The Helena independent., 1889-01-23
A SPIRITUALISTIC FRAUD.
"Rsv." MRS. TOBIAS 3. sTRYKsR.
Imposition Upon a Credulous New
York Merchant by An Alleged
Spirit Medium,

New York World: George d. Carroll
displayed little interest yesterday In the
stationery business, in which he is asso-
ciated with John Dempsey, at 50 East
Fourteenth street AT least he was absent
from their handsome store during the
greater part OF the day, and the intelligent
looking young men In charge professed
profound ignorance as 10 his whereabouts.
The question OF his whereabouts, how
ever, was a slight mystery compared with
the surprising occurrences reported yester.
day In which Mir. Carrol's name was con
nected with that OF the "Rey." Mrs. Tobias
Is. Stryker. splritualistic medium OF more
daring originality than even the Priestess
Debar.
The story is that while Mr.. Carroll lived
nj YOnkers In 1888 his son Clifford died at
the age OF twenty eight The young man
was the pride OF his parents, and his father
particularly was gTieved by his death.
Already interested In splrltualism, he be-
gan 70 resort 10 mediums TO place him IN
Communication with his son, which led 10
his ACQUAINTANCE with Mrs. StTy ker, then
resident of Brooklyn, where her husband
was porter In store. She brought the
father many communications from Clifford,
and soon removed 70 New York, so as TO
be able 10 communicate easily with Mr..
Carroll She took rooms at No. llp East
Twenty-eighth street, then the whole house
at No 25l West Twenty-third street. aud
later one on Lexington avenue, with each
removal becoming surrounded 10y new evil
dences of luxury, though in the beginning
very Door. Her husband obtained employ
ment In New York and Mr.. Carroll spent
much Of his time In their house, where Mrs.
Stryker gave frequent seances and received
many callers.
When young Carroll had been dead
year Mrs. Stryker informed his father that
he was happy with the exception OF need
ing an affinity" and a wedding was ac
tually MANNED TO take place In the spirit
world between Clifford Manfred Carroll
and "Bright Eyes" the spirit of a young
poetess who had died. The firm OF Demp-
sey 4 Co. engraved The invitations TO the
wedding, which were distributed by the
father TO his friends, and Dec. y, 1884, In
the East Twenty. third street house, ia bril-
liantly lighted parlors, with soft music
floating from another room, Mrs. Sryker
went into trance state and performed the
marriage ceremony between the spirits,
after which the company partook OF a ma
ternal wedding supper. A year later Mrs.
Sryker delighted Mr.. Carroll by announc-
ing that baby spirit had been born 70 his
son and "Bright Eyes," and It's christening
was q Joyous occasion. celebrated at Mag
ara Falls In the presence OF several of Mr..
Carrolps friends.
Mrs. Carroll, II is reported, took no part
In the wonderful spirit correspondence
which so completely occupied her husband,
but May Is, 1885, she WAS committed TO the
New York State Homeopathic Insane
asylum at Middletown, on account OF be
ing afflicted with melancholiA For awhile
she was visited regularly by her husband,
but his visits soon fell of, and he removed
from Yonkers and became boarder In the
house of the Strykers. Now the friends Of
Mrs. Carroll are raising the question
whether she really is insane and II her
commitment 10 the asylum Is not part Of
the delusion Of the husband by the young
and fair medium