The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-04
How Some Three-Card Monte Men
Got Up a Spiritualistio Seance'
The Mediums Disappear with
the Money.
~GoNE TO. MEET KING PHILIP"

management OF the affair were simple enough.
Is vas announced with a grand flourish that navel
lous exhibition OF spirit power would be given In tho
bright open gaslght and that certain medium named
WINS would act under the influence Of King Philip;
that spirit faces and forms would be plainly seen and
recognized that piano would rise rom the stage and
noat IN mid-alr; that common pine table would
osclate and hoat about initiating ship at sea- that
guitar would play and pass around the by tho
invisible power, and other things too
call It lie needless 10 say none Of these things was
DONE not even was the ordinary rope trick OF tho
Davenport Brothers clearly executed and that the
sum and substance OF all that performed under
'sthe influence" Of King Philips immortal shade.
Yet IN the face Of this transparent humbug, finer
audience has very rarely together public hall
sabbath evening Nearly half was composed offashon.
ably dressed ladies' many Of whom recognized
scnizens OF Fifth and Madison avenues The swinde
originated with few three card monte ana gift
,akrs,m they called, who 90 about the country
holding shows and promising 81 900 packages 70 ticket
purchasers, who ind themselves in the end compelled
10 content themselves with a paper of tobacco Or
package Of darnng needles They the spirit game
lwo months ago in Boston with eminent
THE CRUSHING CROWD,
It was very long before the hour down for the
hbition take place that applicants for admission
crowded the steps of Tammany Hail. A crowd extend
ing the sidewalk and into the street was present
before the hour Of o'clock Women OF very
respectable appearance were in the throng and far
more eager than the to get inside the building.
some time before the performance began the centre
OF the floor, covered with innumerable chairs, was
densely packed with people. Between the front row
aud the platform an empty space OF about fifteen feet
extended Suddenly it entered the heads OF those In
the foremost files of chairs that they had paid 81
head while the folks not FAR behind them only
tad. 49,
encroach ri1e the unoccupied territory IN front
them As If by preconcerted signal every ana
stood up grasped char and moved about three
PAGES forward The people behind were in duty bound
To do likewise and of confusion followed that
gave great JOY 10 the proiane multitude in The gallery
who stamped cheered, whisted and made variety or
Understandable noises.
KING PHILLIPS CABINET
In the middle OF the platform and run into the
cess Of doorway, which was LEFT unboted
OF escape stood square rickety cabinet Gov
cred with black muslin. II was about six feet high
and three feet wide II closed al the top but en-
trely open in front The only furniture il contained
was canebottomed chair To the left Of the platform
stood small table supporting guitar set OF letters
commonly used by Sprtualistic snowmen, wire he'll
met and set Of handouts.
THE swISDLR
Elegantly dressed young men in swallow tails and
white stood the head Of the stairs took the
tickets Professor Alyne stood inside the door, laugh
ing himself SICK at the success OF the swndle "A the
tools amt dead yet" he observed; this is a great
racket Later about half-pas nine O'clock when
he had retired from the stage by a back door, his
pockets ull bursting with part Of the proceeds be
sand IN answer to the question, is the performance
over %
yes guess il is, as far as | am concerned Wasn't
riehY but did better IN Boston-scooped IN 81 $50
but had barely time to get away, and left the ID
medium tied the cabinet / believe they half killed
him. Poor devil be never got cent? and here
ALyne laughed again till the tears out
Of his eyes Presently he grew serious and
exclaimed by KING Philip left my wife behind and
the row comes on pretty soon" but again he resumed
his hilarious mood, and with a twinkle Of the eye cried
81 guess, hoSever she knows how take OF her
self and Ayne departed lesurey up the Union
square TO take supper OF oysters while close behind
him followed the cashier with light overcoat thrown
over The cash box
THE PROCEEDINGS
opened by Professor AIyne head or the precious
gang, introducing a sckly Hooking youth named viii
liz who seemed badly in need of new suit OF clothes
and comfortable dinner "Nown sand Alyne ssvou
see before you the most wonderful spirituastic me-
dunn in the world He is IN contact ali the time with
the spirits OF just men made perfect He'll show you
more Of the other world in minutes
than any other ten IN ten years Wait
bit now, ladies and gentlemen, and youth have
moro fun than your money calls Tor Old King Philip
wih DC on the stage IN the crack OF whip and though
you may not be able 10 him account Of mis- beng
INSIDE the box with the curtain drawn, you hear OF
MN you have patience" The sicky youth then took
his seat in the cabinet the curtain across and
Allyne proceeded 10 discourse sprtualism promising
that " The audience dissatisfied with the perform.
they might get their money back said money being
then es but not unless they kept perfect Stiffness
80 as not TO disturb King Philip who could oper.
ate except in silence. The speaker soon contrved to
RAISE al uproar that eiectuay squeched the chances
Of hearing from His Majesty. The humbug dawned on
from the gallery.
4 COMMITTEE or one
Alyne demanded a committee OF one and poor old
DIT Miller az ardent Spiruast went the stage and
said things an right that the medium was fast
ened properly, though the Old man shrewG enough
70 remark that unless he allowed to add little
rope Of his own he wouldn't believe the thing was done
by the spirits Alyne kept up vigorous stream Of
talk, 50 as 70 let the time spin until the money
was all collected and then slip b. the back door
FEW
Sui however, Willis the med UNI did accomplish n
prNpr sfeIta
himself and while tied ringing bell taking on and
putting on his coat having pair Of hanlcuils several
sizes too large placed his aud slipping out az
them 70 take OF his coat, and then when
the curtain was drawn, appearing with the hand
CUTS on again. There were cries from the GAL
Iery OF "Put the old Doctor in with him. Look
behind the door;n "What kind Of a skin game ts
thatY ''Trot out King Philip;n "Give His Majesty
show" AHyne, little pudgy, pleasant faced fellow
who could hardly restrain himself from laughing every
moment at the success Of the affair talked on walking
up and down the stage IN swallow tail coat and
At his buitonh0le NOW, ladies aud gentlemen
observe silence and reverence for something tells me
King Philip coming" Then turning to the cabi-
net;-"Would the medium please throw the bell out 81
The stage when HIS Majesty comes9' Out comes the
bell He has come, ladies' and gentlemen; silence
Lets see him. shouts voice from the gallery;
'Gucss he's snyde, cries another; 'Can he stand
The drnksfp cxclaims third, and so on, with
ely OF such rreverent observations.
The Professor has his back the audience and Is
laughing heartily. He turns however promptly, and
WIN great gravity declares that exhibition Of King
Fhihp uhaer the circumstances was impossible. Tue
ItdeAess a the people 10 the gallery would offend Hi
MAJESTY 20 iuuch After Dr Miller had been altie
VINE ~ TIE stage and the audience WAS growing i'm
paIeht A. nothing being done 81 startling nature,
CONFEDERATE WELL GOT CP
in point 81 dress took o hs overc0at and started with
Sranuy determined Tor The stage 10 expose tho
huniDus - wa greeted with loud cheers from the
Neruah1 assemoiage As be marched the platform,
tucAsu " us sleeves aud strobe into the cabinet
Dent On Killing the medium should any
fraud DC detected Great cheers broke forth as
ne issued from the cabinet and Announced II
a. ms opinion that the mediums hands we're small
deal of shutting about here occurred on M etage Az
Bne being apparently Overcome Wth Indignation FL
haiy Aynes assistant tries V hustle the Confederate
OF tho stage and the whole audience rises II er ~
protest Two more confederates TO tie aid al the
hrs as though they meant ~ sustain an honest zens
rlght % make tho investigation Al three then ehako
Their lists At Alyne aud tho audience goes wild win de
Hight while the gallery turned 4 regular pandeo
mum Now that The Professor well sustained IL css
for committee o. two from the audience and two vrs
meaning citizens hessrs Raymond and Checseborough
loEnard a..-.. -. -.