The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-26

| chosen as her committee called to confer with
her. They were told at the door that she was
not in the house; but rather peremptory note
brought her to an appreciation of the fact that
she had not been out at all that day, She was
represented to be very i'll, but the physicians
could simply see as much departure from a
condition of health as any woman would be
likely to feel who had played out her desperate
game and saw ruin staring her in the face.
She was excited and scared, but not sick. She
persisted in her incredible story and agreed to
give test sitting Thursday night, with one of
her committee in the cabinet with her. The
money which they had paid was offered to the
doctors, but they declined it on the ground
that it would do them more good for the pres
ent in her hands than in theirs for very OBJ
vious reasons
Promptly at the appointed hour, the COM
mttee of two was at the haunted house. They
were met by the husband, who showed them
into the parlor, and then retreated up stairs.
Presently there appeared party of imposing
appearance who announced himself as Mrs.
Hulls physician, said that she was in an
alarming state and could not sit that even
ing. eve would call attention to the peculiar
appropriateness of the word "sit'' after it had
been demonstrated that she had performed
standing) He then proceeded to deliver a
gratutous haraugue on the reality of material
ization in general and the actuality of Mrs
HulPs materializations in particular, and this
in spite of his entire knowledge of the expose
of Tuesday evening. A very little of this kind
of talk would, under the circumstances, go a
great way with his select audience, and they
remarked that they would like to have DR..
Greene, as medical gentleman, see Mrs. Hull
and satisfy himself of her condition by obser-
walton. This was met by an indignant refu-
sal. The idea of questioning the ability of
man who assures you that he is physician
and surgeon (late of Philadelphia is grada
ate of both the Allopathic and Homeopathic
schools, has been in extensive practice for
twenty years, and whose success
warrants the assertion that he never
fails to cure where a cure is possbleP'
1t was simply preposterous! And so these two
novices, dabblers in medicine, went away from
that house in humiliation, without having &C.
complished their nefarious design They fe,i,
though, that as the time had expired within
might fairly be loosened; and that is how we
are able to give this full account of the nat
ter.
We have occupied so much space with de-
scription, that we can say but few words by
way of comment This affair is more impor-
tant and serious than at first may appear 1t
is not simply that iuggler's trick has been
discovered; it would be a small affair if it were
the detection of an ordinary case of swindlng
But this is tho exposure of most cruel plot to
work upon the tenderest sensibiities of human
nature, to make traffic in the yearnings of
bereaved and stricken hearts, to trife with the
longings OF the human soul for Immortality:
and all this for gain. The fact that much
money has not yet been taken is no palliation
OF the offence The plans were made with
devilish Ingenuity, with more than ordinary
insight into the weakness of the average mind,
which allows wishes to pass for thoughts and
desires for opinions; which is unaccustomed to
investigate with the sole object of arriving at
the truth, whatever it may be; which shrinks
from facts if they ale unpleasant and is willing
to believe anything, however contrary to all its
previous experience, if only it is comforting;
and which values privilege in direct ratio to
the difficulty of obtaining it. If the fiendish
design had not been thwarted, nobody can
doubt that tefore long almost any price could
be demanded for seance Already several
families had reg ular appointments for sittings
every week, and the marvels of naturalization
had become their staple subject of conversa-
ton. Robert Dale Owen was driven into a
mad-house by the Katy King affair, and yet
she was of no account to him as person. And
we shudder when we think of the possible con-
sequences of this dreadful piece of business
upon the minds Of those who for long time
have been duped in the belief that they have
held converse with their nearest and dearest,
who are dead. The matter should not be al
lowed to drop here. The gentlemen who have
exposed this inhuman crime have done their
work well and should have the thanks of the
comm unity. 1t is now the province of the
state to step in and sift the matter in court
of justice.