The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-10-16
HOW SHE FOOLED THEM.
Miss Snyder Describes Her Tricks us
u Pcrsonator of Materialized
Spirits.

PmLAprLrnIA Oct. 1.-The prosecu-
ton in the trial of Mr.. and Mrs Bliss, for
conducting pretended naturalization
scances, was closed to-day Helen f.
Snyder, the young woman whose clever
ness, in the roles Of apparitions was the
feature OF the swindle, went on the stand
as witness against her former compan-
ions in the fraud. She testified, in a see
mingly straight. forward way, that she
was hired by the Blisses nearly year
ago, and that they instructed her what
to do She described her changes OF
voice and costume for the different
characterizations. A room in the base
ment Of the house was used for dressing
in, and she got into and out Of the cabi-
net through eleverly concealed trap
door. My costume as saltwater she
said, was yellow muslin and wadded
undershrt that Bliss had used to repre-
sent Red Cloud. His cap was made of
pasteboard, covered with red muslin, gilt
paper around it, two rows of cord and
three stars, one in the centre, and one on
either side; it had feathers in it. My
dress, as Dir. Sleeper was dark clothing,
collar and necktie, and black cloth slip
pers. He would come out, bow, shake
hands with Mr.. Bliss and pass in again.
AS Sister Agatha, wore white cloth
over the forehead. She would kncel and
bless herself in Latin. got the words
out Of Latin book. l don't understand
it, Katie Rublee's dress was white, white
wig, long blue veil. She only came to
the door, and Mr.. Bliss would bring his
baby up for her to kiss. AS Mrs. Nc
earthly wore black muslin skirt, and
generally the black coat wore for the
Silent Doctor. She would speak to the
audience, and they would speak to her
used the brogue. l used to holler rs
saltwater; but don't know whether it
was the Indian dialect or not. To make
myself short would bend down, and to
be tall would walk on my toes"
Among the believers in the medium
ship of the Blsses was a wealthy man
named Siebert "Mrs Bliss asked me,
Miss Snyder said, {" to personate the
Virgin Mary for Mr.. Siebert. Tney told
me that was the only spirit to be brought
to him; that if the Virgin Mary would
appear to him, Bliss had him all right,
that he had lots of money. and that
Bliss wanted to get some of it to start
into the saloon business Continuing
the narrative of the deception, she said
!" Mrs Bliss wanted me to speak the
German dialect, but l could not succeed,
and spoke the Irish Mrs. Bliss laughct!
and said she would never know me with
that voice, and l adopted it for Mrs. Nc
Carthy, who would say, Good evening
to yez all and they would all be happy
| washed them outside the cabinet with
to see her. At first, l was fully material
lied; but toward the last would say l
had no hands, and then would go back
and materialize them. l have carried fire
in my hand Bliss got something l be
| leve it is burnt in Catholic churches. He
used to light them, and | would carry
them l would shut my hands and keep
moving them, SO that they wouldn't be
in one spot long. l burnt my hands one
time. Bliss had told the audience that
Mrs. Mccarthy co Id carry fire; and to
show that there was nothing on my hands
| washed them outside of the cabinet,
with soap and water. picked the fire
and was burnt, because my hands were
tender from washing. Mrs. Bliss appear
ed as Mr. Diesinger's sister. / did the
talking, for she couldn't talk good Eng
lish. and was afraid of being detected. l
told him, as his sister Title, that he must
not drink, and he promised that he would
not. AT the next seance, he said, Lill
lie, have no drink on me, this evening
won't you kiss me?' Mrs. Bliss raised
her veil, and he kissed her."