The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-22
SPIRITUAL AND MESMEKI nUU.
BUG.
An Inciden s Of Thirty Years Ago
FhIRHAvEN, Mar, !

EdtOF StuJHhU btOOe - III t'tl"N Nlpiu-
ings GLOBE gave an account of Tie I'm
masking of the humbug of spirituali.m in
this place. Spiritualism of this kin seems
to be sort of an India-rubber humbug. 1t
is put down in one place, but is soon taken
up in another. If the spirits can unite n
knot in rope, why can they not unlock a
pair of handouts If they can do this, why
did they not do it when they were put
upon the wrists of the medium by the
chief OF police in Troy? This humbug is
80 gigantic it seems singular that any
thoughtful man will believe iD or encour-
age it, The recent transactions at Fair
haven reminds me of a similar occurrence
that TOOK place at Castleton some thirty
three years ago which may be worthy OF
noting at this time.
About the year 1912, during the lectures
at the Medical college at Castleton, COM
pany came to Cassleton, proposing to show
wonderful things through animal magnet
ism, n humbug, the brother of spirtualism.
They engaged the Methodist church, and
distributed their posters. AT the appointed
time the church was full. The pulpit was at
the entrance. The spokesman of the eve
ming took his position in the altar, and af-
ter Il long-set speech, that Mr.. Hallock
said was not according to the rules of his
grammar, in which he said they wished to
convince the audience of the reality of the
performance, and requested some one be
selected to bandage the eyes of the medi-
UNI, and committee of three be appoint
ed to examine and ascertain if they could
detect any deception. Hon. Isaac T..
Wright was selected to blindfold the me.
dunn, and DR.. d. NJ. Reese, DR.. Joseph
Perkins and Hon. Zimri Howe were APP
pointed the examining committee. They
took their stand near the altar. The OPP
orator stood behind the medium. He re.
quested any one in the audience to hand
him any article in their possession and he
would tell them what 1t was. One man
handed him comb, saying to the medium,
"Is this a knife? The medium
remained motonless. The operator behind
him said, us it key ?" "Is it brush 2
| SIS II broomp" The medium remained
motionless. SIS it key?" He raised his
arm to signify yes. In this way they prac.
tced for an hour. The committee exam
ined very minutely but were.unable to detec,
anything unfair. The committee were
called upon to report. Judge Howe sad
he could see no trick or anything like de
ception. pr. Perkins remarked, 'The au
dence have seen what have, can say ne
more" ~. Reese said, Ladies ant
gentlemen, this is one of the greatest hum
bugs of the age, yet l cannot tell just
where to place or look for it," He de.
clared it all hocus pocus. The humbug:
felt elated to think they had gone through
the surveillance 81 the professors in Castle
ton medical college and had not been de
tected, thinking that from thence theil
career would be onward. The audience
we're about to disperse. Just at that mo
ment the voice of William C.. Perkins was
heard from the gallery requesting the au
dience to remain. He came down, taking
his stand beside the doorkeeper, and said he
would be pleased to have the performance
go on. The company SAID they did moi
propose to be imposed upon. They hat
submitted to an examination by an intell
gent committee appointed by the audience
They were not humbups and woult
not be imposed upon by boys, and ut
terly refused to do anything further. Well
then, said William, will you be SO good
as to inform us what this string is hitchet
to at the other end, at the same time pick
ing up string that ran under the carpet
Instantly dozen hands had hold of tn,
carpet, ripping it up, and found that thu
string ran from the door keeper to clap
per under the foot of the medium, ant
when the operator gave the right word tn,
door keeper pulled the string, raising th,
machinery under the foot of the medium
and he then raised his hand. The company
were arrested the next day, tried and hned
left all their effects and the town. The
GLOBE has many readers who will readll,
recall this affair.
]. II. Bosworth has had several trap
laid for this Pixies Brook medium, bu
Champln always suspected trap, ant
Bosworth did not succeed until the medium
was fairly in the clutches Of Joe Allen
If the Eddys will come to Fairhaycn WI
will show them up. The Pixies Brood
man has made confession to Mr.. Allen.
Since the above was written Greer
Champlain has made clean breast of thu
whole thing to Mr. Wescott, who hal