The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-06-08
sPIRITUALIsTIC HOCUs-POCUs.

SPIRIFUALISTIC HOCUs-POCUs.
An Ingenious Exposure "a the Mediums
aud Their Tricks.
n. Y Evening Post, May 20.
One of the most remarkable entertain
ments ever given In this city took place
last evening at Chickering Hall The
announcement had been made in the
daily press that Mr.. w. Irving Bishop,
whose private exhibitions have called
forth expressions of admiration from the
favored few who have been permitted TO
witness them, would publicly expose the
fraudulent practices of the class of men
and women who describe themselves as
spiritual mediums" and as a conse-
quence the house was literally packed
with splrItualists, anti spiritualists, per
sons who are hating between the two
opinions, clergymen, lawyers, men of
science, and ordinary novelty-seekers.
DIR. William A. Hammond delivered an
address setting forth the objects of the
meeting, and at its close introduced tho
principal performer of the evening Mr.
Bishop is a young man, slightly but
symmetrically built, of 1.-the and easy
carriage, and with a face denoting intel
ligence and quickness of thought. The
Rev. DIR. Charles F. Deems and DIR.
Alexander b. Mott were chosen a com
mittee to supervise the preparation of
the apparatus, and pronounce upon its
character. A folding screen of three
. leaves occupied the center of the stage.
arranged like box-scene" in a theater
In the recess a common chair was
set, directly in front of a stout
wooden post which was fastened
by iron jOists to the floor The
committee with their own hands screwed
two iron rings into the post the perform
er was placed in the chair, facing the
audience his wrists were pinioned by
stout strips of -unBleached muslin, sewed
about tAem by DR.. Mott as tight as was
possible without impeding the circulation
of the blood, and tied fast to the lower
of the two rings behind him; another
band was passed around his neck and Sc
cured to the upper ring; his feet were
tied with. rope, the other end of which
s'sEesss- hekd taut by member of the audi
ense In one of the parquette seats and
a STRONG calcium light was turned full
upon him from the real gallery. A tam
BOURNE and several bells of different
tones were laid in his lap, and a curtain
draw in front of him. Scarce had he
disappeared from view before the tam
BOURNE was loudly beaten, the bells rung,
and the instruments, one after another,
tossed over the top of the screen on to
re open stage. The curtain was with
and the committee requested to
apparatus. Not a thing,
had apparently been
a strip of cloth were
ler's knee; within a
vas found tied in a
his threat, with the
the knot. Then a
INNER and a large nail
chair beside him when
nail was found driven
sae board. To enumerate all
ellOus manifestations produced
Th4r. Bishop would require more space
THAN we can spare for this article Suffice
it that the "spitits" drank water from
tumbler set on his knee; cut doll out of
marked piece of paper with common
shears thrummed on a guitar blew a
hageolet; produced bouquet of flowers
from an invisible garden; allowed Dr.
Deems to be shut up with them, blind
fold, with his right foot laid across the
feet, his right hand on the leg and his
left hand on the forehead OF the "medi-
um," and raised terrible tumult all
about him without disturbing the ''me-
dunn" enough to be peTceptible to the
reverend gentlemen's sense of touch
turned a wooden bucket which had been
placed upright in the mediums" lap,
wrong side up on his head and deported
themselves generally in the fantastic
fashion with which professional "medi-
ums" have heretofore made us ac-
quainted In each case the manifesto
tons began rs soon as Mr.. Bishop had
been concealed from view, and when q
transformation of any sort took place it
L. vfg
On During the progress of the en-
ment the investigating committee
reased by the accession of the
C1Ottheil, of the Jewish church,
'ands and DIR. Dalton. Other
-itizsns were called for but
umttee had pronounced
rely satisfied with the
unable to account for
lenOmena presented,
Mt, in a short address,
secret, which CON
peculiar formation
lands and wrists,
is arms not out of,
ndages to such
EN- free play upon
i'm. To prove that
-enuine the curtain
ishOp, though very
tg's labor, kindly
a number of his
ne audience. His
;, his strength. his
ID his cool nerves
led into play, TO the
spectators who show
ty plaudits
&, the meeting passed
to Mr.. Bishop, his as
individual members of
ng committee. Mr.. Bishop,
no pay for his performance,
the proceeds to the relief of
.r Of New York, makes an open
$500 to any charity which may
lated by any professional "me-
viii perform himself equally
mmond, in his opening adj
9unced that he was en-
ltby friend with stand
70 to be paid to any
viii lengthen his body
float through the air
viii read a written
have been folded, en-
" envelope and sealed
a committee OF
70 agreed
the
70