Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-12-04
The Eddy Frauds.

The whole spiritualist world is greatly
excited nowadays over the astounding reve-
lations, which come from the home OF the
Eddy family in Chittenden, Rutland county,
Vt. The New York Grophie always ready for
a sensation. and happening to have no bal
loon swindle on hand, took the contract to
initiate the bubble. 1t sent to Chittenden
one "Col Henry 5. Olcott, smart writer,
who, with many professions OF eandor and
a great air Of scientific investigation, has hll-
ed page after page Of the Graphic with
descriptions Of the apparitions, which he
and Others see at the Eddy house. His
articles are illustrated by the Graphic with
pictures of the materialized spirits and, all
in all it makes story wonderful enough
If true. but not wonderful At all on the very
simple hypothesis that the Eddy brothers are
charlatans. and Olcott a crafty Bohemian,
paid first probability the Graphic: paid also,
probably, by the Eddys; and who expects to
make something additional out of book he
purposes to publish. and lectures he is an
noanced to deliver on the subject of these
- manifestations,
The claim is that spirits Of departed men
and women appear at this Eddy house
E. materialized = or in other words, in the
body. These appearances all take place on
raised platform at one end Of a large room,
which is lighted very dimly by a single keTo-
sene lamp, turned down low, and placed
inside band box without a cover, in cor
ner at the other end of the room. They
come. always one at time, Except that an
infant in arms i sometimes added) by part
inl- the curtains Of what l. called the " Cab
met. " a sort of closet open at the
top. which stands on the platform
Within thi, cabinet, the medium, vii
liam El5y. sits, or i, supposed to sit, in
trance. Without his presence in the cabi-
net no spirit appears. The platform is
guarded 10y stout railing; the front row
Of spectators are ten feet from the edge Of
the platform, and the rest further of.
Moreover, this front row must be all of ''be-
Levers, - who hold hands during the seance
The skcptics. II any are admitted, must take
back seats. and the benches. chairs and row
Of believers with ci4spel hands are 50 ar
ranged, that it is impossible for any one to
spring upon tie platform. seize tie spirit
and expose tie fraud. The Eliys charge
no admittauce fee; bat are making money
by boarding. ON very cheap fare, at good
prices. house full of credgloas duFc>, who
have come from all parts Of the country, to
see and talk with departed friends. The
spirits which ''matcrialize" best and often
est, are an Indian equaw. named "Honto,
a sailor. George DIX, vino was q pirate
in this life, and '-Maya5wcr, an Italian
girl hut the visitors also have interviews
with deceased friends and many of them
are f5ll in the faith THAI the lifting of the
dingy dnpery ever tie door OF this Eddy
cabinet, /, the lifting of the curtain BE-
tween this life and that beyond
\ few days ago, Major George T.. Childs'
of s.. Adams, Mr.. Luciu~ Bigelow, and
another =. Adams gentleman. were present
at one Of these Chittenden "Seances. and
being men Of some sense, Of course found
no difficulty in satisfying themselves that
the whole thing was a fa1d,-a piece Of
cheap jugglery. Major ChIl- has since
written to the Boston Trlrelsr an inter
e,ting and truthful account Of what be saw
and learned. We copy the principal part Of
his letter elsewhere, and oar readers viii
find it Entertaining reading.