The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-02
[From the New York SUM-
THE ALLEGED EDDY EXPOSURES.
Col. 0lcott has Word to say on the subjec
He Agrees and Disagrees,

Col. 0lcott has Word to say on the Subject
He Agrees and Disagrees.
To the Editor Of the San When my
eyes caught the head line Exposure of
the Eddys,' IN to-day's San, said to
myself that the grand exposure of the Eddy
spiritual manifestations which, in common
with the whole public, l have been patient
ly waiting for, had come at last but upon
reading the narrative through was sorry
to find one more added to many antecedent
unsatisfactory explanations of a provoking
mystery.
Your correspondent writes as though he
had examined the premises and detected
William Eddy and his confederates at
work; whereas the most superficial knowl-
edge of the "circle room" and its surround
ings would have shown hun the insuf1lc-
iency of either of the points in his theory
He makes it appear as If the cabinet
floor could be raised and confederates
gain access to the closet from Williams
bedroom below, by mounting padded
staircase built in chimney flue. The fact
is, that not only once, but several times,
examined the flooring of the cabinet and
| platform from below, where l could not
only see but actually tested the solidity of
every board and joist, and did this, once in
company with Massachusetts inventor,
who has taken many patents for mechani-
cal contrivances and who was not spirtu-
alist and once with Hartford architect.
The whole surface of the chimney, from
basement to circle room, can be examined
by any one who cares to explore the dust
hole or pot closet, and assert, after care
full sounding and scrutiny of the mason
work, that there is no opening through
which mouse could creep into flue.
Again, your correspondent says that the
female spirits are personated by two of the
Eddy girls, who live near the place, but are
never seen by the boarders they dressing
in Williams room, where the costumes are
kept, and passing thence to the masked
staircase. This is the most absurd of theo-
ries. In the first place, l have seen all the
Eddy family Except the brother who lives
in Minneseta) in the circle room when the
performances were going on secondly,
have searched Williams room, and the
costumes are not kept there thirdly, ne
one could pass from Williams room to thu
pretended secret staircase without passing
the length of the dining room and buttery
in sight of any one who might be in thu
sitting room, as they sometimes are; fourth
ly, in summer, when the windows are open
the silence is so dead that the chirp O.
every cricket can be heard, land the slightes
movement of William inside the close
would be betrayed. The cabinet is onl,
| two by seven feet, and the boards in no on,
place are cut 80 that trap could be ralset
and leave William and his rocking chair
place to stand. Materializations even bet
ter than any seen up stairs occurred in tn
, room below the cabinet, where I searche,
the room and the medium just as the latte
, entered, and where the seance was held a
my own suggestion, made five minutes be
fore it began
: The murder is not out yet. DR.. Bear,
= confessed the whole battle had to be Tough
,, at the door of the cabinet, not inside tina
: it was simple alternative of personation
by William Eddy or an occult force. An
D | agree with him. l don't say that thes
, Eddy manifestations are not partly, or eve
wholly, fraudulent but do say that d
. not believe that they are the latter. Their
! is one point upon which, however, Il al
& | not left in the slightest doubt, viz that
more churlish and backbiting set of peopl
than this same family never encountered
And, in general, have no reason to diffe
with your correspondent as to thei
r shrewdness and general characteristics.
HENRY 8. OLCoTT.