The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-09-07
L HUMBUa.

MRS. HULL's HUMBUG.
A becter ssueetes the Hand Or a akos,
snd Finds u 10 be That II, . Live
Woman - The Celispss OF 3Anothsr
Matte KinR Mysssry.
IRON Sse Portland (lfs.) Press.l
Some time in the spring Of last year
Mrs. Robert I. Hull, who resides on the
corner Of Cumberland and Hanover
Streets, having for a long time given
evidence Of considerable power as a
spiritualistic medium, quite unexpect.
eddy 10 herself discovered that she was
a Undertaking. medium-that Is to say,
q person In whose presence the disem-
bodied spirits Of deceased mortals
could, under certain conditions, assume
the shape and appearance of their per-
ished bodies. This marvellous power
rapidly increased, and she soon became
noted because Of it. Startling accounts
appeared In the SpirihNalist and other
papers, and great interest was excited
BY the reports of eyewitness. twas
felt that a person possessed Of so extra
ordinary . faculty should permit others
10 experience some advantage from It,
and efforts were made to induce her to
give publ, eosaces. But, being OF =
very 'aeiinng disposition" she dislik-
ed the notoriety which her peculiar
talent gave her, and usually declined to
''sit" for any but her friends and those
whom they, by special permission,
were allowed to introduce, This ar
rangernent Quite naturally made all
who had heard any thing about the
miraculous doings more eager than
ever to witness them, and, in response
to the request of would-be ghost.
hunters. the sittings have been Of late
very numerous.
The method Of proceeding was very
simple. A curtain of black cambria,
suspended by brass rings from q wire,
was stretched acros the corner of the
parlor. The triangular space thus
formed was covered w by a piece of
the same kind of cloth. The walls and
floor could be freely examined by the
visitors, and were evidently entirely
free from traps and any apparatus in
tended to deceive. The medium sat at
the apex of the triangular space upon a
low stool. For many months she was
awake during the performances,
but of late she has invariably gone into
trance, and has been unconscious of
The proceedings. The spectators ar
ranged themselves in a row in front of
he curtain, their chairs being DIT a dis
OF not more than seven or eight
'eet from it, and often less than that.
The lights were all turned out except
ng a drop-light, and the whole exhi-
,ition was conducted like that of katy
and the Eddies. AL tho per:
ormances were under the superintend-
nee Of the spirit of one Molly Molas-
es, a c~entenarian Of the Penobscot
ribe, who died some years Ago.. She
communicated with the medium di-
ectly by word Of mouth, but until
ately held communication with less
svored individuals only through the
aborious method of selecting letters
rom the alphabet.
In spite of the honest appearance of
there were a few doubling
rhomases who had a suspicion that all
vas not as genuine as it seemed. To
'llay such suspicious the medium al
owed eight or ten inches of the lowest
Of the skirt of her dress to pro-
ect under the curtain, and remain
here throughout the seance. II one
hose he could fasten it to the carpet
Nth a pin. In no reported case has
he dress been known to move from its
lace. Even this did not satisfy certain
keptics, until number of people plain
7 saw the medium sitting on her little -,
tool at the same time that a spirit was !
Gliding open the curtain. 1
Last September DIR. Gerrish, of this
ity, was present at one of the per-
ormances. Being restrained by the
that courtesy required him to do
which was not expected of him .
t a seance for which he was under OBJ
CATION to a personal friend, he simply !
bserved the phenomena and took notes. !
hey were certainly of q remarkable
haracter, quite unlike any ordinary ,
ticks OF jugglery, and, accompanied
18th the explanations which were Of
cred, were calculated to impress one
Tho was of an imaginative turn; but
ne Doctor failed to sec that it was
ecessary to appeal to supernatural
gencies to account for the perform
nce' and was indiscreet enough to ex-
ress himself to this effect, and, as a
was unable to gain admission
gain until this month. {
Becoming convinced that the exhibit
lon was a fraud, on Tuesday night last
select company was invited to witness,
nd, If need be,assist at the denouement. {
here were present Drs. Greene, Ger
ish, A. S. Thayer, Small and Wheeler,
ir. Charles o. Bancroft and one other.
ir. Hull sat by the lamp, as usual, to [
manage the light. All the unbelieycrs
'ere provided with blazing ~fusees, and
eld them ready to strike il the gas
hould go out. Each had his part as
igned, and failure was absolutely i'm {
'ossible, provided any trick was at
empted by the medium. The CONVEX.
alton was more than ordinarily jolly.
unny stories kept the company in a
oar half the time, but nobody lost sight
I the curtain or failed to note that the
sual rustling at the apex of the trian-
'ular space was going on.
Molly Molasses raped ont that n