The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-03
STIRRING UP THE SPOOKS.
SEARCH. THE SCAMP EXPOSED
BY THE APPEAL.
Again Playing His Franks The
FINN He IN Having I'm
Kansas.

Some time ago the APPRAL exposed
a scamp named Search, who was Civ
ing some wonderful spirit manifesto.
tons" at Spiritual Hall, making gui-
tars and tiddles play tunes in the air,
copjurirg up ghas,ly forms and per-
forming ali soitI Of queer tTicts with
slateo and tables. A plan was made
to catch him, and so successfully car
ried out that he was caught in the act
He lef. the city between two days,
aud now he has turned up again ut
Lawrence, Kas. A special dispatch TO
the Globe. Democrat from that place,
dated the 2Sth ultimo, says:
The science Of spiritualism is receiv-
ing searching investigation at this
university center, The seauces Of
Search, the noted medium, increase in
interest Last evening, at the resi-
dence of Mr. j. II. Simmons, one Of
our leading merchants, on Mississippi
street, circle OF eighteen persons was
formed, and the strange phenomena
OF previous sittings, with interesting
and curious variations and addition 3,
were repeated. The revelations Of Mr..
Search IN many respects pass those Of
SADIE, and are far more satisfactory
than those Of Mott. The ele-
ment Of design OF intentional fraud
seems to be entirely eliminated. The
circle Of last night was formed Of
eighteen or twenty intelligent, mex
citlble and not over curious people.
1t was formed in fully lighted room.
The furniture, executing the stove,
was removed and the fire extinguished,
as the room soon becomes wsrm
enough for mf)rt, and would almost
any night of the past winter. The
medium, Mr.. Search, sits in the center
Of the circle. Two or three violins
or other stringed instruments are aid
uIon the laps OF different parties. The
lights are turned down. The circle
JOIN in singing. The Gospel hymns
are usually preferred Some Of the
instruments are raised from their posi-
ton and commence floating around
the room, imparting lively music.
They strike the ceiling. They rest
gently upon the hea Is of the pal titles
in the circle and give forth music from
all parts of the room. The darkened
seanCe continues about hail an hour.
During this time, and while the music
is playing and the instruments revolv-
ing around the room, a current wave
or aura ia moving with such force
about the circle that lighted candle,
il would seem, could be extinguished
by it's movement. Repeated taps are
felt upon the shoulders and meade,
coming from outside the circle to ali
appearances. The instruments FREE
quently rest lightly, but perCepti-
bly,, and for considerable time,
upon the head of each one sitting,
apparently longer with some than
others. The dark seances being ended,
the lights are turned up to semi-dark
ness, aud the medium sits as member
ofthe circle, with parties a hold oil each
Of his hands outside OF the cabinet
(which consists simply Of u shawl
drawn across the corner OF the room).
Communications in writing are re-
ceived, purporting 10 come from the
spirit world. The conditions last night
seemed all 10 be favorable for the pre-
duction Of the phenomena. A com
municlton from ex-senator Lane
said, "this is q good circle" The ms
terialised hands appeared frequently
from the cabinet, Of different siz ~
some larger and some smaller
than those Of the medium,
The hand that your correspondent
came in contact with, alleged TO he
material.zed from the spirit world,
was soft and velvety, but the contacl
not being that of an old-iashioned
granger grip was not of sufficient
duration to allow one to Judge fully
Of the qualities and makeup OF the
hand. After the light and dark
seance. the correspondent OF toe
Globe. Democrat, DIR. Russ, and Mr..
Charles Bruce, coal merchant, in an
adjoining lighted room held seance
with the medium, in which were re-
ceived messages on the slate that must
have required wonderful sleight OF
hand, II performed by the medium
in his natura state, and by ordinary
physical agencies. The moving of a
large violin from under the table
around the chair OF DIR. Russ, and Its
elevation to the hight OF his head in
the clear light, seemed like a move
ment caused by some force outside OF
any physical contact by the medium.
These are come of the phenomena
witnessed last night. They do not
seem 10 be the result OF collision aud
design. They are curious, to say the
least, and are we'll worthy Of careful
investigation.