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

REVEALING THE MYSTERIES OF THE MEDIUM
rUsrNEss-A MAN WHO MoNoPoLIzEs TRUTH
AND Is SOLE PROPRIETOR or A TELEGRAPH
LINE TO THE SPIRIT WORLD.
The expectation that Mr.. Clinton would converse
with some members OF the "msjority'' through the
medium, '.Dr." Mansfield, attracted 70 the Surro-
gates Cour. yesterday morning larger crowd Than
usual. Tho direct examination of hits witness was
concluded by Mr.. Lord on Tuesday afternoon, cense-
qucnliy he belonged to the defence yesterday. He
was instructed by tho Court no retired that
he AT liberty 10 refresh his memory by any docu.
ments memoranda be might have When no took
the stand no stated that he had refreshed memory
from his memoranda, but as those In court
Mr.. Clinton objected his icssiying 20 any newly
discovered interviews with the deceased Tho Surro
gate the objection, saying that would be
great injustice TO the defence TO have witness give
testimony from documents that in court and
which they could not Witness might
falsely testify and the defence would have
no chance to meet the testimony. On
cross-examinat,on witness said he had been for the
last twenty years a writing spirituaistic mo-
dunn; BIO had never received the 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 practscd at time.
Here Mr.. Clinton produced a card inscribed, cdr.
James b. Mansneid.n Witness testified that the ex.
hibit was his business card; he used tho cdr"
because he generally known az Or. Mansfield;
concerning his previous history testified that he
was at one time dry goods merchant, that previous
to that he had been dry goods cIork no was born In
Dudley, Mass nrst saw Com mod0re Vanderbilt 10
speak TO him, in 1864; had received commu lions
from him IN 1857, when his kidneys were OF
der; these comm unicatons werc through the post
Boston, sh saasr 0et-ergs6
SPIRIT MESSAGES
Mr. Clinton-Yssiefdayy you spoke OF the Commo-
QO8
TO spirits; dd you read these com municalionsP
Witness (ater much preliminary talk not It all to
the po,nt) answered that he did not. 5
.'Aow them. asked NJ Clinton. ibid you know
'srhe Commodore snowed them to after tho
answers had been returned"
chow long does IL take you 10 communicate with
the spirits by your teicgrsphic systemf'
Casually about twenty minutesn
..How 'ons alter man dies can you comm unicass
the Doctor oast hts eyes ceiling, toyed with
his gold-rimmcd spcctaces tor some time and then,
6eaning with satsiaction said that the quickest
ncction ne ever maze was ten minutes.
MONOPOLY OF raUrH.
Several tmos the Court had 10 call the witness to
order tor his persistent efforts 10 drag ..he shop
into his answ rrs, like the English witness oil lame
VINO wound up all his answers win, sand sell NUT
..bo yoa kno.," asked Mr.. Clinton. ..wheshsr the
spirits tell you the truth ~ t.....s.s
II give communi calons to persons soliciting them
as ths spirits give them 10 ne. and she receivers
always seem satisAed with their Irutn." .rf04
.'Do you know II spirits always tell tho truth, or
whether some Of them inve,erate liarss" ~
Witness said that he believed all comm ntcasions
through him we're genuine, but with their truth or
fals,ty he bad nothing TO do
"Do you no, believe that some OF the spirits are
.Soms spirits may lie, but all who speak III rough.
me tell the truth" (I.aughtsr.)
"rhen ! am 10 understand you to say" said Mr.
Clinton. sthas you nave a monopoly OF the truthui
spirits and Other mediums have tho lying ones Now let
Ing with the shades OF Plato aud EmpodocIes as with
those OF Ordinary Individuasfn
Mr. Mans1eid did not remember ever having had
mi nj mani br1l INIT ha
improved tho occasion by announcing that he had
several times had the pleasure Of communicating
win the Father Of his Country snd Bon Franklin.
In explaining the vapid comm unication spoken OF
early IN the examination, witnsss saia that 4 man
thereafter hts spirit camo 10 witness aud requested
him TO send message. ho had never heard Of the
'Could you give communication irsm the
spirits now ?" asked M. Clinton. fttfspe I'D trt
and could not do Il In an audience ike this -
"rhc spirits are modest" explained Mr. Lord. smit
Ing. ta N#
III ANOTHER novoPoLY.
'Explain 70 tho Court" saia Mr.. Clinton, ''how
you communicate with the Spirits" nhr
"When get under spirit Influences" satd the
Doctor, the index nngcr OF my left hand works like
tcIegraph'c key. aud my righ, hand writes out
what Is teleeraphcd through my lett by she spirits"
s'rhsn you are tho sole proprietor Of = telegraph
line between This and the other worid"
Eyes, said the Doctor; II dom know Of any other
person who has photographic communicable with
spirits"
Mr.. William n. Parks next called TO the stand
He testified that tho last time he tne Com
no showed signs Of mental weakness auA acted In an
Unnatural manner. MAf 5# NtH 3tMfF
DEMANDING RIoHT. -ha
After the calling u the names OF several witnesses
who lid not respond Mr. Cnton oalicd Ihe attention
Of the Court 70 the TACT that she cxtra 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 which no
denied the power OF the Court 70 limit tho time Of
the contestants There nos, so far as ne knew,
any precedent for such q on the part Of The
Court, aness be one which occurred IA mis- county
In Pcbnsvlvania many years n1o, 10 VITA note tor
SIS had been proven before country Justice, and
the defence began with testimony 70 prove u
had been obtained oy fraud. rho Judge cot The cAsc
short, saying:-"Beforo you began about fraud tnis
case was as plain MS pikssah bat II you are going
10 Introduce testimony about fraud satan himself
cannot desids IT," Hc advised The surrogate, II
he could get tho camel through the eye OF bis nsedIe
TO leave a hoof behind cus OF the other
side too and nave end Of the oxso.
Final argument this point viii be hoard on FRI
day morning. tMkssA@tA
An effort made 70 have Mr. Lord d,vulge the
names OF the witnesses he proposes 10 call, has ne
respectfully declined, because when he mad acne 30
hat Inn uvtt had haou tasup red -