The morning call., 1894-07-22

came to me in great distress and implored
me TO save young girl from being robbed
by q scoQndrel. L have an uncle in Sacra-
mento worth $4,000 who is sick unto
DEATH he said. Professor Bell has ac-
Quired extraordinary influence over the
old man and has persuaded him to make a
will entirely In his favor. This cuts off
my young sister, who has nothing but my
uncle to depend upon. You know Bells
record. | implore you 10 write and tell the
old man what his real character is
"Of course knew the professors record
l had paid fifty cents for reserved seat
at Metropolitan Temple to hear him lee
ture upon it, and Lucas acted his part so
well that | was thoroughly sorry for his
young sister and wrote as he desired me
10. Afterward | found that the whole
thing was conspiracy, and have really
had to undergo prosecution on account of
that letter. When Bell began his suit
1 was naturally anxious TO have the trial
come off, but the professor continually had
it deferred 10 serve his ends. The after
noon befole Decoration day he had war
rant issued for my arrest and came here
with the officer when | had room full of
company. on see he had taken care that
it should be after the banks were closed
and on The eve of a public holiday.
mo, | was not led off to prison then.
though that was what he wanted" con-
ii
knew that in bank hours l could have de-
posted the bail. but my husband and
friend went on my bond and | escaped
that humiliation. Four weeks ago, how
ever, Fred Bell advertised that be would
lecture in Metro poltan Temple upon WHY
he was prosecuting me. and there were
thousands Of people present. He told
them that he was going to see how |
should look behind prison bars, So" and
Mrs. Whitney placed her fingers over her
eyes and peered through them. "He
promised every one present that he'd have
me behind those bars. and he said if they
would come to my trial he would give
them a sample of how he could speak.
There were great many admirers Of the
dear professor present at the trial, but the
Judge never gave him chance TO speak"
Mrs. Whitney, who is prominent in San
Francisco spiritualistic circles, readily
gave an account of her connection with
the leader OF Humanitarian Spiritual.
ists," as Professor Bells followers STYLE
themselves. Ii appears that the local spir
itualsts were without a speaker, and Pro
lessor Bell, who was Grating in Denver
was sent for to fill the position Before
he had been here long his record followed
him." said Mrs. Whitney; ''but in the
meantime he had become very popular
with a number of devoted women. The
very first day he lectured here we were
surprised to see his pictures sole in the
hall. Twenty-Five ard 30 cents, large size
ST. And all the women were erowdipg
over one another to get the dear profess
sor's picture All those pictures are
turned to the wall now. though.
Another thing about the dear profes-
sor was that he was always in dire need of
money. Subscriptions were gotten I'D for
him TO which have often given S. or $40
for was sorry for his wife. He had ad.
vertisei himself as a splritualist, but even
his infatuated admirers had to own that
he could not make any tests. You don't
need the money, and do, he said 10 me.
Wont you make tests at one of my lee
turesY
"Well, l did," continued Mrs. Whitney
merely to oblige him, though, for | never
asked or received cents for it. Twas un-
comfortable on the same platform with
him, for his lecture was all self. self, self.
After that he begged me To 90 to Santa
Cruz to make tests at q splritualiStic lec-
ture; but they knew his record there, and
advised me not TO appear on the platform
with him. My refusal to do so has made
him my enemy.
las for his record, he lectured on II him.
self in Metropolitan Temple. charging Ok
and so cents admission. He said he had
cOnsOrted with thieves and tramps since
he was seven years of age. He told of the
crimes he had committed when he was
preacher-that was done to throw discredit
on reiglOn-and he wallowed In filth.
How can you publish your shame
said to him the next time | saw him
Shame replied the professor, that Iec. |
ture has brought me In more money than |
anything l have done since / came to Cali |
fornia. And yet the record he gave of |
himself at that lecture would have made a |
criminal blush"