The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-17
THE VANDERBILT SEANCE.

REVEALING THE MYSTERIES OF THE MEDIUM
BUSINESS MAN WHO MoNoPoLIzEs TRUTH
AND Is SOLE pEoPRlE-oE OF TELEGRAPH
LINE TO THE SPIRIT WORLD. fe3
The expectation that Mr.. Clinton would converse
with some members OF the "msjority'' through the
medium, s.Dr." Mansfield, attracted 20 the Surro-
gates Court yesterday morning larger crowd than
usual. Tho direct examination OF this witness was
concluded by Mr. Lord on Tuesday afternoon. csnse-
quenlly he belonged to the defence yesterday. He
was instructed by tho Court before no retired that
he was liberty TO refresh his momory by any docu.
ments or 10 emoranda he might have When no took
the no stated that he had refreshed his memory
from his memoranda. but Is those were not In court
Mr.. Clinton objected to his testlyipg 10 any newly
discovered interviews with the deceased Tho Surro-
gate sustained the objection, saying that It would be
great injustice to the defence have witness give
testimony from documents that in court and
which they could not soc. Witness might
falsely testify and the dclence would have
no chance to meet the testimony. On
animation wit4css said he had been for the
last twenty years writing spiritualissio mo-
dunn BIO had never reco,ved tho degree Of NJ. d.
from any medical institution; did not CLAIM
the title; Il had been awarded to him by the public
and by friends among whom no praotsed 81 time.
Here NJ Clinton produced a card Inscribed, .'Dr
James B. Mansheid." Witness testified that the ex.
hiblt his business card that he used tho .'Dr"
because ho generally known Or. Mansfield;
concerning his previous history ne testified that he
was at one time dry goods merchant, that previous
to that he had been dry goods cIork he born In
Dudley, Mass. nrst saw Com modore Vanderbilt to
from him iu 1857, when hts kidneys were out OF
DER these COMMUNICATIONS wero through the post 81
Boston. 48 t.ssF ts3Na4f atf
SPIRIT MESSAGES
Mr.. Clinton-Yssisidayy you spoke Of the Commo-
doro writing messages and sealing them up messages
TO spirits; did you read these com mu nications2
Witness (alter much preliminary talk 1T all to
the pont) answered that he did not
"How Ihen,' asked Mr. Clinton, ssdid you know
what the messages weref :" co
.'rne Commodore snowed them to mo after tho
"how long does IL Take you 20 communicate with
the spirits by your ielcgrsphic systemW
casually about twenty minues"
'How long alter a man dies Can you com n unicate
The Doctor cast his eyes 10 tho ceiling toyed with
his goid-r,mmcd spcctacies tor time and thcn,
beaning Win satisfaction. said that the quickest
necon ne ever maze was ten minutes w
MONOPOLY OF rRUrH.
Several times the Court had 10 call the witness to
orcer tor his persistent Efforts 10 drag 'Ihe shop
into MS answers, like the English witness oil lame
VINO wound up all his answers with, sand sell nut
ton pies.' itFpa 81 I'll H8aH sIAN ,ae1
"Do yoa kno.," asked M. Clinton, ''whesbsr the
II give communications to persons soliciting them
rs she spirits give them 10 ne, aud the receivers
always soc M saI,sAed with Ihe,r tru.n.n '-
'Do you know II spirits always tell the truth, or
whether some OF them are invet0rate liarBf" A9&
Witness said that he believed all comm ntcatiOus
fals,ty he bad nothing 10 do
"Do you not believe that some Of the spirits are
viIlAns us liars ~ ti siEt tga Hfn0e4 .aM
some spirits may lie, but ali who speak through.
me tell the truth" (I.aughtsr.)
"rhsn l am 10 understand you TO say" said Mr.
Clinton. 'fhat you nave monopoly OF the truthfuI
spirits and otber cdiums have lying Now let
mo II VOC charge the pricc comm anloat-
ing with the shades OF Plato aud EN- podocies with
those OF Ordinary Individualsf
m I'm bNF Ayop hayt hnsi
communications with the ancient celebrities, Out he
improved tho occasion by announcing that he mad
several times had the pleasure OF comma nicating
win the Father Of his Country snd Bon Franklin.
In explaining the vapid ommun,casion spoken OF
Tell from a building and was killed A lev miuuses
thereafter hts spirit camo 10 witness aud requested
man be lore. t t5ff 1ssaA
''Coud you give q communication from shs
spirils nov p" asked NJ. Clinton. ftt.1#e .N 1fF
al could not l would have got into condition,
and could not do II IN an audience like this.
"rhc spirits are modest" explained MI. Lord. smil
Ing. tA
NJ ..I. ANOTHER MONOPOLY sssTf
"Explan TO she court," saia Mr.. Clinton, ''how
you communicate with the spiris." stn
"Whsn get under spirit innuensc," sstd the
Doctor, 1.-THE index nngcr OF my left hand works like
Is sSousS my .s a' by 81. ' "pr
''rhsn you are tho sole proprietor OF = Telegraph
line between tnis and the other wordf"
eyes" said tho Doctor; II dom know Of any other
person who has tsiegrsphic communication with
spirits" .ft
Mr.. William d. Parks next called TO the stand
He testified that tho last time he saw me Commodore
he showed signs Of mental weakness auA acted In an
natural manner. &c lNif NA taaFt
M DxMANpyu A RIoHr. .aA
After the cailipg II the names Of several witnesses
who lid respond Mr. Clinton called The attention
Of the Court the that she time allowed
the contestants had expired. He hoped the Court
would not allow any further indulgence A long ar
gumcnt from Judge Black followed, In when no
denied tho power Of the Court 10 limit the time Of
the contestants. There NOS so far ne knew,
aDy precedent for such course on the part Of The
Court unless II be which occurred IN bis county
In PcDnsylvania many years nso, 10 VITA note tor
SIS had been proven before a country Justice, and
the defence began with testimony 70 prove Il
had been Obtained ~ fraud. rho Judge cut the
short, saying:-"Beioro you began about fraud tnts
as pnin rs pikeetah, bat u you are going
70 INTRODUCES testimony about fraud satan hiwssit
cannot decide IT," He advised The surrogate, II
he could get camel through the eye oil bis nscde
not TO leave hoof benz nd ana 10 cut on tho other
sidc and nave end OF tho case.
Final argument on this point viii be hoard on FRI
day morning.
An snor, was made 70 have MI Lord d,vulss tho
names OF tho witnesses no proposes 10 call, but ne
respectfully declined, b. csusc when he mad dcns 30
before the Witnesses had been tampsred with.