The morning call., 1894-02-17
A TIN TRUMPET.
Used by Mrs. Smith to
Control Mrs. Lemon.
A Peculiar Case Developed by Com
plant in Suit to Set Aside
Deed.

OAKLAND.-Mrs. Marie J.. Lemon was an
Alameda woman In her lifetime and firm be-
lever 10 spiritualism. She was also a woman
OF considerable wealth, and when she died a
short time ago she left a VIII in which she be-
queathed ali her worldly possessions 10 a spirit
medium known as Mrs. Mary G. Smith,
GShe completely ignored a sister living in Ala
ameda. Mrs. Rachel Neal, and yesterday by
her attorney Mrs. Neal brought SUIT against
Mrs. Smith aad her husband, George C. Smith,
TO have The deeds 10 her sisters property
standing IN the name OF Mrs. Smith declared
null and void because OF undue Influence.
The complaint charges that in 1880 Mrs.
Lemon was the owner of property in Ciucin-
NATL Ohio, worth $4,000, and continues: elm
that year and for a great many years prior
lii TeI0 Mary Smith claimed TO be and styled
herself The Trumpet Medium in which year
she met and became attached TO Maize Lemon
as we'll as TO her wealth, and, considering her
fit and proper subject, commenced TO work the
trumpet racket ON said Marie Lemon"
The complaint then continues and states in
detail just how this trumpet feature was
worked. II reads:
During the year 1880 Mary Smith became the
medium OF Marie Lemon, and In her presence
almost constantly during the year. Said Mary
smith. plaintiff has been informed and believes,
thusly worked upon the said Lemon: She repre-
sented TO said Lemon that once upon time there
lived uDOn the face OF TINS globe a mau named
Peter Mitchell. who had died aud was at that time
sitting on throne in heaven with a golden crown
upon his head and golden trumpet within his
hand.
If said Lemon would come TO her when a seance
was being held. Peter Mitchell who as a spirit
that controlled her. would tell her. the said
Lemon. OF her frlends and relatives then supposed
to be in heaven some other place adjacent
thereto all through his trumpet or long distance
telephone. Said Lemon, in said year, commenced
TO attend what is called seance, in which Mrs.
Smith was medium and thusly she worked IN
the seance upon the mind OF saId. Lemon Several
people, including Lemon, would enter the me-
oiumS room and. form a circle. The medium
would SIT on one side OF the room, away from the
her he eel en m
the floor in front OF her would be tin trumpet.
Then the attendant who collected tie tcAets or
dollars wound shut out every ray or light and sun
shine ana the performance would begin. BY the
ALI ana trickery OF said Smith she would cause
by ventriloquisl powers or otherwise the voice of
her said smith TO come from or sound from said
trumpet She would say TO said Lemon that there
was message coming from heaven that would be
delivered through the trumpet by her control.
Peter Mitchell: then tue voice would talk to her,
ever II might be. and then die out, either because
of the broken circuit or because the said Peter
Mitchell was weary, or because ne was Obliged TO
serve other mediums on other planets.
The complaint states that the trumpet
medium converted Mrs. Lemon TO spiritualsm
and exeued so strong al Influence over her
that she got her money ana property out OF
her. 1t states:
That in the year 1884 or tAereabouts said Smith
lett Cincinnati and came to California, aud being
without fuuds wIote TO said Lemon st Cincinnati
to the effect that she had message through her
Peter and trumpet from said Lemons relations.
then supposed TO be IN heaven some other ada
cent territory. aud that said Lemon must come
to California ana be near her medium.
The complaint charges in closing that Mrs.
Smith bad complete control over Mrs. Lemon
during her last Illness, remained by her sick
bed and sent Mrs. Neal false messages about
her sisters condition in order 10 keep Mrs.
Neal away II says there was great love be-
tween the two sisters.
1t is charged that by this influence over Mrs.
LEMON the deeds to the property were pro-
cured In August, 1891, while Mrs. Lemon was
weak in body and mind by the conduct OF said
Smith and by the excessive use of whisky and
other