The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-17
BUSTED.
splRITUALIsTIC sEANCE AT ST
PATRICH's HALL.
The Medium saves the Cash BOX, but Is
Hotly Pursued by an Infuriated
Crawd.

day by the announcement made, through
plentifully distributed handbills, that at st.
Patrick's Hall on Sunday evening, for the
small sum of fifty cents, one could enjoy two
hours In the spirit world" To use the more
expressivelanguage OF the programme:
"Haltl Every living mortal, and behold the
marvels OF the day. Spiritualism on trial by
jury OF the people at Target Believe moth
Ing, you hearl Every man has right to see
and think for himself Your religion is your
llfe-your death. IL there Is any truth In
Spiritualism, 1t is your duty to know 1t.
Therefore, we cordially and sincerely invite
all believers and unbelievers In the doctrine
to witness these wonders. these marvels."
By half-past 7 o'clock the hall was well
filed with our best citizens, accompanied by
their ladies'. The audience was exceedingly
select and showed q spirit OF inquiry that
was worthy Of a better cause.
After some delay the curtain rose, and Miss
Maude Mansfield opened the ceremonies with
prayer. Her afflliation, or better half, then
asked that committee of gentlemen should
be selected to pass around slips on which the
and in response thereto messages from the
other world would be given.
The committee did their duty, and the slips
we're handed around. After they had been duly
written upon by those of the audience who 50
desired, at the particular requestof the pale
faced major domo of affairs on the stage they
were sealed up In an envelope and given to
him.
He took the envelope and In a bungling
manner slipped 1t behind box on table
on the stage and substituted another which
he exhibited to the public. In the meantime
the original package was In the hands Of q
confederate, who was busily engaged In de-
cipheriDg the names behind the scenes.
A gentleman of the committee, seeing the
dodge, asked the Professor (D whether the
envelope exposed 10 view was the same that
enclosed the slips oil which the names written
by the spectators were The Professor showed
visible signs of weakening, but little sand
was left In bis gizzard, and he announced
that another seance would begin. This did
not satisfy the people and from many parts
of the hall came the cry, "We want COM
mittee on the platform"
Our friend Thiel then came forward and
mounted the platform and inspected the ap-
paratuses. Whilst so engaged two repre-
sentatives Of the press surreptiously got be-
hind the scenes The would be professor, In
way that would put an ordinary necro-
mancer to the blush, endeavored to change
the false envelope lying ON the table with the
original and he was detected. A gentlem an
OF the audience perceiviDg the ruse jumped
upon the platform and there ensued lively
chase, but the result was certain.
The gentleman came back with the original
envelope containing all the spectators slips,
and lying ON the table was the innocent
empty one. There was great excitement In
the audience when this was discovered. The
Professor then, going behind the scenes, re-
quested the members OF the press to take
their seats In front, as their presence might
interfere with the next "trick" After pro-
nouncing the thing fraud they withdrew.
Then came the second letter trick. The cele-
brated Spiritualist came to the front and fur
nished number Of the audience with paDer
and envelopes, and on doing so said: "Laaies
and gentlemen, write whatever you please
on the paper, then fold 1t up, place 1t In the
envelope and seal it up. The curtain will now
go down, and when You see US again Miss
ten on the pieces OF paper without breaking
the envelopes or taking the same from your
hand"
He was right. When that chap and Miss
dDUbdE again bUty Will uOuDblt55
be able TO read the contents OF the various
pieces of paper; but when that curtain went
down it fell to rise no more. The audience
waited patiently for fully thirty minutes,
when they became anxious; in fact, we may
say exceedingly anxious. Then fellow sit
ting In the rear scratched his head, and, re-
gardless Of the presence OF the ladies', ex-
claimed: II think they are id swindle." !"
This echoed through the hall, and the shouts,
"They are frauds" could be heard on every
side.
A committee was then appointed to go be-
hind the scenes to see what had become of the
Spiritualists, and report Immediately to the
audience. While the committee who had
been selected for this delightful task were
attending to their labors, a Mr. Eldridge be-
came very excited, and, jumping up on a
chair, made speech, and he spoke good
deal and finally the audience become as
weary OF him as they were OF waiting for the
spirits. Eldridge, nevertheless, had his say,
and told the people the spirits were frauds
and thought they ought to be treated as such
The committee at this iuncture put in an
appearance and informed the audience In as
few words as possible, THAT IL they could
find any spirits behind the scenes it was
more than the committee had been able to
do" Then howl went from the audience,
not only those that mad put up their half dol
| lar to come in, but those that had been so
foolish as TO pay the extra twenty-five cents
for the purpose Of getting a reserved seat
they would be revenged, and started out of
the hall with rush. AS they neared the bot
tom Of the steps they met the small boy who
had been taking the tickets. He was small,
and they were satisfied that they could get
away with him, and marched on him with
their clubs and fists. The poor boy thought
that his time had come, and started to beg
for mercy with face as white as the wall
he was leaning against.
Before the boy was hurt. acting Sergeant
oa1+ +hrrI 1crht crowd and taxing
charge of the boy conveyed him to the Cen,
trail Station for safe keeping. The exasperated
audience, who now mourned the loss ot st theld ad
seveDty-fve cents, lead by DR.. L. Wilhoft ana
DIR. Knapp. started down Camp street ln
search OF the departed spirits AS they neared
the Nichols Lunch House the cry came = from rom
the crowd, "They have gone up here, ana
the mob, with a yell that would have done
credit ere to band OF Comanche Indians, rushed
up stairs to the ladies' apartment.
Unfortunately, lonely female was sitting
mn stairs doing justice to half dozen
hiscnits and a cup OF coffee when the mob
An,.NI L.