Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-01
This Medium Wore no Clothes

~ Stu*a.!Oudl expose Vi So-CdllSu lDd-
terializations was made Sunday morn
ing at the First Spiritualistic Temple
in Boston, Mass. The Concannops,
whom the chief of police of Oklahoma
City says We're exposed and fined in
that territory Two years ago, were ut
terly routed by party of raiders.
Rev" O. l.. Concannon when found
sunday morning in his cabinet was
without clothes and the raiders bore
away as plunder pair of long white
whiskers, white wig and long white
robe.
The Concaunons have been giving
two performances every Sunday and in
vting all sorts of tests and investiga
tions. For several weeks those who
exposed them Sunday night have
been ready to make their rush for the
stage, but one thing or another pre-
vented. Sunday the following party
was organized George B. Gates, ma
chinist; Edward c. Wood, machiuisi;
Clifford ). Estes, draughtsman; Dud-
ley G.. Kimball, machinist; j NJ Sawyer
electrician; Herbert Rgley, clerk, and
Robert Harley, machinist. They took
seats near the platform in body and
waited for the signal from Dir. Gates,
who was the captain OF the forces.
The Judges ia the test Sunday were
DR.. Richter, Richard Hallowell and q
woman whose name was not given.
Mr.. Hallowell accompanied Mr.. Con-
cannon to his dressing room and certi-
fed that he wore nothing but pair OF
trousers, coat, dickey, stockings and
slippers.
Concannon walked into the cabinet
and sat on the single chair there, drink
ing four glasses Of water, to assist the
Chemistry" OF bis materialiZations.
The usual conditions were omitted.
Ou former Sundays the sleeves of his
coat have been sewed to the knees of
his trous re-, his bare feet have been plac-
ed in flour and his hands filled with rice.
After former seances he has been found
in this position, having wriggled out of
his Clothes performed his act and got
back again without detection.
He had none OF these mbarrassments
Sunday. The curtains were drawn, and
ConcaDnon was lefC 10 his devices un-
fe tered. The lights were turned low,
but it was still light in the hall. Mr..
Aver, who built the Temple an3 who is
on the stage at every performance, sat
at the right Of the cabinet and Mrs.
Coucannon at the left. The curtains of
the cabinet parted, and q full length
form robed in white appeared. The
bare arms were playing nervously in
front of the face, which seemed TO termi
nate in white beard The curtains
were slowly drawn together, but quick
ly opened again, and the spirit ventured
out just a step. Mr.. Aver and Mrs.
Concannon both walked toward the
"spook" to converse with it.
That was all the opportunity the in
vestigators wanted. A sharp clap of
hands rang out.
"Now," cried Gates, and lie leaped
upon the platform, the others follow
ing with catlike agility. Aver seized
Gates's coat with his right hand and
grambed Kimball by the throat with
mis- left. Gates twisted under Ayers
arm and leaped into the cabinet, tear
ing away the right hand curtain as he
did so. Concannon was revealed stark
naked and on his feet. On the floor
were a wig, false beard and long
white robe Gates rolled these into 4
ball, and grabbing it tightly, left the
platform.
kimball and Sawyer held Aver, and
Wood restrained Mrs. Concannon,
while the rest of the party engaged
the attention of the ushers. Concan-
non hustled into his clothes as rapidly
as possible. He made no fight what
ever. Mrs. Concannon stood in front
of him while he completed his hasty
toilet Just as Gates leaped to the
floor Mr.. Aver kicked lin in the back.
Mrs. Aver then pulled her husband
back from the edge of the stage, but be
at once leaped after the raiders and
followed them from the building. The
spectators were in fever of eXcitem ent
during the fight, but fully one-half ap-
proved the raid The appearance of a
policeman in the aisle had a cooling ef.
feet, and Gates and his friends escaped
from the building with their we'll won
booty. They went at once to the po:
lice station of the district and reported
their part in the affair.
At the temple Mr.. Aver and the Con-
cannous attempted explanations. L
S Willard, who is now in Boston,
chanced to be present out of curiosity.
While Mr.. Aver was making his ex-
cuses Mr.. Willard rose and said =
well, saw flesh"
Mr.. Ayer-Well, l didn't.
--l,
said the actor.
Il can swear there was no flesh" re-
torted Mr.. Aver.