Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-16
MISS FAY'S FAILURE.
The Spiritualistic Medium Trapped
by Invited Guests.
THEY WERE TOO INQUIS[TIVE.
spiritualist Cogan Makes Speech Defend
ing Hiss Fay.
FLOWERS DISCOVERED IN BUCKET

oi-HdHu performer VINO o week ago Idhcu
in few hundred shekels from Pittsburg
people who were willing to be bunkoed, re-
| peated the seance last night to a much
| smaller audience. She was assisted in the
show by couple of local seekers named
John McGraw and John Carey, who went
| on the stage to see that everything was
done fairly. They were very anxious to
know just how the tricks were per-
formed and were so, inquisitive in finding
out that the audience was kept in constant
uproar, and Miss Fay and her manager in
state of uneasiness similar to that of bad
boy in school when the teacher is making
an investigation. Interest was also in
creased by the efforts of a Spiritualist
named James Cogan to defend Miss Fay
with fowery speech, in which the claim
was made that she is true medium be-
tween the quick and the dead with the abil-
ity to converse as freely with those beyond
the grave as to talk gossip with next door
neighbor over back fence.
Condemning Policemen.
Previous to the performance Miss Fay's
manager explained that she was prevented
from giving an entertainment the week be-
fore by the police. He condemned the
Pittsburg police in language more forcible
than polite, not even stopping to think that
Miss Fay's divinity should have enabled
her to foretell that Chief Brown wouldn't
let sleight-of-hand performance 60 on with
out having the price put up for license
When the show started last night
McGraw and Carey volunteered to watch
Miss Fay's movements, and if possible, get
clutch on some of the spirits that are sup
posed to hover around her. Both men were
matter-of-fact mortals that evidently took
little stock in the theory that they were in
the midst of ghosts when on the stage.
During the performance of the first cabinet
trick they couldn't ''get on, ''as McGraw ex-
planned but when the second was ust ready
to be sprung they hammered things around
so lively, asked so many questions,
and made so many marks at different places
to be sure nothing would be duplicated that
the promised multitude of hands failed to
materialize
Willing to Do the Trick.
'T can do that trick" said McGraw.
"Ill bet you five you can't" answered
well dressed, curly-headed, English-looking
fellow, who threw up card that read
'James Cogan, with Joseph Horne & Co.,
residence, 10 Church avenue, at home Fri
day evenings only
''I'Il go you 25," answered McGraw The
offer was promptly taken, but Miss Fay de-
clared she didn't need any help in giving
the entertainment At Mr.. Cogan's request,
however, she allowed him to make speech.
The audience had been laughing, screaming,
cheering all evening, and when Cogan got
on a chair it fairly howled.
''The truth is heavy" he began. The
Anditorian quaked with noise. Then Cogan
got indignant His face grew red. With
voice trembling with anger, he yelled:
81 don't believe there is an American cit
izen among you. 1 thought this was Amer
lea, but guess it's Russia. In the Kings
name 1 speak. In the name of my Father
in Heaven, whose servant 1 am, if there is
one woman or child, or Kings daughter
or if there is a son of America, an adopted
son of America among you, hear ME first
and shoot me afterwards"
s'Hear him. He's better than the Fay
fake yelled avoice. The words encour-
aged Cogan, and with renewed determina-
tion he said:
'My name is Cogan. 1 come from an old
ancestor. The reason L wanted to speak was
to clear my name of a disgrace, but found
it was only mud thrown at it. Now laugh.
The people laughed when Christ was on the
cross. have been in Pittsburg and am
known. That is, you thought you knew
me, but you dldn't
''And we don't want to-" came chorus
that sent Cogan and his speech to the wall.
Miss Fay Shows Her Temper.
Miss Fay was as angry as hen on hot
grindle when it was her turn to go ahead.
She is wiry little creature with as much
flesh as the Allegheny electric towers, and
as she paced back and forth over the stage
flashing her eyes like a Gagged tiger and NUT
tering something to herself, the audience
commenced thinking of the wierd witches
that they had read about in youthful days.
The little woman clutched her fingers,
tapped her white-slippered foot on the |
stage to command order, and with genuine
voice commenced calling Pittsburg people |
real mean for not behaving better She |
said she would be ashamed to live in such a |
city.
Carey thought he swas entitled to
an explanation, and said that he |
was an American citizen and that |
he thought the show was not
spiritualism but trick From that time on |
the performance lacked both spirit and |
spirits. The talking board wasn't in a
talkative humor, although it answered a
few questions, and even the supply of |
flowers lacked their wonder when Mr.
Carey hauled out the bucket they were
concealed in. While it must be admitted
that Miss Fay gives good slight of hand
performance, it should also be said that Just
as good ones have been seen in Pittsburg
many time before and with far less noise