The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-11-29
A sPlRITUALlsT FRAUD.

How an Impos'er Was Exposed in the
Presence Of n Kansas city Audience.
From the Kansas City Times.
Decidedly the most scnsationally interest
ing performance Of the season was given at
the Coates opera house last evening. The
occasion was the appearance Of an alleged
spiri,ualistic medium. who falsely claimed to
be DR.. Charles T. Slade, and who undertook
and failed to give seanee. A large crowd
was in attendance, among whom were a num-
Der Of the best known people Of Kansas City.
Some went to see the fun. some were con-
vnced in their minds beforehand that the
medium was a fraud, and some went to see
spiritualistic manifestation.
The first thing on the programme wasa cab.
met trick. DR.. Slade asked to be tied into
the cabinet, when he promised to bring forth,
in full gas light, number Of spirit hands.
Calling for a committee from the audience,
Mr.. w. II. Winants and Mr.. ]. A. MELON
aid were named. Mr.. winants declined to
serve, and Mr.. ID. $. Carlson was then called
in his place, and, together with Mr.. Nc
Donald, he went upon the stage. The
medium was securely tied in the cabinet, and
the ends Of the rope were sealed. The
cabinet curtains were then drawn, the COM
mittee took their seats, and il was an
nounced that everything was in readiness. At
this point the gas was turned almost out, so
that the house was left in comparative dark
ness. The audience at once entered a vigor-
Gus audible protest against this breach Of con-
tract, and the matter was finally compromised
by turning on the gas about half way. Then
the drum in the cabinet began to sound,
two hands appeared above the cabinet and
bells were heard to ring. Mr.. Mcdonald at
this point sprang for the cabinet and threw
back the curtains. There sat the medium tied
securely enough, but it was also plain to be
seen that the cabinet stood over a trap door,
through which the 'apparilion" had make its
way into the cabinet The audience saw the
/ fraud, and = scene Of wild confusion eusued
Mr.. Mcdonald declared he would have
nothing further to do with the matter, but he
was finally prevailed upon to remain on the
stage Slade was then released, his assistants
cutting the cords which bound him.
~ will 90 and see Colonel Coates" Slade
| declared, as he and The assistant started for
the wings.
THE fellow was drunk In the first place"
said Mr.. John A. Mcdonald, one OF the COM
/ mlUeemen. lie lfted 10 induce US 10 be
easy on him, but told him at first that il he
was a fraud would expose him. knew he
wasn't DR.. Slade from the first, but didn't
think he was quite as big fraud as he proved
to he. wish he had been caught. lie
would have remembered Kansas City for some
time. in my opinion"
Officer Haas reported that two men running
along Penn, near Ninth street, were seen by a
| special policeman. The special policeman
asked the men what they were doing, and
they replied 1--WE are trying to catch the
train. The men proceeded down Penn
street at break-neck gait and were soon lost
to sight. II is supposed that these were the
two men who ran away from the opera house
II is thought that they slipped from the Tenth
street door OF the opera house.
Several well.known spintualistS were mad
from the fact that the fraud would tend TO
throw all spiritualistic manifestations into dis
repule. In great indignation they struck Out
after Slade, but could find no trace of him in
any of the outgoing trains, which they in
spected thoroughly. II was found that be
sides leaving his cabinet aud appliances at tn,
Coates house. he had also left his travelling
bag at the Union depot hotel. He had also
left there an unpaid board bill. No traces o
the fugitive could be found either in Kansa,
City or Wyando,te, and il is their opinion
that the two men took a hack for Armstrong
where they took an outgoing Santa Fe train
Others hold to the belief that the frightened
frauds left town on foot, taking to the railroad
to avoid pursuit, and that they have no
| STONED running even vet,