The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-28

The Sensational Statements Made by Lady
Residing at Macon, GA.
Macon Special.
you are an attorney as we'll as magistrate, "
said lady in Justice w. A. Poes Office, as she
glanced nervously around the room.
Eyes, madam; how can serve you," said the
justice.
'Do you keep a record of the marriage cere-
monies you perform?" she inquired, after some
hesitation Her manner was still excited. and
her fingers played rapidly with handkerchief
that she held.
Only partial one. 1t is not very accurate
Get the book and look at the date two years
ago. she demanded.
1.-The order was obeyed and the following
entry read from the record:
Married, March %, Fannie Howard and James F.
Sterling"
eyes, yes" she said, II am now convinced the
man TO whom you married me was my dead hus-
band You may not believe it, but SO sure as 4
am living woman, the ceremony you performed
bound in wedlock live woman and a man who
bad been dead for three years. Listen to what
l say: You married me to a materialized spirit.
see you do not believe in spiritualism. l do.
and on oath declare that in this room, on the
23d day Of March, 1883, you married me- Fan
ME Howard, to James Franklin Howard, and
not to j. T. Sterling. There is not, and never
was, j. +. Sterling, who married me in this
room, on that 23d of March, two years ago. /
will prove it to you, on testimony that jury
in the county of Monroe, this State, l. Fannie
Westbrook, married James Franklin Howard,
my husband We lived together twelve months,
when he was taken sick and died Shortly
afterward went North. In my distress | Wis
tied a celebrated medium in New York. There
I saw my husband materalzed spirit. talked
with him, and enjoyed the happiness his pres
ence gave me. left the medium room with
new life and hope, and in short time returned
home. The quiet neighborhood of country
how Co. n1-av, Nv 1,ao ae a
visitor. One day, however, there came to our
house stranger. He had been in the neighbor-
hood several days, and his striking resem-
blance to my husband had been noted
by many of my friends who had seen him. He
came to our home at the invitation Of my father,
who had requested him to dine with us. / did
not enter the dining-room until all had taken
seats around the table. My eyes rested upon
the stranger, and in a moment saw before me
my dead husband. as distinctly, sir, as see you.
do not know what passed afterward. Memory
deserted me. / seemed to be under the influence
of some spiritual power. Mr.. Sterling came to
our house often afterward l never was so i'm
pressed in my life as was at our first meeting.
His resemblance to my dead husband was start,
ling. In time he addressed me, and
I accepted his offer against my
fathers consent We came to this city.
and in an hour after we arrived
you married u.s. We left your Office for the no
tel My husband left me at the room door. ]
He was not in the hall, as he was moment be-
fore. He had not entered the Office and no one
saw him leave the hotel. 1t was mystery. He
never returned. I was advised by the proprie-
tor to consult the police / did so, but never af-
forwards heard of him."
you were cruelty deserted, madam. by cow
erdly villain" suggested the Justice"
Deserted" she reported, with an incredulous
smile. mo. Let me tell you man Of flesh
and blood could not cover 200 feet of hallway
in the short space of FIVE seconds No one saw
him pass. Besides, is it likely the police force
could have failed to find him if he had been
in the city. His motive for deserving
me must furnish a key to the mystery.
From the facts, firmly believe that married
the materalized spirit Of my husband; that his
spirit came back to earth and assumed form
like that he wore on earth; that for season he
made me happy, forgetting his spirtualized life.
He overstepped the bounds of that existence,
and was recalled peremptorily to the spirit land.
With this knowledge, can swear that married
in this room, on the 23d of March, 1883, James
Franklin Howard. If ever can believe as you
do, cir, will call again. Pardon my intrusion.
bid You good-day."
And the strange visitor glided out of the door
as If she herself might have been materialzed
spirit.