The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-10-12
SE.ADE, THE MEDIUM.
Another Spiritual Impostor Shown Up.

[Frem the Boston Glote.l
DR.. Henry Slade has been long
known in this country as one Of the
most wonderful of Spiritual mediums,
Hundreds of people have been ready to
testify to the marvellous character OF the
manifestations which have occurred IN
his presence, and he has been referred to
as beyond question, when other impos-
tors have been exposed. Believers IN
Spiritualism have pinned their faith to
him, and skeptics have resGted to him
for convincing evidence of the reality OF
spiritual communications. From these
classes he has for years gathered q reve-
nue. such as no honorable, intellectual
effort could win. So great was his sue
cess that in an Ilnlucky hour for himself
he determined to go abroad to spread
his fame and increase his wealth. He
created genuine sensation III London,
and we are told that from thirty to forty
persons day have resorted to his
seances at guinea head Even sc1en-
tifc bodies of great dignity and lmpor-
lance have gravely discussed the phe-
nomena which attended his sittings.
But at last his trick has been exposed:
DR.. SHADES forte has been producing
written communications en- slate held
under table, and ostensibly pressed up
against it while the writing was done on
the upper surface. Though many me-
diums have claimed that darkness was
essential to the successful working of
the spirit force, he always operated IN
the light. Prof. Lankesier, OF Univer-
sity College, London, is the man who
has discovered his modus operandi. He
has shown conclusively, by snatchlng
the slate from the medium just before
the spirits we're supposed to do the writ
ing that it had already been done by the
medium himself. He was led to suspect
this by observing the notions of the
mediums arm while the slate was held
under the table and apparently on his
knee, and while be was trying to divert
attention by conversation and rappings
on the table or the tipping over of
chairs. These rappings and tippings
we're also observed to be such as he
might easily make with his feet. 1t will
be noticed by reference to an account OF
a visit to DIR. Slade by an attache of this
paper, which we print in another
column, that these exposures in London
confirm to a remarkable degree the sus-
picions expressed by the writer several
months ago. The trick of DR.. Slade is
almost contemplate in its simplicity,
and only shows once more how easily
people are gulled whenever there is a
bold assumption of supernatural power.
There are people who viii tell wonder
full experiences which they have had
with DR.. Slade, and yet. no person with
| the power of keen observation and ready
Judgment could ever find anything more
in his performances thanthe production
of writing on a concealed slate, with no
particular meaning, and affording no
evidence in itself that it was not pro-
duced by the medium. And always,
though there was scratching heard upon
the slate when it was in position which
rendered writing on its upper surface
an apparent impossibility, there was
opportunity to produce the writing with
out being seen to do so before 1t was
brought to that position. Everything
attending the performance was sugges-
| tive of concealment of trick, and when
it was done it was not to be compared in
startling characteristics with those of a
skillful iuggler. And yet DIR. Slade was
"great medium" It is no wonder
that when such an inpostor is shown up
people are ready to conclude that the
whole thing is fraud. That is not a
strictly logical conclusion. but if those
who are so eminent in the ranks of me-
diums are proved to be tricksters, what
are we TO think of tire smaller fry2