The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-18
A DAMAGING EXPOSE.
Madame Berger, Comm odore vanderbiIrs
Daughter, Fleeced by SpIrituRIists.

Where is Nine. Berger formerly Mrs
La Bau), the millionaire daughter OF Com
modore Vanderbilt, once known as 1.-THE
gold fish, OF the inner spiritualistic circles
That is what all the mediums in Boston
can't find out.
They say that she is not in the spirit
world or they would surely have heard
from her.
at the very moment when she was fling
ing away money with most lavish hands
among the needy communicates she
dropped out of sight or was snatched
away.
All are now asking. Who has her? and
everyone Is looking for the hidden treasure.
For coal Is high, January is here, and they
can't afford to lose her.
How much have they lost2
That depends greatly on how much she
has left of her princely inheritance. No
fortune could stand such drains long. A
thousand dollars at a nights sitting was
no infrequent gift, and her sittings were
legion, for she was an Unsuitable question
er, seeking for light in every quarter. The
cheapest "hack" clsirvoyant was not be-
low her. and the most extortionAte faith
healer" not too high for her. She paid
what was asked without hesitation or bag
Cling.
Her call was for spirits, without price.
known "spirits" were always forthcoming.
She was never delayed or disappointed.
At the shortest notice practicable all
orders were served mp from Columbus TO
Commodore Vanderbilt. But she had TO
pay proporiionately for extra stains OF the
Psychic powers. Yet she uttered no word
Of complaint, She was a paragon of
patrons.
Her mourning friends here remember
her wildly.
When she came to Boston IL is said that
she was still decidedly attractive woman,
though considerably past the natural
bloom oil youth. Her figure was stout bat
we'll proportioned. Her face was plump
and pleasing when she talked, her bright
black eyes were liz up with animation, aud
when she laughed her dazzling white teeth
were the despair of dentists and the envy
OF all Others. She was rather fond Of ad.
miIation, and those about her saw that
she had no lack OF IL. She had everything
about her TO make life pleasant-an over
| flowing purse, fine food, fine dresses Zoe
lodgings, troops OF friends, family con-
nections, all the distractions OF society.
devoted husband, oil that heart could
wish-and still she was not content. Why {?
She was a hypochoudrlac. She was
beset with tie notion that she
had the dropsy; no expert evi.
+, At first she dosed herself with all man
| der OF compounds known TO advertising
| geniuses, and haunted the leading drug
stores. She fairly distracted the clerks
with her peIemptory orders for every va
riety OF powders and fluids W. ich the hu
man stomach could bear without instant
ly collspsing. By persistence she learned
to master the inevitable nausea, and woald
calmly drink off doses before the amazed
| faces of the clerks, But her zeal was all
in vain. The more she chastised the sus.
| pected dropsy the slcker che grew. at
length, in despair of self-preservation, she
! threw herself into the hands of a faith
| healer. From that moment there was no
hope for her. 1t was her first plunge into
| the pool of spiritualism 81 far as is
| known IN this city her head never rose
above The surface again,
She became 50 deeply interested ia spir.
D., Is, world affairs that che engaged rooms in
| the house OF a spiritualist aud medium
who there went by the name OF De Lancey
| M, Young, who was at that time living at
| No. Cos fremont street. Where Mr.. DE
Lsncy NJ. Young" now is or what name he
Is now called By is not known, as he is no
longer TO be found in Boston.
Amor the : ersons whom Mr.. De Llncey
NJ. Young EN- ployed to assist him IN his
seances at the time Nine. Berger entered
his house was young woman named Nlns
Perry. She is at psesent residing at NO
3l2 Shswmut avenue, and, as her employ
ers say, is a young woman OF excellent
character. She is about sixteen years o.
age. with a pretty face, deep blue eyes, anC
fair complexion. Her figure is good aRC
she talks with considerable sprightlinesI
an6h iJecity. She chatted freely to the
Herald reporter about her experience
with YCung, and described with minute
ness how Young contrived 10 work up hll
ssances and messages from the spirit world
"What part of the house did Nine. Der
ger occupy ?'' asked the reporter.
"The second floor, and Young and his
sister and myself lived on the lower floor
Or course we never let Nine. Berger behinC
the scenes, as 1 may say. She had not TIT
slightest idea OF what was going on dow
below, or how we arranged the scenes, ant
seances beforehand Poor womanl SHIT
thought they were all real"
"Do you happen to remember psrticu
larly any of the incidents of these seean
ces?"
Eyes, / remember some of them YER
well indeed. You see, the fact that Nine
Berger lived in our house makes me re
member the seances we gave her far bette
than those we gave anybody else"
Il suppose you were always partic
pant in themP"
eyes, / was always one OF the sprit
Sometimes" said Miss berry, 81 was a
angel come to tell Nine. Berger about he
E mother; sometimes i was one of her des
friends, and sometimes | was one OF he
, own family"
$ How ord you know how to act all the'
3 parts? l should think you would hav
= made mistakes-said the wrong thint
} from the wrong people. How did 20
avoid all this2"
well, you see, Young was a prelt
4 sharp fellow, and he would go up and tai
to Nine. Berger and find out eyerythlr
She knew about her relations, aud then
would come down stairs and write out
II message for me to repeat when came OF
:. at night dressed as spirit"
5; what spirits did you act most success
fully"
m "Well," replied Young's former conta
T crate, laughing, "the part acted best "
D. little Freddie, Nine. Bereer's lost chill
Young found out one day that Nine. Be
" ger had lost this child when she was qul
n. q young married woman, and he immeo
c; ately came down stairs and told me mu
g, act ss Nine. Bergers little son that night
"And l suppose you did so"
NJ ibid II Well, you should have SCI
" me. When night came on we had c
usual seance. Mime. Berger was in t
D. front parlor, and the spirits-that is, N
IS self and Young's sister-were in the re
~ | parlor behind a curtain. / was putting
es my gauzes and laces and white robes, VIII
Fl. I heard Nine. Berger say, DE Lancey,
Is You think the spirits will favor us
Is. night2' Yes, Madame replihd Young,