The Worthington advance., 1879-01-16
Men Who Consult Spirits.

"Do you mean to say that George w.
McCrsry, the de facto Secretary of War
has consulted mediums to obtai spirit
ual communications
This question was put yesterday by a
Sun reporter to Dr. j. V. Mansfield of
81 West Forty. second street, who testi-
fled in the Vanderbilt case as to alleged
communications from the spirit world
which he bad obtained through a course
of years for the Commodore
"Certainly," answered DR.. Mansfield,
"Mr. McCrary makes no secrcct Of his
visits. You would be surprised if
should tell you of the names of the per
sons who have consulted me in the 20
years that I have been writing medium? z"
'Have you any objection to naming a
few Of then2"
''None whatever; here are the books
containing my records. There ere the
Lincoins. Mrs. Lincoln has been often
TO see me, and has received many mes
sages from her husband. James Gordon
Bennett, the elder, used to come, and his
wife Mrs. Henrietta Bennett, was a firm
believer. She was here many times.
Elk Gov. N. p. Talmage of Wisconsin was
frequent visitor. John w. Edmonds
used to get more satisfactory ccmmuni.
cations through me than through any
other medium. have also given com
munications from the spirit world to
Ben Wade, Joshua r. Giddings and Vice
President Wilson,"
Was Mr.. Wilson beiever?''
"Yes, sir; they found one of my CON-
munioations in bis pocket when he died"
'Have you any strong headed, practi
cal business man on your lisi?'
"Oh. yes There was Alvin Adams, the
well-known member of the stock compa-
nY that is know as Adams Express Com
pany. Judge Sias NJ Stilwell is anoth-
er man. E. B. Ward. the Detroit million
aire, and the Rev. Thomas X. Beecher.; y
"Any sc1cntists?"
PROT. Agassiz frequently came here" :"
"Do you mean to say that Prof. Agassiz
came as Il bei:ever?'
swell, he used to come here to investi-
gate. I used to tel him be was like Bos-
ton new run-about kalf and half He
used to come with Prof. G. G. Felton,.
Prof. Bush used to come too-.-the Pro-
fessor of Hebrew in the New York Uni.
versity"
''Alore of the living persons of note
would make interesting reading.'
"Yes; but people have delicacy about
having these matters brought up for pub
lie ridicule. You may put down Joe JEFF.
terson as firm believer, and most en-
thusiastic one. There is no mistake
about that. Then there are Grace Green
wood and Don Piatt, Elder Evens of the
Shakers, and Antoinette Doolittle."
"Can you name any rich spiritualist in
New York?"
"Yes; there is DR.. Henry j. Newton,
who is said to be worth ID million dollars.
He is President of the Eclectic Medical
College,"
ANY other names OF your visitors?"
Here is that of John Pierrepont, the
poet, Robert Dale Owen, Theodore Parker,
Gerrit Smith, William Coleman Of Lon
don, Charles Sumner, Charlotte Cuslman,
the actress, Judge Carter OF Ohio, Bishop
Doane, J. G. LIE Grand, Chief Justice Of
Maryland. DR.. Napoleon B. Wolfe of Gin
cinnati, Freeman, the artist and painter
Ut the Royal family, the Rev. DR.. Thos.
E. Bond, Gleady Burke OF New Orleans,
Prof. Mapes, and John Brown
"Ot Ossawattamie?"
YVES, sir the martyr, John Brown He
came to see me few days only before he
went South"
''Any others?"
"Yes. Jud &c Alexander NJ. Cassidy of
Colorado, Judge Il. E. Parsons of Ashta-
bula."
You did not mention any of these
names on the witness stand?'
mo; they did not give me a chance;
but would have done so, and. would
give them a communication from the
spirit world If they should ask me again
l feel that I could do it on the witness
stand, although it is very difficult to do
it when there are so many rowdies around
making Disturbance
GLOW many spiritualists are there in
the world2"
"About $4,000, 0,000'
DO you know any case but that of the
Comodore's in which the question ofspir-
itualism has been raised?'
"Oh, yes: there was the very recent
case OF E. B. Ward Ct Detroit, who mar
riel second wife, and left a fortune of
$6, 1000, 600, mainly, to her, and cutting of
the poor children with only a paltry
$780, 900 OF 80 apiece. He was always a
pronounced spirtualist, and the children
tiled to take advantage of that fact to
break the will, but they failed. Ny own
lather gave most Of his property to one
son, and Judge Edmonds left most of his
to one daughter, but both wills were no
attacked n the ground that they were
made under spiritual influence"
DR.. Mansfield then volunteered a test
OF his powers, aud undertook to get an
answer from tho spirit world to any
question addressed to dead person
known to the inquircr-that IL, he would
give whatever answer the spirits directed
without seeing the question. The first
question was as follows:
To my Mothor-Mrs [correct namc): Please
give me the name of my dead child.
Signed correct namc1
The answer produced, as the Doctor
said, from the spirit world was as follows
Mr. DEAR SoN-Thank you for this notice
have long desired to speak with you, but the
way was not open for me to do so. Your dar
ling Is safe, and will speak with you, would
you allow it to do so! It will be far better for
it to give that than fer me to do so. Nv SON.
we do exist, icons scious, individually, and under
proper conditions talk with lnortals as l now
talk with you.
correct signaturc.1
The reporter objected tint the spirit
had not answered the question or even
given the sex Of the child.
Dr.. Manstield-I cannot help that; |
write wha, the spirits send.
"Are you the saleswoman of whom I