The state capital., 1891-06-06
ILLINOIS STATE NEWS.
To Punish Spirit Impersonators.

house of the legislature spent two
hours the other afternoon in discussing
senate bill providing for punishment of
persons who, for profit or gain, shall
personate the spirit of deceased per-
son, or who by any trick, device or
mechanical contrivance, present any
thing to represent the spirit of a
departed person This bill was drawn
up by Col. J. C. Bundy, editor
of the Philosophical Jour-
nal, believer in scientific spir-
itualism, but an enemy of the profess
sional medium. The bill got through
the senate with very little opposition.
When the bill came up in the house
delegation from the Peoples Spiritual
society, of Chicago, headed by w. Ii.
Butts and Mr. Randall, came down
from Chicago to oppose the bill. Col.
Bundy addressed the committee at some
length in defense of his bill. He had in
his possession a lot of paraphernalia
that had been used by some of the best
known mediums in the country, and
showed the committee some of the |
tricks used in deceiving. Producing two
ghostly-looking masks, he said: Here |
are two faces that hundreds of people |
in Chicago have recognized as faces of |
departed relatives" Then the opposl- |
tion was given a show Mr. Randall |
said passage of the bill would inter-
fere with his religion. A discussion of |
the whole of the subject was partici-
pated in by the members of the COM
mittee. It hranched out into reli- |
gious debate of great warmth, and men,
bers who had never before been sus- |
pected of having religious views sud-
denly felt called upon to defend the |
various churches. The bill was ordered |
reported for passage.
Blind Asylum Commencement.
The annual commencement of the in
stitution for the blind at Jacksonville |
was held the other day. The industrial
exhibit took place in the morning. |
Among the trades whose products were |
exhibited were those of mattress maxi
ing, hammock and horse-net weaving, |
broom making, typewriting, telegraphy,
chair bottoming, sewing with sewing
machine and dress making. Bead |
baskets and other fancy articles
were also among the products
exhibited. The kindergarten also
made an interesting display of fancy
work, geometrical figures constructed
of clay, and other novelties. At
1880 the audience gathered in the
chapel to listen to the commencement
exercises. The programme consisted
of essays by the graduating class and
of music. Some of the musical selec-
tions were very difficult, but were ex@
ceedingly we'll rendered. The state
superintendent of public instruction,
Hon. Henry Raab, was present, and de-
livered an address. The graduates
were: Henry Brose, Cook county; Ida
Carron, Kankakee county; VIM. Cow
ley, Sangamon county; Maggie Conway,
Cook county; Henry Fay, Cook county;
Cora Henderson, Putnum county; Henry
Hoefe, Du Page county; o. L. Oleson,
Cook county.
Lovers Take Strychnine.
Two youthful lovers, Miss Ida Town
send and Elmer Foster, of Bush town
ship, 10 Daviess county, suicided the
other night. They had been out for
drive during the evening and returned
at the usual hour the next morning,
and, receiving no response, she broke
into the room, where the two lovers
were found dead, the young man upon
the bed and the girl on the floor, to
which she had fallen in her agony.
They had taken strychnine, which they
had hidden for the purpose, the action
having been long contemplated. The
girls father is wealthy and Foster was
farmer, and, it is said. her parents
opposed the union.
A Veterans Fatal Fall.
David Leonard, G. A. R. veteran
and ianitor of the Cook county build
ing, in his efforts to protect the flag he
had fought for, met with fatal acci-
dent. He marched in the Memorial Day
parade and when he returned to the
county building, at 9 o'clock at night,
he observed that the flag was still float
ing from the top of the building. He
went up to take it in and on his way
down fell through the light shaft from
the top floor to the basement. About
ten feet from the bottom he struck an
electric light wire, which nearly cut his
skull in two. He was taken to the
county hospital.
OuarreIed with His Typewriter.
A. R. Hill, a well-known attorney of
Danville, has been indicted by the
grand jury for burglary and larceny.
It is alleged that about two years ago
he broke into Justice Dillon's Office,
stole the squire's docket, and, after
carrying it to his own Office, burned it.
A short time ago Hill after having a
quarrel with his typewriter, discharged
her. 1t is mainly on her evidence that
the indictment was found. She claims
that she was in Hills Office on the night
that the docket was burned, and that
Hill made full confession to her.
The River Route.
The body of Phillip Ballou was found
in Rock river the other day. He was
the son of C. A. Ballou, an old and re-
spected citizen of Dixon. and for many
years engaged in the dry-goods busi-
ness. No reason is given for the suicide.
Caused by an Incendiary.
A fire the other morning, of incendiary
origin, deStrOyeu Ine elevator anu corH-
cribs of Armstrong & Co. at Benson,
Woodford county. Loss, S38, 900.
Death of an Old and Wealthy Citizen.
Benz. w. Brainard, one of the oldest
citizens of Logan county, died a few
days ago, aged So. He is said to have
been the wealthiest man in the county.
Judge Gresham Raises His Voice.
Judge Gresham, whose chamber is in