Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-14

Whose garter was IL and whose limb? Was
1t material or . spiritual limb? These were
the questions which Judge Miller had to decide
today. It all grew out Of . scene At . mate
rializing spiritualistic seance at the rooms Of
Mr. Ross. a medium In the Hotel Albert, on
18th street, January IL last
The seance lad gone on as such performances
do until ar old gentleman had been called up to
the curtain which formed an Enclosure around
the cabinet to have . tete-a-tete with his great
grandmother. The light was dim, but the
ghostly form Of the grandmother could be seen
between the parted curtains.
Just then young man who was present, Mr..
J. Harry Shannon, newspaper man and .
skeptic, made a bolt for the curtain, diyed
under the old gentleman and caught something
BY the leg. The spiritualists say he caught the
old gentleman's leg. Mr.. Shannon says it was
very substantial limb and |: was Mrs. Ross.
In the struggle that followed Mr.. shannon
secured as trophies a garter and pair Of cor
sets, which Mrs Ross said were Of spirit manu-
facture and represented the styles now prevail
ing in the spirit land.
There was great row and some furniture
and other articles were broken. 1. all came
out in the Police Court today in a very spirited
trial
THE MEDIUM AND THE INVESTIGATOR
Mrs. Ross, the medium. who has been holding
! seances for sixteen years. Yves there, and so was
her husband, who is her business manager.
There were enough of the spiritualists in the
room to hold o seance, but there was no cabi-
net there.
The occasion was the trial OF Mr. Shannon
and Messrs. William Vonderheide and Joseph
Wilkins, who were with him on the night Of the
row. Mr.. Shannon was charged with assault on
DR.. Zachariah Wheat and also with breaking
table and music box belonging TO Mr..
Ross. Assault on Mr.. Ross was the charge
against Mr.. Vonderheide. while using profane
language was charged against the third defend
ant.
The announcement that the case was to be
tried was the means Of attracting large crowd,
and when the case was called at 10 O'Clock
standing room was at premium.
Mr.. Mullowney prosecuted the case. Mr..
Lipscomb defended Mr.. Shannon.
WITNESS cHAs. ROSS.
The witnesses were called and Mr. Potts
asked, "Are they all here?"
Eyes," YVES the response.
''The entire spirit world add ed Mr.. Lips
comb.
what is yonr name?" asked Mr. Mullowney
Of the first witness.
This witness was n tall man, with a reddish
beard and mustache Of fashionable cut. He
wore a business snit and looked more like
hustling commercial drummer than high
priest OF spiritualism.
Charles Ross was the witness reply.
"And your residence?"
"514 18th street."
Witness said that he first met Defendant
Shannon. who introduced himself as Roberts
He joined the circle and was present on the
occasion OF the disturbance while the seance
was In progress. The defendant. Shannon, he
said. cried ''Tire," Police.' Murder
Then there was an exciting scene in tho room.
Shannon grabbed DR.. Wheat by the leg and
then Vonderheide upset witness.
Witness said that he had met Defendant
Shannon at the meetings, but only knew him as
Mr.. Roberts.
TEE WITNESS BUsISEss.
"Whats your business2" asked Mr.. Lips
comb of witness.
II am manager for my wife, who is a
medium, and also deal In stocks
Il mean what honest labor do You PERFORM"
asked MIR. Lipscomb.
Il deal in stocks"
Witness then said that his parlor on 18th
street contained a cabinet made by Mr.. Canli-
flower and presented to his wife by Mr.. and
Mrs. Cabell.
He explained that there was n wire netting
around the cabinet in which the medium goes
and then it is securely fastened. He said he
knew Of no way in which the medium could get
out.
81 do not say or promise that any manifesto
tons will take place, whatever" answered wit
ness when asked by counsel concerning the
seance.
''To the best Of my knowledge and belief
persons from the spirit world appear through
my wife and converse with their friends"
ARRESTED IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
"Were you ever arrested in Massachusetts
and exposed as a frsud?' asked counsel.
81 was arrested and acquitted BY jury" he
answered, land the exposure was the same as
in this case. tissue OF falsehoods."
Mr.. Lipscomb then produced papers con-
tanning articles concerning Mr.. Ross and his
wife and be denounced the articles false
II appeal to your honor" said Mr. Ross.
on this case?"
"No, sir" said the judge.
Il want to show, said Mr.. Lipscomb. ''that
this man isa pronounced, published and I'M
adulte rated fraud
mo, sir" replied witness excitedly. ats
false
~, When VI did you first become acquainted with
about four weeks before this affair"
"Who Is Bright Star?'' asked Mr. Lipscomb.
flas tuat any sninS 70 10 Win the case!
asked witness.
The judge wanted to know what that had to
do with the case and some one said, Get out. "
why. your honor" said Mr.. Lipscomb, II
am surrounded by cranks, and they ought to be
sent over to DR.. Godding's."
Judge Miller said he Thought everybody had
right to his belief and NJ. Ross said he also
thought that way.
Counsel then examined witness concerning
the various spirits that appear. and about his
introduction of them. When the light was
struck his wife came out VI the cabinet dressed
as she was when she went In there.
THE STORY OF GARTER.
"Did not Mr.. Shannon pick up q garter and
hand 1t to your wife?" asked Mr.. Lipscomb.
land did not she respond that it WAS the garter
of Lucille Western, the spirit?'
"No, sir" responded witness, who again APP
pealed to the court for protection.
II am going to ask you, my friend, started
Mr.. Lipscomb.
II am not . friend Of yours" interrupted
witness.
II am friend Of yours, said Mr.. Lipscomb,
''and am going to see that You stop this game
Of fraud in this city. Did Mr.. Shannon pick
up your wife's corsetsp"
"No, SIR" replied Mr.. Ross, excitedly. "He
picked up nothing at all and have witnesses
to prove it"
THE ALLEGED ASSAULT.
The court then questioned the witness about