The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-12-20


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given signal, and, although all are de-
vout believers in Spiritualism. thew en-
tered heartily into the spirit of their
task. At the appointed hour thew as
sembled at the rooms of the medium.
Beside the party above mentioned
there were present Mr.. Walker and
wife and two or three other friends of
the medium. The rooms are located
on the street floor, and are two in num-
ber-a front and back parlor-con-
nected by folding doors. A red cam
brio curtain, looped in the center,
stretched across the open doors. Doors
also led from the entry-way into each
OF the parlors. The company occupied
the front parlor, and, when everything
was In readiness, the gas was entirely
eStinguished In both rooms. After a
few moments of breathless silence a
spiris appeared, purporting to be BED
Lilly. an Indian Princess. She was led
by the medium and accompanied by
second spirit, who, however, did not
make her identity known. Red Lilly
and companion remained a few mo-
ments, but no one seemed disposed to
converse with her and she departed. In
few moments the medium again APP
peared, leading by the hand spirit -
who claimed to be the daughter OF MIR.
Robinson That gentleman was asked
If he recognized that spirit, and, as he
looked at It's form, he thought II was
rather large for child OF the age OF his
daughter, and he had some doubts
about It's being her, but, Tor the pur-
pose OF the OCCASION he answered in
the afhrmatlve. he was then requested
by the medium to step forward and adj
Dress ms daughter
Mr.. Robinson stepped forward and
gently took rosebud from the hand of
the visitor, and he then addressed her
in affectionate terms, at the same time
gently patting her hand. Slowly but
surely, and perhaps unconsciously to
the Esprit, Mr.. Robinson passed his
hand along that of the spirit till he
reached her wrist, and once there he
grasped it with vise-like grip. The
Esprit which had advanced as far
the folding-doors, braced herself against
one of them and began to pull back.
Mr.. Robinson then passed his arm
around her waist and found it to be the
form of robust, healthy-looking fe-
male, weight about 160 pounds, and
who had entered the room walking up
on the knees. The medium, who, it
may as well be stated here, was Mrs.
Bennett, OF McLean-street fame, at
tempted to remove Robinson's hand
from the wrist OF his prisoner, but all
in vain, and Mr.. Walker rendered what
assistance he could by throwing him
self upon Robinson and attempting to
pull his hand away from its grasp, but
with the same result. In the meantime
Robinson's action was the cue for Mr..
Mann to turn on the gas, which he did
In an instant. One OF the ladies, whom
we Will call Mrs. e., rushed into the en-
try, and to the door leading to the back
parlor so as to prevent the Esprit y
from escaping IN that direction, while
Mrs. M. went partially up the flight of
entry stairs to turn on the gas in the
entry; but she could not find the
thumbscrew, and thus failed in her
purpose.
As soon as MIR. Mann turned on the
gas he sprang to Mr. Robinson's as
sistance and -grasped the other wrist of
the spirit, but at this moment he was
set upon by Mr.. Walker and scuffie
ensued between the two men, the re-
suit OF which was that Walker was
thrust unceremoniously into corner
OF the room and obliged to remain
there. During the scuffie between
Messrs. Mann and Walker the combined
efforts of the esprit" and the medium
succeeded in forcing Mr.. Robinson to
release his hold on the formers wrist,
and she then attempted to escape
through the door which Mrs. c. had
been sent to guard, but Mrs. G. was
there. 1t should be stated in this con-
nection that the door leading from the
entry to the rear parlor was locked
prior to the seance and the key given
to Mrs. C.; but when she went to fulfil
her part of the programme the door
was unlocked. Mrs. c. is a medium
sized lady, but she had the courage to
face.the 16O-pound ghost, and as it ap-
preached the door Mrs. c. told it to
| go back, and it obeyed. A moment
later, when the door was unguarded,
amid the CONFUSION that existed and
which can be better imagined than de-
scribed, the Esprit rushed past Mrs.
G. into the entry and down stairs into
the basement. During all this time
Mrs. M. was vainly endeavoring to
| find the thumbscrew of the gas-pipe
in the entry, and as she was thus
engaged she was astonished at see
ing female form, very scant of
clothing, and bearing articles of wear
ing apparel in her arms, fit past her
and disappear in the darkness. Quick
as flash, Mrs. M. ceased her +" thumb
screw search and started in pursuit,
The fleeing "spook' gained the first
fight ahead of her pursuer, and ascend
tempting 10 Hollow, STRUCK ner 1DOt on