The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-03
spIRTTuALIsrs COME 10 GRIEF.
The Bangs sIsterIs Fraud Exposed by Chi.
cnro Detectiyes,


CHICAGO, April 1.-Two mediums
known as the Bangs sisters, whose ma
terlalistic seances have been commented
on a good deal lately, were arrested last
night, locked up, charged with conduct
| ing an entertainment without license
and obtaining money under false pre-
lenses. The women, who are young
and good-looking, claim to have been in
the medium business since they were
small children. Recently they were
brought prominently before public mo-
tice through the freaks Of Henry Jes-
tram, wealthy photographer OF this
city. Jestram was an old-time friend Of
August Spies, the Anarchist, and since
the latters execution, claimed to have
received spirit communication from him
through the medium OF the Bangs sisters
at whose seances he was a regular at
tendant. His mind finally became affec-
ted by constant brooding over the spirit
manifestations and week ago 1t was
found necessary to place him in the de-
tention hospital for the insane.
It appears that ID. F. Trefny, Of Engle-
wood, who is a spiritualist, made COM
plant to the police three weeks ago
that the Bangs sisters seances were
frauds, and detective was detailed to
attend them regularly and at the first
good chance expose and arrest them.
Warrants were sworn out on the charges
named above. The, case OF Jestram
served TO hasten the exposure.
Last night the detective, accompanied
by a brother officer and the complain
ant, Trefny, were on hand at the open
ing OF the seance. The lights were
turned very low, and several figures,
purporting to be spirits, made their ap-
pearanCe one after another, and COM
municated with the audience. Finally
there appeared the spirit Of o Russian
prince, clad in royal robes. The
signal was given, and Mr.. Tretny |
sprang forward and seized the spook by |
the arms. The two detectives rushed to
his aid and some one else Lit the gas.
The spook made q furious resistance,
striking out right and left and tried to
throw off his shroud and wig. II have
a warrant for you, May Bangs" said
Detective Tyrell, and Just then a light
mask she wore fell of, disclosing her
well known features. a rOll ol houe-
thing concealed under her shroud fell to
the floor, and Mrs. Bangs, mother Of
the sisters, seized it and ran. Tyrell
pursued her and caught her hiding be-
hind window curtain. 1t was roll
Of batting, used probably to make
wigs and boards in the cabinet. So
did the sisters and several
male attendants OF the seance become
that the officers were compelled to draw
their revolvers to clear the room. Subse.
quently search revealed a satchel filed
with white muslin shrouds and the like,
three sets Of whiskers OF different hues,
five wigs, mustaches and great variety
Of makeup material such as used by DC
tors. They also found that in the cabi-
net was curtain that ran up the centre
making two compartments, and also a
side entrance which admitted the spirit
operator behind the curtain, where, by
the way, all the changes of costumes were
made. The cabinet, satchel and the sis
ters were then loaded into patrol
wagon and taken to the station and
locked uD.