The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-20
A GHOSTLY FARCE.
The Duped Guests of Spirit Marriage, with
Mock Prince Bridegroom.

Mock Prince Bridegroom.
San Francisco Chronicle.
Mrs, Eunice S. Sleeper, an aged and wealthy
widow, resides at 1874 Fremont street She has
sister, nephew and niece still IN the land of
the living but is childless, her only daughter
having died in 1876 She is apparently without
any disinterested counselor or protector It is
said that Mrs Sleeper owns real estate in the
country, as well as her homestead on Fremont
street, and has, besides, a handsome cash deposit
to her credit in one of the city banks. The total
value OF her estate, as near as can be estimated
is not less than 100000. She is monomaniac
on the subject of spirtualism. and her wealth is
tempting bait to the eharlatans whom her age
and credulity have drawn around her. Mrs.
Elsie Reynolds (nee Crindle) a Undertaking.
medium, as she is in the habit of styling her
SELF arrived in San Francisco about six years
ago Having no available capital except her
wits, she Immediately began operations, and,
while holding one of her spiritualistic seances,
she met with liberal patron in Mrs Sleeper,
who soon took her to her heart and home. A
suit of apartments was fitted with cabinet,
chairs ETC., and put apart for the personal and
professional use of the medium, who in return
gave the eccentric lady complimentary season
ticket to all of the seances held under her Elsie
Reynoldss) auspices. Mrs. Sleeper, during these
seances, used to derive great consolation in com
municating with her deceased husband and
daughter. whose spirits were summoned and oc-
casionally materalzed The climax was capped
Thursday. evening, Nov 20, by the spiritual mar
riage of the deceased Miss Sleeper to the de-
funct Prince Otto of Germany, relative of the
Premier Bismarck. The wedding was held in
the room of the medium described above, and
was witnessed by mixed company of mortais
and spirits When the lights had been lowered,
the curtains of the cabinet were drawn, and the
nateriazed bride and groom appeared. A "di-
amond' crown adorned the head of the bride,
and her form completely enveloped by
long white veil The groom was dressed in gar
ments of the ancient pattern comprising knee
breeches. stockings and slippers and his head
nv
to his rank.
The officiating priest was clad in black and
wore on his head white turban. His face was
CHASTITY and his eyes cleaned with unnatural
luster. On the conclusion Of the ceremony he
gave the couple his blessing and faded away.
The bride was attended by two bridesmaids and
asked her mother when they appeared do we
not look like the three graces, Aglia, Euphrosyin
and Thalia" The queen, mother of tho groom,
and Empress Josephine, of France, were among
the distinguished spirit guests, while Dr. Adams,
J. ID. jackson, James Platte, Geo. W. Brookes,
Mr.. and Mrs. William Hay, Mrs Leonard and
many others were present in the flesh. A bridal
supper succeeded the wedding. Mrs. Sleeper was
seated by the bride at the head of table bearing
light refreshments, like cake, fruit, etc. with the
queen mother to her right and Mr.. Sleeper to her
left The remaining guests also seated them
selves around the table, a spirit alternating with
person in the flesh. After wine had been
served the bride and groom complained that they
were becoming weak, and passed around the
baOIe, rttSeu the WINE glasses anu touched them
to their lips They then, followed by all of the
spirits, trooped into the cabinet, the curtain of
which fell and concealed them from view.
The lights were next turned on and the glasses
and deeanters ON the table contributed about all
that remained in evidence of the spiritual supper
and welding the material guests alone being
left to tell the tale.
Mrs Sleeper was interviewed recently and
said: my daughtey was but six years old when
she died, in 1876. She appears to me almost
,art.A - III, ali
with her and walked with her and she has lain
with me in my bed Her voice has changed
somewhat and she has grown larger and stronger
since her death. A few weeks ago she appeared,
told me of her contemplated marriage to Prince
Otto, who is also an inhabtant of the spirit
world, asked and obtained my consent"
This is the same Elsie Reynolds who became
so VIGOROUSLY prominent last December by dup
ing G. f. Parsons formerly editor of the Sacra-
1nento Record Union, and at present on the New
York Tribune. The deception, accounts Of
which widely circulated at the time by
Parsons, took place in this city in the rooms of
the spiritualist Parsons who a believer in
the power of gifted persons to recall the dead
from their graves had daughter, whom both
he and his wife dearly loved, and at whose death
they became almost heart broken Parsons was
induced to attend the seances of the Reynolds
woman, and, at his request, she assumed the
power to recall the body of the daughter of the
dsconsolate father from the grave. At these
times it was customary for Parsons and his wife
TO enter lne caDlneG, Wnere Lnelf supposed
daughter was said to be materialized Though
the influence of the medium and to fondle and
kiss her as when she was alive.
The denouement came however. Although
Parsons continued to believe the assertions of
the medium that he had seen his dead daughter,
the deception was discovered through the confess
sion of the confederate of Mrs. Reynolds. This
was woman named Nellie Smith, and she
stated that she had personated the daughter of
Parsons several times for Mrs. Reynolds, and
always did so at the seances when Parsons and
his wife were present. She had blue Dress
which she told had been the favorite color
of Parsons's daughter, fixed for this special pur
pose. John Smith, photographer, then of Oak
land, the one-time husband of Mrs Smith, testi-
fed that at seance which he attended Parsons
and his wife were called up to the cabinet TO kiss
their daughter and when he was aiterward
called up for the purpose he found that he
was kissing his own wife.
These developments were made trial of
Mrs Reynolds on charge of obtaining money
under false pretenses, preferred by another Of
her dupes.
W MI