The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-21
1Etpor MEDIUMS EXPOSED.
An Experience with Pretended seaIed-Letter
Reudcrs-A sure Test.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Seven
field, spiritual medium, with the required fee,
g. received an answer to neary every Inquiry
in the letter, which was returned apparently I'm
opened. But on examining the envelope close
ly found that II was not tue one sent; II was
n close imitation, but of n different kind OF
paper Thereupen wrote back charging him
with the fraud. 70 that letter received an I'm
mediate reply, asserting innocence OF any fraud,
and Offering me another test without further
charge.
Accordngly prepared another sealed letter
with several traps in II, one of which was sewing
the sheet no with thread and to make II more
effective, used two sizes OF thread, and tied
knots at particular stitches. | then made an
envelope Of legal cap. 80 a. to 1T very tightly,
gulnned II to one side OF the folde1 letter and
having enclosed 1t, wrote my own address on
the back Of the envelope. | got a friend. spir-
iuaiist, to witness the enclosing and directing
OF the letter. aud showed him all tho traps
" wing sent this letter, an anawer came IN due
time. IN detail. as before TO the various inqul-
all appearance been suaked and dried Steam
or moisture had been used. Some OF the strokes
OF the writing on the back mad run with the
moisture, ana In resoalng 1t tnev did not ali
Join as b fore blank spaces appearing between
tuen. II was therefore certain that Il had been
opened. Upon cutting the envelope open, we
found that tue stitching had been taken out
and Dunglingly done over again. Only one size
OF thread was used where h I'd used two.
As an additional evid Hnce Of frHu1, the an 'wer
to the second letter contained an allusion TO an
inquiry In the frat. That inquiry was about n
deceased sister Selma. but the answer was about
silvia. showing that Mans1 id had made an error
iu copying my first letter
tiers, all alike, md sent them. with the fees en-.
| closed. to X. W. Flint. New York, NJ. X. Ca-son
Newark, and JACOB Todd Boston. sewed the
folded note paper with peculiar stitch. I'm
fortunately only one OF them was So encctu llS
sealed a. to prevent any OF its contents from
being seen after removing the envelope. The
other two were sewed across one eDd only, 81
that bv looking IN a, the other end portion OF
the contents could be resd.
The letter sent to Ctssein "a female. by the
way, as have since lie rned) was returned bear
ing the strongest marks Of having been opened
! Tue gummed edges OF the envelope were torn
Once opened, IL was easy to read this much 10y
looking IN at one end without unsewing the
other:
DRAH BROTHER wuosR: Desiring. IN all sincerity
ess s1r.gsn ~ msa,sm ssse prrpaT,sd slphe
snye1 s' NJ appear ee!W me KEY " Tue names
Not ring 70 rem owe the stitches. lest she
rn uId be unable - restore them, Mrs. or Miss
Cassein wrote some silly stun purpOrtng &c
come from my brother" " ugcr." but not IN an
swer to the questions whicn could only b. read
by unstitchng the letter. Nor did tue answer
address me by my name, which was subscribed
The letter to Il. W. Flint was promptly an.
swered. He. too, was aDle to read so much OF
| the contents as given above. and the answer wa,
Us follows:
SPIRIT SPHERE, 9th NAY.
nRAR FRfESp; vii. by writing the name ~ The
spt you wish to answer Ia full get that spirit to come
aud answer your Queries. There are o. MANY spirits
ever reay and ANXIOUS TO communicstc With q ell
loved ones earth. that do not, without the
gwen, know VINO call for. signs ngUres will
| d.. You're very truly, GUIDE
Accordingly | prepared aud sent second
sealed letter, containing the same questions n
| ia the nrst one and giving all the names In fan
! Not hearing from It IN a week, | wrote again do
! string an answer, but none ever came. why
because the letter was sowed ON sewing III a
| chl e.
! The letter sent to Jacob Todd camo back after
many dAya. during which sent second LEI tel
! to MN urging an answer. II was apparently un-
| opened. and WITH this endorsement: Ret
| because no spirit couli " would answer" BeinI
checkmate Todd's spirits Hut must do him
| the Justice 10 say tie returned tue fee, which
was 81.
| Thus, after six trials at a cost OF more than
so, got no spirit communication, bat the
| most positive proof that Mansfield. Cassein and
Funt are humUuga. The letters are preserved
! snd 80 witness ~ their preparation and return
| L. at uand
| lhe ilitl Of certain pcr.ons IN an abnormal
state To road the co tents Of sealed letters dc
/ not doubi. know OF one such instance, which
can toe proved to be genuine Dy su n evidence
as prove the foregoing frauds. But IL anybOd,
| read sealed letter let him do as old, In the
| ltst instance, sew the letter up well ON IN u
chine. aud IN bet ten 10 ono he Will get no di
rect answer 10 hts Inquiries.
wM. HENRY BURR.
| WAsHIsoToS. ID. C.. Aug. 10, 1915.