The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-21
A Lost Opportunity.

Through the pig-headedness or lsol
OF public spirit on the part of firm =,
attorneys in st. Louis the world h..
lost one of those opportunities wbiss
came but owe in a lifetime.
The occasion was a suit in the GRIM.
nal Court, the defendants being tvo
noted mediums who were on trial n,
fraud in producing alleged "spiritn,I
manifestations" To the reality and
good faith of the manifestations -
well as to their spiritual origin then
were numerous witnesses. They wers
however, of the stereotyped sort
There were the observers who 90 IN !
"seance" to see aunts and other ~
latlves, and who are determined to n
deceived. There was the credulou,
professional man, who went smerelv
in the interest of SCIENCE" and wss
startled to find himself conyersiur
with the spirit OF his first love, who n,
peated whole passages from his last
letter to her, but could tell nothing
about his first letter to her successor
There was the lifelong spiritualist
who could not have been persuaded bv,
any device known to intelligence thaf1
there was any trickery or guile in peo-
pie who professed to bring up the spir.
it of his dead grandmother still bear.
ing the mark of the cancer which ter
minated her career in the flesh. And
there were other witnesses of the sams
sort, the witnesses that we always
hear from when the doings Of these.
charlatans are called in question.
Recognizing the unsatisfactory ns.
ture of this testimony, and DESTROYS
of promoting the ends of justice, the
presiding Judge proposed, with re-
markable Iiberality. that tie defen-
dants should call the spirits them
selves as witnesses. The spirits, be
urged, had been represented as eager,
to establish. the truth Of spiritualism;
why not call one or more Of them tO
the witness standP "Why not show
me-" he said. 'that there medIumship
Of actual communication with the dead
by practical illustration3 II there is,a
relationship existing between
5he medium and the spirits Of the de-
parted, as insisted upon by the do
'ense in this case, why should not said
spirits be eager to display themselves
IN this stage of action and vindicab
he defendantsP"
Had this proposal been accepted T.
world might to-day be in possession q
conclusive proof in respect to m
ect concerning which there y -
cry broadcast diversity OF opinlo4
nd at times the fiercest conflict ~
he spirits appeared, had they tesdlA
N oath, had they withstood the bl.s
ishments of the attorneys on IL
wn side and tho whitening crosss1
mination of the opposing coune1
here would have been basis sucn
here IS not now Tor belief in thsR
and IN their generous ~
ice of the mediums who subslst g
heir alleged bounty. The skePs1
'ould have been COMPOUNDED and =
carts of believers would have pes
elated. On the ctnsl
and if the spirits had refused to oD'y
le subpoena or to testify when sun
oned, or had their testimony Dos
1verse to the medlumistic theory
luse of truth would have been ~
easurably advanced, and the ~
wisdom would have been turned
T the benefit of future genera.c
it'll the power of forty statues
of liberty enlightening
orld. But it was not to be.
lrdless of the enormous public lns
is at stake, oblivious to the Wen
future generations yet unborn,
llous counsel for the defense relu'
accept the proposition of the COZ
lie golden opportunity was loss
ay never occur again. - etroa =
esS