Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-01
FLESH AND BLOOD.
Complete Expose in the Spirit
ual Temple, Boston, Sunday.
''Rey." o. |. Concannon Caught il
Act by Members Of Audience.
False Whiskers, wig and White Robes Torn
from His Body.

At the First Spiritual temple. Exc
ter and Newbury streets, Boston, sun
day morning, during one of Mr.. aver
spiritualist meetings, a party OF mel
made a rush for the stage and made
complete exposure of the medluH1' oii'
REV" O. l.. ConcannOn, showing MN
to no d;spuised in false whiskers and
white raiment. The Globe says:
No sooner had Rev Mrs. Concan-
non finished her clairvoyant ana ciair-
ambient act than preparations were
made for Rev" Mr.. Concannon great
manifestation Of materializing spirits
This act is the feature OF the SHOW IL
10 what draws the crowd. 1t is the act
that Mr. Aver prides himself on. 1t Is
the art forswhich the temple was built
and is sustained.
AS Mr.. Aver says, NATURALIZATION
of spirits is the greatest fact in the
world. and the temple is the place to
see this fact demonstrated
The first move was to select COM
mettee of investigation. The commit
tee was practically chosen by DR. Aver
himself. He called upon one man who
refused to act, and in a moment DR..
Richter of 423 Massachusetts avenue
volunteered to act as one of commit
tee of three. Mr.. Aver refused him,
but DR.. Richter insisted on being al
lowed to go on the platform. and he APP
pealed to the audience for their sup
port. saying that he was not a
Spiritualist, and promised to thorough
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to the meeting.
After some resistance on Mr.. Aver s
part. the persistent doctor was allowed
to have his way, and the crowd cheered
him. AS he mounted the platform Mr..
Aver looked on in dismay. and eyed
him suspiciously.
DIR. Richter had a pleasant way with
him, and his broken German phrases
tickled the audience and they laughed
heartily, but he had blood in his eye.
One of the committee chosen, Rich
ard Hallowell, an insurance agent,
went to the dressing room with REV.
Mr.. Concannon, seemingly as a friend
of Mr.. Ayers. His duty was to see that
the medium had nothing about his
clothing of a suspicious nature. The
usual plan is for the medium to come
down from the dressing room, habited
only in a pair of trousers, coat and
vest, with no underclothing or shirt
In the meantime DR.. Richter had ex-
amined the cabinet. When Rev" Mr..
Concannon came down he stated to the
audience that many people had written
him about these manifestations, but he
wished them to put three cents more
with the postage and pay car fare TO
come and see him.
After drinking seven or eight glasses
of water, handed to him by Mr. Aver,
which is his usual quantity before go
ing into the cabinet. with an occasional
glass besides, while in the cabinet.
The reason for drinking so much wa
ter is stated by Mr.. Aver that 1t is nee
essary to produce the manifestations,
as nine-tenths Of the spiritual body is
composed of water.
After filing himself up with water
the medium went into the cabinet,
where Mr.. Aver made some passes
over his head. as if to soothe some per-
turbed and disturbed visitor from the
realm of spirits.
In this state Rev" Mr.. Concannon
looks pitiable object. He seems halt
weird talk, purporting to come from his
spirit guide, one of whom is named
Bessie
Rev" Mr. Concannon was not placed
under his usual test conditions" He
was simply seated in a chair and the
curtains drawn.
Mr.. Aver gave notice that they Were
going to have a wonderful seance, anC
they did.
But the seance was of character
not down on Mr.. Ayers programme. Il
the spirits were not there number OF
very vigorous and healthy mortals
were on the scene and ready for bust
ness.
After the singing of several songs by
Mrs Hattie Aver the lights were sub
dued and everything was au fait fol
the coming of the expected spirit.
In moment the audience was on the
tiptoe of mental excitement. A form
appeared enveloped in a white robe ant
with lace film about it's head. Afte
showing itself for a moment it shranl
back partially into the cabinet.
Then it reappeared and came still
farther out of the cabinet. almost free
ing itself from the curtains. being ap
parently supported on either side b!
Mr.. Aver and Rev" Mrs. ConcannOn
The spirit which came out Mr.. Aye
styles '"Ihe Queen of the Cabinet" ant
she is a regular part of the perform
ance.
1t was at this moment that the light
ming flashed from the clear sky. TIL
calm became a storm.
There was hiss and a sudden hand
clap. This was the signal for a stimuli
taneous rush Of some half a dozel
members Of the audience. They sprani
up with the nerve and activity Of
foot ball team. and in a moment the,
called touchdown on the show.
Five muscular and determined mel
jumped upon the stage, two of then
engaging Mr.. Aver. who had turned t
meet them and who We're Instant
seized by him.
One partially got away from Nj
Aver and pulled the right hand curtai
from the front of the cabinet, while tn
other curtain was torn from the cabi
net by another of the raiders.
And what a scene! 1t was a revela
ton to everybody.
Rev" Mr.. Concannon was found i
a state of absolute nudity, having di
vested himself of his spiritual toe
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