Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-29
KATIE KINGS A UToBIoGRAPHY.
a Complete Expose 81 the PhiladelPeia
MateriaIiratiOn Beanees.

a Complete Expose 81 the PhiladelPeta
MateriaIiratiOn Beanees.
The Philadelphia Enquirer OF a recent
date publishes the sworn confession OF the
young woman who personated "Kaiie
King" In The proressed GENERALIZATION"
seances given by Mr.. and Mrs. Holmes, tue
Philadelphia "mediums." 1t tissolnterest-
ing as a story Of human credulitv that we
give II in Cull:-
was born ON The drsl day OF January,
1851, in MASSACHUSETTS. SO far ~ the pub
lie IL concerned my name is Katie King,
and the only one 1 propose TO use. Like
all others, have, Of course, q real name,
but the public have no interest In know
ing what IL Is. About the first OF March,
1874, purchased the furniture OF house
on North Thirteenth street, Philadelphia,
for the purpose OF keeping q boarding
house but a very few weeks elapsed be-
fore my furniture was sold to pay overdue
rent, which did not know existed when
1 made the purchase. In this transaction
lost all the money had, except small
amount OF the portion given me by my
mothers friend. It was during this time
that became acquainted with Mr.. and
Mrs. Nelson Holmes. They had just re-
turned from Europe, and came to board
with me shortly afler commenced keep
ing the boarding house on Thirteenth street.
Amer my furniture was sold they proposed
that should take what little money had
len, purchase furniture as much with 1t a.
l could, hire another house and they would
assist me in furnishing II, board with me
aud also assist me in paying the rent.
acceded TO this proposition. No. so North
Ninth street was the house selected, Mr..
and Mrs. Holmes using the second floor
for their business purposes; the balance of
the house, except the store room on the
first floor, was used by uS Jointly. They
commenced giving their pretended spirit
ual manifestations while we occupied the
house on North Thirteenth street. katie
King" however, did not make her appear
ance for very good reasons until after we
occupied the house on North Ninth street.
This was about the middle Of April, 1874.
The first thing amer we commenced TO
occupy the house on Ninth street was the
erection Of a cabinet, In which the spirits
were supposed TO "materialiEe." There
were but two rooms OH the second floor.
The front room was used by Mr.. and Mrs.
Holmes as a parlor and place to hold their
| seances, the other as a bedroom. These
rooms communicated. In the back corner
| OF the front room was erected the cabinet,
| covering the doorway that communicated
| with the back room. The door was tax en-
| off and the space covered with boards. A
| II ehan nla0ad ah0ui fnn r
| feet from the corner OF the room, so a. 10
| form a triangle, then the cabinet was like
| an old fashioned, three cornered cupboard.
| In the partition which formed the front
| part Of the cabinet was a door TO admit the
medium into the cabinet from the parlor,
and two small apertures about IL inches
! wide and Is high, five 10 Elk feet from the
floor, over which was placed black curtains,
The inside OF the cabinet was also covered
with black muslin. 1t is dangerous to
have mach light in cabinet. These man
ifestatIons commence with what they cal
the OZARK seance." The room is made en-
trely dark not 4 ray Of light IL allowed
to penetrate. Before darkening the room
however, the lady medium exacis from al
in the room at least an implied promis'
that they will submit to the existing icon
ditions" OF the evening. In this part o
the performance Mrs. Holmes plays the
part Of captain general. 1t Is given ou
that she only possesses the mediumisti
powers necessary for this peculiar phase o
spirit manifestations. She requests th
audience 10 join hands aud to-sit perfectl
still not TO allow their feet to extend ou
There must be perfect silence; no talkin
or even whisperingis is allowed. She usual
ly invites some one Of the audience TO Ii
her hands with rope in any manner the
may think best. Sometimes, IL there Is
skeptic present, he will accept Of the inv
tation and tie her to a chair, her hands b'
hind her back, or any way his fancy ma
select. All things being ready, she sea
herself alongside of table, which is =
ways placed close to a wall on one side
the room.