to say thst Katie
was on a strike. In the meantime the gentleman
who was seeking knowledge under difficulties had
been making extraordinary exertions to find her
daily Observation-Disclosures her boarding house.
Little by little he quietly picked up information
that enabled him to find young lady whom he
thought very much resembled Katie King.
Using the most detective like skill, he followed
his clue up successfully. BY certain peculiarlties
viii n be observed in the Katie of the other world
at the seances he found that young woman who
resembled Katie generally and had her peculiari'
ties took her meals with great regularity at
certain house which he had 'pped off, in detec-
tive parlance. lie then Swallowed his woman,
and found that she attended all the seances at the
Holiness house. He ultimately concluded to
scrape an acquaintance with Katie in the flesh,
choosing as an suspicious time an hour when the
lady Of msterializing tendencies had been rem
| dered happy by good, square worldly meal.
| The first interview was fsiure; the supposed
Katie protesting she did not believe in spiritual
! ism; declared that she had seen the manifesto
tions at Holmes but once, and so far as she knew
they were all right These assertions, however,
did not satisfy the seeker after truth, and various
schemes, devices, plans and promises were resort
ed to in hope Of discovering some OF the many
presents that had been made to Katie Through
patience, perseverance and certain considerations
one present was produced This satisfied the
gentleman that he was in the right place. More
patience, perseverance and promises, and out
dropped another, and so on until small table
was covered with rings, crosses, lockets beads
and robes worn in the different spheres from
which Katie had kindly descen led to visit mortals
at SO much per capita.
NE ODJtCl Oh tut RtutlcLudu CHoTt was " 81
narrow down the evidences OF fraud that he might
be able to knock the bottom out of the humbug
at a blow, and here was his object attained. Here
was not only the veritable Kate weeping, &C
knowledging her dupicity, but producing mate
rial evidence of it in the shape Of all those little
tokens of regard which she had been fondly be-
lieved to have borne off in her spirit shape
to her abode in the other sphere, as most OF the
affected term it. The presentation Of these
could not possibly fail to convince the persons who
had given them to the spiritual Katie that the lat
ter had place of deposit on this planet for her
yaluables, so that course was determined upon
All who are acquainted with Robert Dale Owen
and Dr. Henry T. Child, Of this city, will not hest
tate to say that they are honest, upright, truthful
men, but, like the rest Of humanity, they were
liable to be deceived. The party who had made
the discovery consulted these gentlemen, showing
them the presents which Katie had kindly loaned
him. They, having been identified with the man
ifestations from the first, were considered when
the fraud was discovered, the proper parties to
denounce them.
In order to make the conviction absolute on the
part of those who had hitherto endorsed the
manifestations, that the naturalization process
was most barefaced humbug, the gentleman
improvised seance. Procuring suitable apart
ment, to which he invited a number Of katie's
friends the gentleman prearranged with the lady,
who now acquiesced in his suggestions for her
appearance, dressed in the gauzy fabrics and
other trappings she used to disport herself in at
| Holmes shows. She did so, sort Of cabinet
being hastily improvsed, and the exposure was
rendered com plete beyond chance Of cavl or
dispute. As result there few spiritualists
who are better and wiser men and women, and,
as a still better result, check was administered
to most dangerous excitement, which was be-
ginning TO affect the minds Of thousands of super
| fetal thinkers, as it had already weakened those
of many men and women who believed all too
willingly in the trckery Of designing, greedy
New Workers, of the pure Yankee stripe.
The woman who personated Katie King has
already returned, far as possible, all the
presents she received to those who gave them to
her. She deeply regrets her part of the swindle,
and if all the facts in the case could be made
public she would be freely forgiven by those who
were duped by her aid.