The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-08
SKILLFUL TRICKS OF HAZEL
An Adept in Mind-Reading, but Unbe-
lever in Tests of SO-Called Mediums.
he Pleases Skeptics, Amuses Many, and Gets
Into a Controversy with Spiritualists, in
Which a Glib Tongue Serves Him.

"HaZel, the m~ystagogue" as he calls him
self, gave an entertainment at the Grand
Opera-house last night. There wal q large
and remunerative assemblage of all sorts
of people, from grave to gay, from lively to
severe, including a large ~sprinkling of
bald-headed men. The first section of Mr..
Hazers performance was devoted to mind
reading, which did not differ in method
from what Indianapolis audiences have
seen before. notably as given by mind
reader Brown. One of these was the figure
test, in which, by reading the mind of the
man who footed ND the figures he gave the
answer, vouched for by Councilman Kelley,
who was referee, as being correct. A second
was to find a handkerchief hidden in the
audience by Homer Smith, DR.. Purman
having removed the mystagogue from the
room while the hiding was done, and the
third was to give a name written. upon a
piece of paper by Dorsey
The third and last of the series was what
is called by mind-reader Brown the murder
test. Volunteers to take part in this muir
der are called for from the audience, and
Sparks went forward and took tn cir places
on the stage. One of them blindfolded Mr..
Hazel, after which the other, open knife
IN hand, went in the audience and stabbed,
in pantomime, of course, Alderman Taylor
and cut off his head. He then returned to
the stage. Mr.. Hazel. blindfolded as he
was, conducted the gentleman who, seated
upon the stage, had seen the murder COM
mitted, down. the center aisle about the
foyer of the theater to the first parquette
and placed his hand upon DIR. TaylOrs
head. 1t took, as in the two previous tests,
some time to make this discovery. but when
it was made the audience applauded heart
The second part of the performance con-
sisted of a demonstration of s~piritualism as
given by mediums. Il will not say" said
Mr.. Hazel, that this is real ~spiritualism,
but will show you exactly what is being
done by Miss Fay, Mrs. Hoffman, Slade,
Arnold and others, and / will prove to you
hat it is done by natural agency" John
a committee to see that everything was
fairly done, and Mrs. Sadie Hazel then
stepped upon the stage and took a seat in
the cabinet. Previous to this the committee
examined with great circumspection a bolt
with rings upon it which was placed
securely fastened with nuts. The com
mitteemen positively affirmed this bolt to
be all right and thoroughly substantial,
and then by means of astrong piece of braid
they tied the wrist of each hand of Mrs.
Hazel to a ring of the bolt. When. the
curtain was closed, shutting her out from
the audience, and the lights were turned
down, the usual cabinet manifestations be-
/; The curtain being withdrawn, her hands
were shown firmly tied. Mr.. MaxwelPs
overcoat was put inside the cabinet, and on
the curtain being withdrawn the lady with
coat upon her back. Mr.. Maxwell then
entered the cabinet, and in a moment his
watch and chain were handed out, a re-
yolver and necktie following. Other ar
ticles of wearing apparel might have been
exhibited had not the curtain been again
withdrawn, exhibiting Mr.. Maxwell with
his vest on wrong side out, the lady wear
ing his Prince Albert, and he again wearing
his overc0at. The lady was found by the
committee to be still securely tied.
Mr.. Hazel then took q small double slate,
and, after showing it to the committee,
placed a short slate-pencil between the
states and tied them together. These were
handed In to the medium in the cabinet.
In a moment the slate was returned. Mr..
Smith vOuched for it being the same slate.
The string was broken, and the writing
upon the slate was read to the audience. 1t
read: This is a bad night for spirits, and
there will be no more slate-writing."
There is a trick" said Mr.. Hazel, who
is as ready a talker as ever stood upon a
stage, not connected with the post, but
with the bolt. 1t really comes apart in the
hands, but the keenest eye canno detect
where it comes apart" He showed the
bolt, separated in two pieces to the two
committeeman, who acknowledged their
defeat. and the lady retired from the stage.
"All manifestation. continued Mr.. Hazel,
"can be made with this in the cabinet, ex-
cept the spirit hands. / will show you the
only spirit hand that ever was produced
and the only one that ever will be produced
on EARTH" He exhibited it inithe light, ex-
planning, that it was always done in a
darkened cabinet. He seated the two
committemen. near together in chairs
and stood between them, He gave
to Sof hold, q the o edsm the el thumb be Of his M Tight
hand, thus making prisoner both his hands.
He then requested them to move their
chairs nearer together. This was q trick
to release his thumb as he placed the thumb
teeman on his right side and then, with his
disengaged hand smoothed their fore
heads and moved his fingers over their heads
in a very kittlish and spook-like fashion.
The audience saw the trick and applauded
heartily. He then showed another method
of producing a spirit hand, but hardly SO
He explained lifting light tables as done
with a ring and pin. "As to lifting larger
tables by placing ones open hands upon
them" said the mystagogue, "as done by
Herbert Slade. there are usually three
other persons beside Mr.. Slade
to put their pen palms upon
federate. The confederate and siade
have each q girdle about the waist, to
which is attached a hook. When they
bounce the table about and let it fall to the
fo0r that gives Mr.. Slade and his assistant
opportunity to put the hooks under their
vests again-al these tricks being lone in
the dark. Mrs. Hoffman's method is differ
ent, she has hooks on her cuffs"
That amt SOL" shouted a female voice
in the audience.
How does Brown do It'll" inquired a man
in the parquet.
by electricity. If you think there can
be such a thing as a person placing hands
open upon a table and raising it from the
tioor, will give $500 to the poor of Indian
ap0lis If you will bring such a person upon
this stage. make that challenge
Here there was a murmur in the audience,
a number of voices disputing Mr.. HazePs
assertion. Il make that challenge; accept
1t If You dare" he continued. II say this,
that s~piritualism as practiced by mediums,
is a fraud; l say IL because | don't want
the American public h~umbugged. Spirit
ualists of that class are afraid of me. as /
know their tricks
What do you call mind-readingY called
out a voice.
II don't give any explanation. / cannot
explain it; neither can / explain mesmer-
ism, but il exists. There is published in
Boston a paper devoted to spiritualism. 1t
is taken all over the land, and is called the
Banner of Light. / don't propose To saw
anything against that paper. but it upholds
Carrie Hoffman as a spiritualistic medium.
Now, You are entire strangers to me. and
when i come and tell you something about
your father or mother who are dead, or