The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-01-14
Cock Lane and Katie King.

The laughable expose of the terres
trial character of "Katie King" at Phil
adelphia, is the most notable revelation
of mediumistic fraud that has yet been
made, but it is not the first. The modus
operandi of untying complicated knots,
writing crimson letters on the human
skin, bell-ringing, etc., has more than
once been shown to be the result OF
shrewd trickery, while the first import
ant message from the spirit-lanA has yet
to be announced. The situation would
be ludicrous if it were not pitiable, and
degrading to common sense
The Katie King affair, though differ
ing in detail, reminds one of the Cock
Lane Ghost, over which all London was
excited in 1862, and of which DR.. John
son was one of the investigators. The
story has such bearing on the events
in Philadelphia that we will give its out
lines:
In 1850 a stock-broker named Kent,
who was widower, boarded with one
Parsons, a church clerk, in Cock Lane.
Parsons was in debt to Kent, and the
latter was finally compelled to sue him
for the money. This angered Parsons,
and Kent's sister-in-law, who also
boarded in the house, and was known as
Miss Fanny, having died of smallpox,
he was in the habit of alleging that
Kent had poisoned her. He continued
his ISLANDERS for about two years, and
finally alleged that the spirit OF the de-
ceased woman had communicated to his
young daughter the circumstances of
her death. The minister of the parish
and other neighbors were called in. The
girl, who was about thirteen, lay in bed.
Raps and queer scratching noise were
heard. 1t was explained that one rap
meant yes; two, no, and that the scratch,
ing was manifestation of the displeas-
ure of the departed. Through these
signs the auditors learned that Miss
Fanny had been poisoned. that Kent
was the poisoner, and that he would be
convicted and hanged for the crime. On
being asked if she could communicate in
other places, the ghost raped affirma-
lively, and on being told to tell the color
of watch in the hands of one of tn
company, answered that il was black, as
it really was, having shagreen case.
Great was the wonder and terror of the
witnesses, and the marvel spread like
wildfire.
Some persons were not wholly con-
WINGED, however. They took the girl to
the house of clergyman where some
ladies put her to bed, though they were
frightened almost out Of their wits by
the constant rapping. In a few min
utes the remainder of the company came
into the chamber and demanded that
the girls hands be held outside Of the
bed-clothes. When this was done the
rapping ceased. Afterward she was
taken to the vaults of the church where
Miss Fanny was buried. The ghost was
called upon to speak, but no voice was
heard. The coffin was finally opened,
but no traces of poison was found in the
corpse.
The imposture was now evident, and
Mr.. Kent, who had been regarded by
many as a heaven-accused criminal, be-
gan to recover his reputation. He sued
Parsons and his family for SANDER, and
The malicious clerk and his wife were
imprisoned and fined. A printer who
mad put some Of their libels in type was
slso fined. just how the raps were made
has never been ascertained to this day;
put, for years after, the credulous partic-
pants in the investigation blushed at the
mention Of the name of Cock Lane.
Katie King is not likely to be more
grateful to the ears of Messrs. Owen and
Jhilds, and they must be obtuse indeed
{ they have not learned lesson of eau
ion.-Cincinndi Gazette.