New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-10
TPFOLDING A SPIRITUALIS7'S WILL.
.rr,xcu COURT DFclDFs THAT 4 BELIEF in

\ FRENCH COURT DECIDES THAT 4 BELIEF in
SPIRiTUALI<M Is NOT s.GN OF TN,ANITY.
4Ro-s * CLASSICAL CcRRFsIoNpEST OF TIE TRIBUNE
Paris, Feb. 2i-The particulars Of the great spirit
ualstic lawsuit recently trlcd here may prove in
tcrestng u the numerous Sprl'ualists in tle ,hcu
states. The cable has already told you about tho
judicial decision which Is victory for the Sprituaist
doctrine The question laid down before the nigh
French Court was this " Does the fact OF beihS a
spirituast constitute proof Of insanity, ana IN
validate will written by splfitua!ist! lhe farlS
tribunal decided. after having heard the eloquent pau-
ngs pro and con OF the greatest French lawyers that
to be a Spiritualst docs not mean to be insane ana
it confirmed the Will made by Mrs dc Martrcs nee
Cecilia Godon. Of Baltimore. in favor of Madame
Chaptcy a medium and friend OF hers. lhailks
to that memorable Judgment says Pa'ls Journal.
sprltlsm has entered a new era 1t has been raised
TO the rank of a worship, and lawful creed Inc
LAWYER for the plaintiff, Madcmoiselle de Frlcuse o
cousn and natural heir of Mrs. dc Martres, was Mr..
Martini one OF the most eminent lawyers at the Paris
bar. Ills adversary was Leon Rendult French
Senator and formerly Project OF Polia who said In his
ulcadiucs before the court If you proclaim 1t an
act Of insanity to believe in sprsm and to practcc
IT, Won will proclaim at the same time, as being insane
millions Of believers and adopts belonging to all races
and social conditions, and disseminated on the whole
surface on the Garth
Mrs dc Marrcs was in the possession Of all her mental
powers when she wrote her WILL Miss Cecilia Victoria
Codon was the daughter Of an American citizen.
SYLVAN Godon, who died in october, 1910, at the
insane hospital IN Philadelphia. Miss GOdon came to
Franco and lived with a family by the name OF Fischer
In 1857 size was placed in DR.. Dlanche's private asylum
AID was soon cured of Light attacks Of hereditary
folly according to the Doctor She was extremely
sensitive one day, hearing Of some event which
had lust occurred in the United states, Miss Cecilia
COMPELLED everybody she met in the corridors II the
ASYLUM to lnccl down and pray with her for her
country She left Dr. Blanchc's hospital after three
years soloun there and IA 1858 she married faron
de Marircs, whom Sac had met at the ~! ium ana
VINO MAS strong splr!iu"lst. she was forty three
wear, ,i axe and nc My ,hrcc wien they were mar
rid. iotn had preserved IN thcr hearts inc gen
sentiments 81 youth Ihey enjoyed perfect
happiness, and were loved 10y all those around Them
lHty were distinguished aud learned baron dc
Ma4ifc. an blindness ana aiia.il.ty. lis wiie
spoke seven or c-hi languages, ana was an rNcclieV
musician. she was q very charitable woman carry
ing herself ncr Offering, 10 me poor ana SIGN anu
gathering III .ir children around her ana teaching
them. In i-ci o. Baron ard hi, wife bought q
small country csiat; az Andllon. near BIOS, IN INC
western ccntr, Of France. Near by the brother Of
ng, dc Mrr,rc, established himself with his wife
Both died IN l-s-, leaving The Baron ana his VIE
i'm the deepest grief The different witnesses called
in at The trial related everything relative to the
-prtuali tic practices and ceremonies h'd AT The he
Maitrcs residence. either ~ the country scat at Andl
lon in tgc'r huusc ~ Paris. dtci The death oi Mr.
Godon auL NJ. wife. The Baron and hi, wife tried
MANY mc--i.as I'M when any trick va, discovered
the latter Vclr unccrcmoniously shown the door.
FINALLY I'd friend. tOMmandant Dunar,, AZ cN up 'rior
officer I'm tac French ARMY. told them - Hn ctIrior
dinary medium. Mr.. thap.t-y. Sic was The widow
Of = retired lcfdaiilr. and earned miserable living
by selling medicinal herbs and practi- ne some mid
wlf0ry. lived with "a young nephew. Mr.
Tu.u.ir. nagn.tiler and the defendant I'm the re-
cent lawsuit. me Baron and his VII, immciatc ~
received Mrs. Canplt.y and Mr.. iiouar. whose in
hucucc with tlrr patrons increased rapidly. The
.dium had som" medical hnoVlcier. and claimed -
Dc IN special connection with. the spin. ~ d. Gull
iaumagd. nom WHOM she obtained pres option, iar
TIE treatment oi thc chronic rheumatism from which
the Baron suffered.
sometime Sirs. Chnpltcy needed The magnei.zng
pa-.c. Of NJ. 1h0aaIs - fn In the -omnambuli,tic
lc..r. li u ~ noel times that she bowed her
powers. -iddcnly she would stop eating aud cx-
dam. " Louis NiV.T or Napolc'n l." or saint
Ths-rs1!7 Then eycryh rs dropped spoons. forks
knives. and TIE Baron and his wife nt"Togaiei
the famous parsonage mentioned hy Mr.. thap.tcy
clOrc long ;hc medium and her nephew had become
30 necessary the De Mag~s couple that they took
~ their abode In the attcr'- house. The Baron died
n l8-l. leaving 81 his W'rld' goods {, his wf".
The Hitter -loi fYilo~0l lam. go l-.,. ah'f having
trif.l So n boz which -ie gave a,i .'r iliiHae 10
Mss tAap.t,y. aud. 80 beg defaut n case f her
being deceased. {, Mr. rhyaaf-. l.is Wa done. -
the Baroness enthusiastically wrote" "a order 10 Pr
claim the great service. II Mr.. Dhapcy. whom she
called her ~,Dna nhulc. her spirit. her medium and
her physician" less than % i'N month, afirfwaid
the medium died also. nnd Nr. Ihpuars became the
pD-se-sor Il TIC whole i,st-nr ~ Mrs dc M"ttic-.