Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31

Prom the Philadelphia Press.
ssTNHE REPEATED CHARGES AND DIS
l. coveries of fraud on the part Of spirit
ualistic mediums in their exhibitions OF so
called manifestations led up TO the practice o,
binding the medium hand and foot; Of putting
him in bag and tying it around his neck with
q drsv-string, and placing committees in the
cabinet to hold his hands," said Mr.. Herbert
Stratton last night
IF there ever were any genuine mediums
who have given public exhibitions for pay. they
must have retired to private life as a sacrifice
to their self-respect, for no self-respecting man
or woman would care to be roped blindfolded
and gagged to demonstrate that no fraud was
practised in the presentation Of their shadowy
creed. The commonest so-called tests applied
at seances today are those OF the rope-tying
kind. The medium is bound hand and foot BY
q committee and left alone in . room OF q cabi-
net, with several musical instruments on the
table beside him. The instant the light il
turned out the bells begin 70 ring. the tsmbour-
inc to rattle and the violin TO squeak. This
demonstration usually closes with the bell and
tambourine being flung violently to the floor
or against the wall. When the lights turned
on the medium is discovered with the ropes in
tact, and everything seemingly as it was when
the committee left him. Again is he left in
darkness. This time there is q trihe longer
delay, but the bell keeps ringing just the same.
the tambourine rattles and an occasional
strain from the violin creeps out of the dark
ness Suddenly all of the instruments are
played together, and if there are any hard-shell
spiritualists- present they will turn to the
doubling Thomases with the remark:
"'What do you think of that, sir? IL tina,
mediums hands are still bound how can he
perform on violin, tambourine and bel
tanROnslyl Rest hat
they are spirit hands playing those instru-
ments.'
when the light is called for the medium ID
found bound Just as before. every rope in
place, but strange to relate the coat and vest OF
the medium have been removed, turned inside
out and replaced, and all this to the discordan-
noise OF the musical instruments. 1t is q re-
gretsble fact" said Mr.. Stratton. that sensi
BILE men and women, that is, sensible in other
things, can be so outrageously gulled and
cheated by such charlatanism. And vet have
seen people go into ecstacies OF delight over
these doings and point with the greatest salts
faction TO them as incontroyertible evidence OF
the truth of spiritualism.
Now as to the secret Of this kind Of spir.
itualism." continued Mr.. Stratton, lit is moth.
ing more than manual dexterity. 1t does not
rise to the rank of legerdemGin. for any man OF
woman who has self assurance, reasonably
small hands and large wrists and Is not afraid OF
q little pain can perform under similar condi
tons any of the stock tricks of the average dari
cabinet mediums. These tricks would be very
ordinary pastime for magicians like Hermann
and Kellar.
There are two kinds of ties used in the rope
binding business One is the ordinary tie
made by wrapping rope around the wrist. tn,
other is the handcuf knot, which is formed by
passing the rope around the wrists and then be
| tween them, forming a tie in the shape of Z
handcuff, thus