, 1878-03-08
THE APPEARANCE OF FRAUD.
THE PORTLAND "TELEGRAM" ON
JESSE SIIEPAGD.


Several months ago young man
named Jesse Shepard, claiming to be
the most wonderful pianist in the
world, came to our city. Although
the daily press teemed with long
"pufls," all of which were paid for as
advertisements, the smooth-tongued
youth managed to impress upon the
people that his principal attribute
was extreme modesty. He was very
delicate, indeed; he could not or
would not perform in q public hall,
and would admit only very few to
his private concerts. He claimed
never to have received any instruc
ton in music, but depended entirely
on the good will Of the spirits which
he claimed made it their special bus.
mess to attend upon him. This was
Jesse Shepard when he first came.
He staid here few weeks and then
went on tour of the sound. His con
duct there was strangely inconsistent
with his extreme modesty in this city.
He gave public concerts and
drummed up by hook or crook just as
large audiences as he could. He was
no longer the sensitive youth who
shrunk from public gaze. When he
returned to Portland he again be-
came very select; but though he had
never received any musical instruc-
tions, as he said, an advertisement
appeared in the daily papers to the
offoot- that tho -"pannmnedo-- -J0sss
Shepard had consented to remain in
Portland few weeks and would take
few-only very select few-pu-
pills. Since that time he has been
lodging here, there and everywhere,
giving concerts, seances, ETC., al
ways charging extortionate prices
therefor. Every few days the "re-
nowned Jesse Shepard" according
to his own story, receives urgent ap
peals from crowned heads or emf
nent musicians requesting his pres.
ence in Europe. In the name of
common sense, why don't the young
man go9 His vocal and instrument.
tai performances are remarkable
for their extreme thinness. His "won
derful exhibitions" can only be done
under cover of darkness and from
behind a screen. He certainly goes
"high and low," And as the newspa-
pers say, his voice is "clear and flute
ike. He does not pronounce the
words of the songs which he sings,
and the notes do not half SO much
resemble the sound of the human
veice as that Of flute or other good
instrument. There is certainly
crookedness somewhere. If Mr..
Shepard is possessed of wonderful"
powers why don't he exhibit then
openly and in the light. !?
The above is a fragrant example
of unfairness in dealing with the
question at issue. Mr.. Shepard re-
mained few days in Port Townsend
during the past week, in the course
of which he held anumber of private
seances besides giving public con-
cert. The latter was spoken OF by
many who were competent judges as
we'll as impartial persons as being
one OF the most rare and grand mu-
steal treats they had ever listened to.
Although we were prevented, by
other appointments, from attending
and listeng, it would be folly to assert,
even were we SO disposed, in the face
of such reliable testimony, that Mr..
Shepard is not a pianist and singer
of wonderful powers. There can be
TO doubt that the country, in this
fast stage of it's existence, teens
with frauds of every type and occu,
patton, and also that forcible and
plain language ought to be used to
and about them whenever necessary