St. Paul daily globe., 1890-03-24
To the Gaze Of an Amateur
Spiritualist in Gin
cinnati.
A Wonderful Test Given by
the Noted Medium
Willis
To Disprove the Charge Of
Fraud Made Against
Him.
Notes Taken in the Dark
While the Shadows Sailed
Around.

Around.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Feeling aggrieved at the statement OF
certain people that his seances were
frauds, designed for the purpose of de-
luding ana defrauding people, Mr.. Will
lis. the we'll known spiritualistic medl-
um, few days since gave public test
to which a reporter of this paper was
invited.
The medium resides in handsome
three-story house on Wesley avenue.
the large double parlors of which are
utilized as the meeting place for the
band of believers who meet at his resi-
dence. In the rear of the back parlor
the cabinet is erected. 1t consists
merely of black felt curtain hung on a
portiere pole across the opening into
third room.
During the Afternoon
the reporter was shown over the house
by several members of the circle, every
door and closet being carefully eX-
aminei. No trap doors were found or
secret passages discovered, thus dis
proving the statement that such things
existed. During short Seance in the
afternoon several letters written on
paper and states were received from
the other world, as Mr.. Willis
and those to whom they were
addressed alleged. The spirit who
did these things was introduced
as John Morris, the control of the medi-
um. There was large tin trumpet
with the big end painted with a phos-
phorous mixture, rendering it luminous
to a faint degree in the absolute dark
ness. This trumpet performed the
most peculiar antics, whirling about in
the air above the heads of those in the
circle with rapidity that was startling.
Coming to a standstill voice was
heard coming from it, which the medi-
um announced as that of his spirit con-
troll, John Morris.
The Disembodied Gentleman
Delivered somewhat of lecture upon
the harm that evil-minded persons had
done to the cause of spiritualism by
their rash and untruthful statements
concerning those enlightened persons,
the mediums chosen by them, by which
they communicated to their friends on
the earthly plane. No materializatons
were apparent to the reporter, although
several of those in the circle declared
that they saw two spirit forms stand
ing near the table. In the evening
thirty-fve persons were present, the
sexes being nearly equally divided. The
seance opened with the recitation of the
Lords Prayer by all present. The
"Sweet By-and-Bye" and "Rock of
Ages were sung, and the manifesto
tions began. The trumpet swung around
with Ed Waters as the controlling spirit
within it. This ghost called each en-
tire circle except the reporter by name,
and was rewarded with
Chorus Of "Thank You, Ed"
He was joined in speaking by John
Morris, who seemed highly ubiquitous,
to say the least. Suddenly Morris ma
terialized in misty, hazy shape. The
light to see him was from peculiarly
arranged box placed on the wall at the
point of the circle. near the ceiling. In
side was candle, the front being cOv-
cred with sheet of thin white paper.
Covering the paper was a sliding
wooden lid, operated from the cabinet
by means of weighted string. Be-
well-known Covington detective, came
out and talked of a counterteiting case.
A little child who asked for grandpa"
next came upon the scene. disappearing
as the old gentleman thus addressed at
tempted to embrace her. During these
materialiZatiOnS popular airs were rem
dered by large music box, the spirit of
the husband of a young widow present
being waited out to a jingle OF "The
Heavy Dragon" from p atience. Later
in the evening appeared the spirit of
Big Ben, an Indian warrior, who in life
was eleven feet tall. An enthusiast,
whose control he was, brought beautl-
full headdress, made of gold bullion,
lace and cocks feathers.
This, the Spirit Announced,
was too small for him, although it was
two inches two large for the reporters
sizable head. A package of letters
taken from an overcoat in the hall were
thrown through the curtain in spot
where there was no opening to be
found. A woman's face also appeared
for a brief instant. After these mate
rializations in the circle, number of
those present were called into the cabi-
net to meet friends from the other shore.
Iuo TcpOItoI was dnouS eiooO ouui-
moned, being attended into the cabinet
by Mr.. Willis and friend. Several
spirits materialized before him, dis
appearing by sinking out of sight. |
One of these shadowy visitors an
nOunced that she was friend of the |
reporter, but was not strong enough to |
give her name distinctly. She affec- |
tionately touched him on the forehead |
in token of blessing and passed away. |
During the trumpet tests the reporter |
was allowed to hold the instrument by |
the large end, Mr.. Willis having the |
other or smaller end in his hands. The |
shade of Mr.. Morris told him that he |
would be soon strong enough to have |
his friends come from the other world |
to visit him. The spirit of Benjamin
Kicking from the cabinet sent greetings |
to his daughter-in-law on the outside, |
but was unable to develop
Sufficiently to Appear.
Mrs. L. r. Maynard, a clairvoyant |
and developing medium, who was in the
circle, arose under the influence Of her
control, Atlantic. an Indian ten feet in |
height, who did not appear. She spoke |
for nearly an hour on the beauties and |
philosophy of spirtualism, her remarks,
at first, growing so tedious
that the spirits of Clint Butts and John
Morris became so impolite as to
pound on the trumpet and to laugh
loudly. Mrs. Maynard sharply reproved
them for making the noise, and pro-
ceeded to descant upon the deplorable
spirit of rivalry and jealousy existing
between mediums. A little spirit girl
rendered solo on the organ within the
cabinet, and announced that she was
Carrie Rogers, whose parents were out
side.
After manifestation by John Morris.
the doxology was sung and the lights
were tnrnad lid. The cabinet was