The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-28
Some Legal Aspects of spirituallsm.

Those well-meaning persons who are sc
often perturbed in their minds because uni
form laws do not prevail in the State and
Federal jurisdictions throughout the Union
may find fresh cause for mental disturbance
in the diversity of treatment which so-called
Spritualsts receive from different courts in
different parts of the country.
Two interesting cases relating TO Spiritual
lists were decided on Friday, May l6, one at
Grand Rapids, in Michigan, and the
other at Atlanta, Georgia. The Michigan
case was criminal prosecution against
WALTER Z. REID, who is described as
the famous spirit Postmas ter" and who
was charged with sending letters through
the mail with intent to defraud. It
seems that he thus obtained money from
many correspondents uron the representa-
ton that he was able to send them COM
munications from the spirit land. Upon his
trial he demanded an opportunity to give
seance In court in order that no might
demonstrate his power to fulfil his promises;
but this was not permitted He was con-
victed and sentenced by the United States
court TO imprisonment for one year in the
House Of Correction at Detroit.
The Georgia case arose out Of an accusa-
ton OF fraud against Mrs. MAUD JONES,
who was described rs u slate writer and
Spiritualst. The complainant alleged that
he believed her pretensions to spiritualistic
powers were fraudulent. and In order to ex-
pose them he agreed to pay her one dollar
for seance, and did pay the dollar
after it was over, according to his con-
tract. The State court held that neither
criminal prosecution nor a civil suit
could be maintained upon these facts,
inasmuch as 1t was quite preposterous
for man to claim that he had been
cheated or overreached when he made the
agreement to pay the money under the be-
lief that the person who received it was an
impostor. But the Judge went further, and
expressed the opinion that courts should not
waste their time in any event in attempting
to pass upon the truthfulness Of the claims |
OF those who profess to hold intercourse
with spirits. He thought such claims must be |
regarded either as too absurd to be capable |
OF deceiving any one, or else as religious no
tions which the law should let alone. And |
he concluded his decision in these words
"It the claim of a spiritual medium to have commu.
nicaton with the spirits OF the shadow land beyond tho
grave be utterly and patiently preposerouS how can
any man be duped by them, And IL not utterly pro-
posterouS how can the Government summon a jury to
try the question OF how much truth fasty there In
any particular creed system religious belief or
doctrine II man invoke tho services OF fortune
teller to apprise him Of future of a spiritual
medium to inform him OF tho SpirnR in the
other world he must abide his trade; TO pay tho
money with full knowledge, he is duped will not i'm
panel Jury TO try the question whether his fortune
truly told or whether true spirits spoke to him from
tho Vastly deep"
A comparison OF these two cases indicates
that it is safer to be a Spritualist under the
State Jurisdiction in Georgia than under the
Federal Jurisdiction in Michigan. Perhaps
somebody will now come forward and insist
upon uniform law concerning spiritual
istlc mediums, just as many people want
Uniform national divorce law because it is
easier to get divorce in Rhode Island than
1t Is In New York. The difficulty in these
matters Is to determine whether the ma
tlonal law should be strict or lax In Its pro-
visions. In divorce, should the nation adopt
the New York statute or tho statute OF
hhode Island In dealing with Spiritualists,
should 1t initiate the lenicncy OF the State
courts OF Georgia, or the severity Of the
Federal courts In Michigan?