The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-01-25
KATIE KING AGAIN.
Her History rs Related by Herself---statr-
ment Under Oath---Thc Naturalization
Tricks Explained.


Iwas born on the first day Of January,
1851, in Massachusetts, So far as the
public are concerned my name is Katie
King, and this only 1 propose to use,
Like all others, have, OF course, reRl
name, but the public have no interest in
knowing what il Is. was married
when l was between fourteen and fifteen
years Of age. / have, one child eight
years old. My husband died upwards
Of two years ago, leaving me without
any means Of support, and through my
own exertipnR 1 have provided for my
child and m aged mother. After my
furniture was sid Mr.. Holmes proposed
that i should take what little money
had left, purchase as much furniture
with II as could, hire another house,
and they would assist me in furnishing
it, board with me, and would also assist
me in paying tue rent. / acceded to this
proposition. No. 30 North Ninth street
was the house selected, Mr.. and Mrs.
Holmes using the second floor for then
business purposes; tho balance Of the
house, except the storerOom on the first
floor, was used by US jointly. They
commenced giving their pretended
spiritual manifestations while we occu.
pied tho house on North Thirteenth
street. Katie King. however, did
not make her appearance, for very good
reasons, until after we occupied tho
house on North Ninth street. This was
about the middle Of April, 1874. Shortly
after We were settled in the Ninth street
house Katie King became the subject Of
daily conversation. Katie had taken her
departure from Florence Cook, in Lon
don, and announced that sllo won!
"nover appear on earth again" Tint
could be easily fixed, however, by Katie
announcing here that "her friends in
London were mistaken that sho only
meant she would neyerappear in London
again, but America should thereafter be
tho field Of operations" The Spiritual
lists would believe it, and outsiders knew
nothing about it, One day while con-
yersing about tho probable success Of
the seances, u white cloth was thrown
over my head by the lady medium, nc
conpanied withthe remark, % You wonld
make good Katie King. wish you
would try it. Go i'll the cabinet once;
look out at the audience mud speak; say
something, Just to see how II will take.
It is useless to repeat all the conyersa.
ton that passed between US at various
times on the subject.
They offered me 50 seance, and
agreed TINT II Katie King would "take y
they would hold throo u day. Imadeup
my mind to play the, part for short
time, hoping that something better
would turn up in my interest. In the
mean time / would be earning my ex-
peuses and doing no one any harm. All
the necessary preparations we're made for
my debut, which was to take phce on
the evening Of the 18th OF May. A robe
had been prepaeed Of thin, white French
muslin, reaching to the floor, with long,
flowing sleeves, and fastened around tile
waist with belt, which, when / put il
on, gave, me very graceful appearance.
A white veil was then thrown loosely
over my head. had taken great pains
TO give my face, arms and handsa white,
corpse-like appearance. Altogether,
looked very much like spirit. The
manner in which / entered and left the
cabinet will be hereafter described. I
entered II the first timo, after the dark
seance was over, from the bedroom. Mr..
Holmes was in the cabinet. After one
or two false faces Ind been exhibited,
gently drew aside the curtain hanging
over one Of the hportures, showing the
audience my face, and, in very low
whisper, scarcely audible, said, "Good
evening, friends" then drew back my
head and drew down the curtain. Tho
sensation in the audience was great.
Although somewhat excited, was
amused to hear the different remarks,
"Did you hear II speak Z" al wonder
who 1t isl" "How beautiful it was, 4"
81 do wish Il would appear again. The
lady medium, who was on the outside Of
the cabinet, among the audience, mp.
peared very much pleased, indeed, at the
reception / Ind received, and remarked
that "she thought something unusual
would occur, for tho spirits had been
drawing from her 80 hard all tho evening
TO enable them 10 materialize, that she
Ind scarce any vitality left" After the
excitement had subsidized little and va.
rious requests had been made TINT !
should appear again, pulled the curtain
to one side, showed my face at the Nper-
ttire, and three or four voices Mt tho
same time said, "Wlio Are youG-please
to tell us your name" 1 answered in a
low whisper, rs before, +" I am Katie
King, you stupid" These cant phrases,
"Y0u stupid" az shan't," "Be sure
am, etc., were used by Florence Cook
$50 / was informed by Mr.. and Mrs.
Holiness when personating Katie King,
and it was very important that I shOuld
use them, so that the people would thinl
I was the same Katie who had appeared
in London.
The sensation among the audience
was greater than ut first, and often wa.
the question asked, "Can this possibly
be the Katie King WHO appeared through
tho lnidiumship Of Florence Cook IN
Londonl" After few moments agair
showed my face and said, "0f course il
is, you stupid" The sensation wasGver
greater that before. 1 again Withdrew
The lady medium remarked TIM
"SpiritS could not remain materializeG
but few moments at time, they hat
10 retire into tho cabinet to gather
strength" On my appearance agaln al
the aperture, Mr., Clilds asked mt
''when / had been in London" ! re
piled, az attended aseanco there today
you stupid" and again retired. Mr.,
Holmes suggested TINT had said enough
for the first time, and I left the cabinet
passed through the bedroom, up-stairi
to my own room, on the third floor
The audience soon after retired, con