Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-22
Exposing q Medium.
A sPIRITUnBTIO FRAUD SHOWN UP.

From the Chicago Herald. Dec. 10th. -;
Several months ago the police officials Of Lon
don, England, succeeded in squelching q spirit
ualistic humbug named Slade, By prosecuting
him for obtaining money under false pretences.
The ground which the prosecution took was
that Slade offered to bring back the spirits Of
departed persons Of note. This it was proved
he failed to do and he was fined q good round
sum. The plan Is now to be tried in Chicago,
and Mr.. W. c. Champlain, board Of trade
broker is to defiay the necessary expenses.
Saturday afternoon Mr. Champlain read the
following advertisement IN an afternoon paper:
eases. j. NJ. SHEA, NJ. D..
81 West Madison street.
Mr.. Champlain learned that Charlie Stiles ap-
pea ed there every night. He was well ac
quainted with Stiles and he resolved to witness
the advertised performance. He visited the
place Sunday night accompanied by his wife.
The place where Stiles spirit was to be found
was small wooden building at 81 West Madison
street. Mr.. Chamberlain and his wife paid 81,
and entered the room where the seance was to
be held There were about thirty people in the
place. small bedroom adjoined this room,
and the door had been taken out and light
wooden PARTITION with round hole in it had
been put in its place. 1t was through this hole
which was about the size of a mans head, that
the spirits were seen. curtain is drawn across
the opening on the inside Before the show
commenced an old ladyewho answered to the
name of Mrs. Vanderburg, sang Come YOU
Fount of Every Blessing" during which the
l.,.n Shea went into the room. The lights were
then put out, and lamp. burning very dimly,
was placed on small shelf few inches below
the hole in the door, The spirits then began to
appear at the door. Champlain was not very
much affected, while Rosebud. the Indian
maiden. and such stock characters appeared,
but when the name of Charlie Stiles was called
he became greatly excited. A very tough
looking specimen Of humanity cautioned him to
remain cool. rude picture was thrust in front
of the hole. and the old lady inquired
Dear Charlie. are you happy now?"
"Ye-s." came from behind the picture
The board of trade man at once concluded
that Charlie had lost the pair Of lungs which
gave him his possessions on earth, and he start
ed for the spirit The spirit of the champion
caller vanished from the hole, and Mr. Cham
plain was caught by the throat and choked. He
was allowed to remain in the room, however.
and he concluded to see the show through. The
door leading to the abode Of the spirits finally
opened, and out walked what purported to be q
spirit" Champlain says that the alleged was
John n. Shea, with big nightgown on. Cham
plains wife whispered to her husband to catch
the ghost, and he started for it. The ghost had
the start. and got into the cabinet before the
friend of Charlie Stiles could get near it, Cham
plain and his wife were then assaulted by the
proprietors of the show. and both were severely
beaten and bruised before they were thrown
out They reported the assault at the Des-
PLANES street station, and a policeman was
sent over to investigate. Nothing was accom-
plished. however but to-day Champlain will
swear out warrants against Shea. charging him
with obtaining money under lse pretences and
also with assault with intent to commit great
bodily injury He maintains that he will prose
cute them until the end and he is willing to
swear that what he saw was not the spirit of
Charlie Stiles.