The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-26
CALAIS, POOR GHOST!"
"A Katy King Fraud
i'm Portland.
Mrs. Robert /. HulPS MA
terializatiOns" Exposed.
A Captured "Spirit'' Shrieks
"FOR GODS SAKE LET ME co.,
CALAIS, POOR GHOST!"
A Captured esprit" Shrieks
"FOR GODS SAKE LET ME CO."

"FOR GODS SAKE LET ME CO."
| Last Tuesday morning we published an ex-
tract from Boston paper which gave glowing
account Of certain socalled spirit material:za-
TONS" We had little thought then that in a
dozen hours after our patrons had read the
wonderful story, the whole performance would
be shown to be piece of bare-faced imposi-
ton. Such, however, was the case; and we
are enabled to give complete and authentic
account of the whole affair. Ali the inyestiga-
tors named excepting one gentleman who is
out of town. have heard this report, and give it
their entire and hearty endorsement.
In order that our readers may have more
perfect understanding of the facts of the case,
it is proper to give brief history of the series
of exhibitions which have just been brought to
a sudden and shameful close. Sometime in the
spring Of last year Mrs. Robert /. Hull, who
resides on the corEer of Cumberland and Han
over streets, having for long time given evil
denes of considerable power as spirtualistic
medium, quite. unexpectedly to herself dscov-
cred that she was materiaizing medium, that
is to say, person in whose presence the DIS
embodied spirits Of deceased mortals could, un-
der certain conditions, assume the shape and ap-
pearance of their persisted bodies. This mar
vellous power rapidly increased, and she soon
| became noted because of it. Startling accounts
appeared in the Spritualst and other papers,
and great interest was excited by the reports OF
eye-witnesses. 1t was felt that person pos
sessed of so extraordinary faculty should per-
NIT others to experience some advantage from
it, and efforts were made to induce he's to give
public seances. But being of very retiring
disposition, she disliked the notoriety which
her peculiar talent gave her, and usually de-
clined to sit for any but her friends and those
whom they, by special permission, were allow
| ed to introduce. This arrangement quite nat
| uraly made all who had heard anything about
| the miraculous doings more eager than ever to
| witness them, and, in response to the request
| o. would-be ghost hunters, the sttings have
been of late very numerous.
The method of proceeding was very simple.
A curtain of black cambria, suspended by brass
rings from wire was stretched across the cor
ner Of the parlor. The triangular space thus
formed was covered over by piece of the same
kind of cloth. The walls and 1oor could be
freely examined by the visitors, and were evil
IDENTIFY entirely free from traps and any appara-
tus intended to deceive. The medium sat at
the apex of the triangular space upon low
stool. For many months she was always
awake during the performances, but of late
she has invariably gone into trance, and has
been unconscious of the proceedings. The
spectators arranged themselves in row in
front of the curtain, their chairs being at dis
lance of not more than seven or eight feet from
it, and often less than that. The lights were
all turned out excepting drop-light, which
was turned down very low and shielded by
porcelain shade and newspaper. The effect
of this was to make the room so dark that one
would have to be quite familiar with the looks
of the neighbors whose elbows touched his or
he could not recognize them.
After sitting time which was rarely less
than twenty minutes, ghostly figures would
appear at the central slit in the curtain. These
were usually female forms, generally yelled,
and clothed in long flowing robes of white
ness so intense that many observers have
thought that they emitted phosphorescenu
light. Sometimes, though very rarely, male
would appear, and once in while a little
child. These figures were generally recognized
by some one as departed friends, but occasion
ally nobody present could determine who the
spirit was. These beings often came out into
the room several feet, touched some of the
spectators, allowed their friends to feel of their
hair and hands and to kiss them, brought beau
tiful flowers and did other things which gave
proof of intelligence and affectionate regard.
All the performances were under the superin-
tendence of the spirit Of one Molly Molasses, a
centenarian of the Penobscot tribe, who died
some years ago. She communicated with the
medium directly by word of mouth, but until
lately held conversation with less favored indi-
viduals, only through the laborious method of
selecting letters from the alphabet. The to-
dunn Of this process was, however. somewhat
relieved by the entertainment afforded by Mol
ys extremely original and phonetic orthogra-
ply. Her vocabulary was rather limited,
betokening lamentable deficiency of educa-
ton, and smacking much more of the Indian
lingo to be found in dime novels than that
which is supposed to be used by tri be so long
civilized as is the Penobscot. Recently she
has been accustomed to use the vocal apparatus
of the entranced medium, and, by her display
Of native shire wdness, has contributed not lit
tie to strengthen the belief of those who were
disposed to accept the spirtualistic explanation
of the phenomena.
| In spite of the honest appearance of things,
there were few doubling Thomases who had
a suspicion that all was not as genuine as it
seemed. To al.ay such suspicious, the medium
allowed eight or ten inches of the lowest por-
ton of the skirt Of her dress to project under
the curtain and remain there throughout the
seance. If one chose he could fasten it to the
carpet with pin. In no reported case has the
dress been known to move from its place. Even
this did not satisfy certain sceptics, until a
number of people plainly saw the medium sit
ting on her little stool at the same time that
spirit was holding open the curtain. That GER
tainly ought to be sufficient to satisfy any I'M
preiudiced mind La ad ltiol to this, one was
| asked what object Mrs. Hull could possibly
have for practicing deceit. Surely not to make
money, for she did not like to take it; she
sat- to please her friends, not herself, and if
they were gratifed, she had in their happiness
and thanks a sufficient reward. But once in
| while grateful visitor woull insist upon her
| acceptance of lucre, and for some time past it
has been understood that she was to have ten
dollars for an evenings sitting. So much for
the general description; now let us consider
some recent occurrences in detail.
Last September DR.. Gerrsh of this city was
| present at one of the performances. Being re-
strained by the feeling that courtesy required
him to do nothing which was not expected of
him at a seance for which he was under obli-
cation to personal friend, he simply observed
the phenomena and took notes. They were
certainly of remarkable character, quite I'M
like any ordinary tricks of jugglery, aud, &C.
companied with the explanations which were
offered were calculated to impress one who
was of an imaginative turn but the doctor