The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-10-19
BACK FROM THE DEAD.
j. e. Higgins, Who was Burned
to Death, Speaks from the
Shadowy Land.
A dispatch from Anderson, Ind, to the
Cincinnati Enquirer. says:

A remarkable spiritual manifestation
| occurred here last evening, and to the
| spiritualistic friends OF the late J. f.
Higgins, OF Hillsboro, Ohio, who met a
tragic death in this city several weeks
| ago, 1t may remove from their minds all
doubt that he came to his death by foul
play.
The story of his death was told by
higgins himself, who is claimed to have
spoken through Mrs. Kibbie, an utter
stranger, who is here conducting series
OF lectures at the Spiratualists' Temple.
She is clairvoyant medium, and while
giving her tests was suddenly taken
possession of by spirit, who announced
to the audience in terms that could not
be- mistaken that he was James E. Hip.
gins, the popular dry goods clerk who
lost his life several weeks ago in the
Pratt residence fire, on West Eighth
street, in this city. She gave a short
description of hiln as he appeared in
spirit form, but wasn't permitted to con-
tinue, she said, inasmuch as the spirit in.
sisted upon her impersonating him in
the death agonies that he went through.
Through her the mysterious voice
stated that the opinion held by many
that his death was due to suicide was
erroneous. He said: 81 went up stairs
and partly disrobed, put out the gas and
lay down on the bed. I do not know
how long l laid there, but I suddenly
felt.a suffocating feeling in nv lungs
and throat. ! did not know what it was
and rose to light the Jet. l struck the
match, there was slight flash and fell
to the floor. 1 made an attempt to
reach the window, but was unable to do
30. / felt the hot flames against my face
and hands and-I know no more"
Upon being questioned the voice
stated that he supposed there was gas
in the room, but not in sufficient guam
tity to cause an explosion. He further
stated that there was no one in the
house but himself, and that the leak
was in his room, and the fire originated
where he fell. He is very anxious alb out
his wife and is determined not to leave
the earth circle, as Spiritualists call it,
until he demonstrates 10 her what Ger.
tain papers contain which she was un.
able to get hold of, but which she
needs badly in her work now. At the
time of his death he states he was work
ing upon patent or sub.patent to a
piece of machinery, and was Just ready
to present it to the public.
Mrs. Kibbie stated that she felt every
thing that he went through, even to the
flames against her face. She also called
to the right foot, which was cramped
and fastened in the sewing-machine.
She says he has been very determined,
and is yet to communicate with his wife
on certain matters. His "presence" was
also felt on two other mediums in the
audience yesterday morning, and they
describe the sensations similar to those
OF Mrs. Kibbie. In Spiritualism pro
gression is marked or designated by
circles. He still remains in the one on
or nearest the earth.
The remarkably accurate description
given of Higgins by the medium, who
had never seen him, and her graphic de.
scription of the manner in which he is
supposed to have met his death pro
duced q profound impression.