The New York herald., 1877-12-07
A MEDIUM EXPOSED.

MRS. BENNETT, ALIAS MR4. NICHOLS, ALIAS
MRS. cURRIER, II CAUGHT AT HER OWN
oAME-A SPIRIT SEIZED AND PROVEN TO 1n
A LIVING HUMAN BEING-A STRUGGLE AND
A LUDIcRous ESCAPE.
From tho Boston Herald, Dec ST.
During tho latter part of last October Mr.. Prsseo
Robinson ana Mr.. William H. Manu. both Of WIN
Arm believers In Spirtualism, learned that Mr.
Nichols was holding materiaizing ssances at the
house OF Or. A I. Weymouth. at tho corner Of Eliot
and fremont Streets and the solicitation OF
a friend, Mr.. William D. Walker, they visited tho
seaDce In GOOD faith, not doubling It's genuineness
During thor visit, however, they far from being
favorably impressed with the actions OF the
medium. and suspicious were aroused IN
their minds that all was not right They said
nothing, however, their suspicious, and
continued to visit the . week
for three weeks Dr. Weymouth was taken sick. and
IL decided to hold the seances at the rooms OF
Mra Nichols at No SO Chapman street. The medium
at this tine for some post known to herself
changed her name Curricr. This medium had
promised Mr.. Robinson, on more than one occasion,
that his little daughter Ella, who had been dead for
some tme would appear him and bring rosebud
In her hand from the spirit land. In the meanwhile
Messrs Robinson and Mann succeeded In getting
era OF their friends (among them Mrs Agnes Dav
Hall, the well known Sprituaist lecturer) admitted
10 the seances, and from that time forward quiet
but earnest and thorough investigation carried
by them. They were determined that right and
should have every chance. but that ythng
IN the shape OF fraud should be exposed.
TEST.
Thus matters continued till Monday evening, No
yemoer 28 when u was decided that on the following
evening matters should be brought 10 a crisis, the
medium having promised that at ~ That time MI Rob
plans accordingly laid. Each ono Of the
had allotted part perform at given signal and
although all dcvout believers In Sprtuaiism they
ente ed heartily into the spirit Of their task Al the
appointed hour they assembled NJ the rooms OF the
medium. Besides the rarty above mentioned tnerG
were present Mr.. Walker and wife aud two or three
other friends OF the medium The rooms are located
on the street floor, aud are two in Dumber-a front
and pack parlor-connected by folding doors A
cambric curtain, loopod In the centre, stretched
across tho open doors. Doors also led from the en-
try way into euch OF the parlors The CON-
pany occurred tho front parlor, and when every.
thing was in readiness, the gas was entirely extn-
guishcd in both rooms. After fow moments Of
brcahess silence spirit appeared purporting TO be-
Red Lilly, Indian princess She was led by tho
however, did not make her identity known. Red
Lilly and companion remained Tow moments, but
ono disposed to with her aud she do
parted. In lew moments the medium again ap-
peared, leading by the hand spirit IN who claimed
ba tho daughter OF Mr.. Robinson That gentleman
asked IL he recognized the spirit and looked
us torm he thought II was rathor large Tor child Of
age his daughter and ne had doubts about
It's beng ncr but for tho purpose OF the OCCASION he
answered In the Affirmative. He was thon requested
by medium 10 step forward and address his daugh-
ter
BULKY ..cHILD SPIRIT"
Mr.. Robinson stepped forward and gently took
rosebud from tn, hand tho visitor, and he then ad-
dressed her IN afecionate terms, at the same time
gently pattng her hand Slowly but surely and per.
haps unconscously to the esprit" Mr.. Robinson
passed his hand along that Of tho "sprit' till ho
reached her whist. and once there he grasped It with
vicsliKo grip The spirit" which had advanced
far as folding doors, braced herself against Of
them and began to pull back. Mr.. Robinson Their
passed MS arm around her waist and found II to b.
h..rlt tl.. in,L
about one hundred and sixty pounds, and who h
entered the room walking upon the knees T.
%sS,a'S nsre was Mrs. Mrs. Bennett. Of Mclean street ia
attempted TO remove Robinson's hand from the WI N
ol his prisoner, but oil N vain. ana Mr. walker re-
upon Robinson and attempting to pull his hand avn
from us grasp, but witfr~the Same result. In Il
meantime Ropins0n's action tho for MI. Man.
to turn on gas, which he did In instant. Ono
Tho ladies', whom Will call Mrs g., rushed into the
entry, and the door leading to the back paror
10 prevent the esprit" escaping in that dires-
ton, while Mrs. A. went partially up the
but she could md the thumbscrew and thus failed
CHASING pIssoBED s.sPooK.n
As soon us Mr. Mann turned tho gas he sprang to
Mr. Robinsons assistance and grasped tho other
Of spirit, but at this moment he was set upon by
men, the result OF which was that Walker thrust
uncaremoniously into corner of the room and
obliged remain there. During the scu1lo between
Messrs Mann and Walker the combined efforts OF ths
s.spirir' and the medium succeeded IN forcing Mr.
Robinson TO reenBe MS nOld on the formers
ana she then attempted 10 escape through the door
which Mrs G. had been sent TO guard, but Mrs.
O. wns there II should be stated In this con.
| ncction that tne leading from the entry 10
tho rear parcr locked prior 10 tho seanco tho
| key gwen to Mrs c.; but when she went to fulfil
| hcr part oil the programme the door was unlocked.
| Mrs. G. Is q medium sized lady, but she had the
courage TACO that 100 pound ghost. aud as II ap-
| preached tho door Mrs. G. told IL to 60 back, and
| It obeycd A momont alter, when the door was
guarded amid the confusion that existed whicn
can be better imagined Than described tho esprit"
rushed past Mrs. G. out into tho entry and down
sinirs into the basement During n this time Mrs NJ.
was vainly endeavorng to Ind tho thumbscrew OF u
| sue was astonshed at seeing female form, We
scant OF colhing, and bearing articles OF wearing
parel IN her arms, fit past her and disappear y
| dark ness Quick flash Mrs. NJ. ceased +
s.thumbscrewn search and started IN pursuit u 3
| fleeing "spook" gained the first fight ah,y I
| ol her pursuer, and assembled The second flight NJ
NJ, IN aLtempting TO follow, struck her loot on T.
lower stair and ic. there other parties loo
ing IN the house, and not knowing into which ro0lA
the fitting creature had entered Mrs. M. gave up
| the pursuit and returned down STAIRS where every.
thing in coniusion and nearly evory body greatly
excited
DIscoxPiTURE OF THE "MEJUA"
Neither OF the SO called spirits were subsequently,
| seen. After q while order restored, and a moro
| chagrncd set OF people was never seen than frs.
Bennett and her allies. Mr.. Walker attempted OK.
cusc himself in various wayk Mrs Bennett finally
acknowledged that she had been assisted but begged
Mr. Robinson and trends not 10 expose her; thai II
they would keep their mouths shut she would g'vo
them private scance at any tmc they might select,
and show them not fraud only not 10 cx.
pose her II would XIII her mother, to whom she
promised not TO engage in the business again alter
her exposure year ago
NEATLY TRAPPED.