The Republican journal., 1885-10-15
A "Seance" in Stockton

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL. An eNhibi
ton Of pretended spirit manifestations given in this
town last evening was such barefaced fraud that
ii deserves exposure. 1t was bv a party calling
himself Dr. T. Warren, assisted by another man of
similar appearance, but smaller. Both are dark
complcNioned and wear their hair rather long.
They came to town one day ahead of time, and last
evening circulated their handbills covered with
marvellous tales Of materialized spirits exhibiting
themselves and talking to members of the audience.
The bi is headed on one side with flying woman
in d gauze nightgown, and on the other, a man is
holding materiazed little girl on his knee. The
exhibition in no manner carried out the promises,
for the whole mystery consisted in how he got his
right arm loose and got it back in the ropes again
With that accomplished all else was very simple,
for it all done in cabinet in the dark. Tying
himis much like tying rubber ball, he is 50 round,
fat and easily inflated and his arms to his finger
ends taper like cones. When he tied himself his
hands were bound tight by the position he held
them in and his knees were held in and were
ioosencd by the least change. When tied by the
committee his arms and hands were in wire sockets
reaching to his elbows behind and higher in front.
These sockets were firmly lashel to his boots and
I" his sides in the best position pull his tapering
arms above the sockets was so near his shoulders
that dropping either of them would leave his arm
free. And flashing him with distended lungs made
it easy to slacken the rope across his breast With
either of his arms free there was nothing mysteri.
Gus or even difficult about the rest of the perform
ance. He evidently used some phosphorus on
his hands that would show when the cabinet was
dark enough. He and his pal raised large table
with their thumbs, and he alone tipped small one
by pushing it. This was done in the light and the
fraud visible that it disgusting.
When realize that all power is invisible, and
the greatest, such electricity and gravity escap-
Ell the discovery Of an Intelligent people for 80
many centuries; and that steam and explosives
were believed to be harmless and poweress until
the art of testing their strength discovered, it
is wonder that people look upon all subtle phe-
nomena as though wonderful marvels were hidden
there waiting for dscoverer. And people can
not be censured for thinking some of these are
manifestations of spirits who have been taught
that the Bible is true wherein they read of the
woman of Endor calling up the spirit Of Samuel,
the hand writing on the wall, the voice of Jesus
heard by Paul at his EMERSON, and the materially
alton or TRANSPORTATION of Elijah on the mount in
the presence of Jesus and his disciples 1t is faith
in and careful, honest examination of invisible and
almost intangible phenomena that has given civil
ization nearly all its advantages, and frauds going
about the country casting ridicule upon any exam
liners of subtle phenomena, are a hindrance to
| progress, and ought to be dealt with they de-
serve. Had they come to explain the arts of tying
and untying, or of ventriloqusm, or of magic APP
pearances. an audience would be well paid for Wis
| iting them. But where they present nothing, and
cast ridicue upon honest Investigators after truth
they become public nuisance. C. S. GRIFFIN
Stockton, Me-, Oct. 4.