The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-11
Spirituaiism and voudoOism.

A divorce case which has lately been on
trial in Cincinnati was very remarkable, be-
cause a great part OF the testimony taken
related to alleged spiritualistic perform
ances. large number OF witnesses OF
good repute swore that they had actually
seen tho work done by the spirits; and,
moreover, the mediums through whom the
inhabitants OF the shadowy world were sup
posed to send their communications and
produce material results were not profess
sional wonder workers in the spritualistic
way, but men and women of appar-
ent responsibility who do not seem
to have turned their proficiency to
gain. They were private individuals,
who declared that they had discovered
their peculiar powers accidentally. The per-
formances were domestic, and not public,
and the actors were amateurs, II we may 80
call them who merely brought in the spirits
for the surprise or delectation Of their friends.
The divorce case was that OF Mrs. HELEN
NJ Young against Gen. H. c. YOUNG. and the
charge was adultery, which the defendant
denied, at tho same time alleging improper
intimacy between his wife and spirit
ualistic medium named FOSTER. This
Is not tho medium Of that name
who was 80 long and widely known
in New York as professional character, and
who, we believe, has now landed in an insane
asylum, but Mr. FRANK T. FOSTER OF Gin
cinnatl, who is q man Of affairs, being the
superintendent Of an oil mandatory in that
city. 1t was in consequence OF this counter
charge that the testimony regarding spirit
ualistic manifestations and performances
was introduced.
| Itseems that the half sister OF Gen. YOUNG,
Mrs. MARIA LOUISA YOUNG, was known in
the family as o writing medium; and at
the YOUNG homestead spiritualistic meetings
were held. In 1878 Mr.. FOSTER, according to
his testimony, attended one Of these meet
ings. and that was the first he had to do with
spiritualism; but once having got taste OF
them, his appetite for the wonders steadily
increased, and finally he became a medium
himself wholly without effort or inclination
on his part He wrote on slate independent
| ly OF his will. he testified, but his great feat
was the making OF spirit voices sound
through trumpet. Mrs. MARIA LOUISA
YOUNG, according to Mr.. FOSTER, cxerted a
strange influence over him. l never got into
that condition except In the presence OF Mrs.
MARIA LOUISA YOUNG" no testified. And
when he was In what we believe is called tho
medumistic state In the jargon OF the Spirit
ualists. he said he was partly unconscious,
and that he suffered great physical injury.
because OF the strain OF tho performances on
him. II think II had kept 1t up six months
longer 1t would have killed me-" he said; and
he further testified that no never in his life
got any money for his spiritualistc feats.
Mrs. MARIA LOUISA YOUNG, above referred
to, testified that Mrs HELEN NJ. YOUNG, the
plaintiff In the suit, was Undertaking.
medium" She would retire behind screen
and spirit forms would appear. the earthly
company sitting in the form Of horse
shoe. Mr.. FOSTER, In order to make
tho trumpet speak, would sit at
tho opening OF the horseshoe. Then, he hay.
ing fallen into semi-unconscious state, the
trumpet would DO raised without material
aid, and the spirit voice would answer
through 1t questions propounded. Eos.
TER said no knew he did not touch
tho trumpet, and that II he had done
SO other persons in the circle would have de.
tected him. Neither did no himself hear the
voices through tho trumpet which the res,
found 30 audible. When no recovered his
normal condition, SO exhausted and faint that
sometimes he needed glass OF cold water tc
revive him, the company always told him
that their questions had been answered
through the instrument.
Just how the trumpet acted, the wife OF the
medium testified. Tho trumpet would rise
from the hoor." Mrs. FOSTER said, "and
move about the room. At first 1t touched
persons perhaps only feebly. After while
there were two or three songs through 1t