The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-05

whispered to her TO go over to a certain
young man in the audience and inform
him that though he was a skeptic he
would be convinced within the hour
that spirits do return to earth and talk
to their friends. While she was doing
this Mrs. Walters turned down the
only lamp in the room until those on
ole side OF the circle could scarcely see
those on the other.
Mrs. Roberts then ordered the light
turned clear down. and the room was
as black as a tomb. She retired into
the cabinet and the people in the con-
spiracy drew a long breath OF relief.
But Mrs. Roberts was not quite ready
to go into the spirit land and pull nebu-
lous souls therefrom yet: she had for
gotten something.
Il think" she announced from the
darkness. that IL would have been
much better had my manager taken up
the collection before the light was
turned down. There Is always more or
less confusion II the collection Is taken
after the seance. and confusion hurts
me. VIII you please turn up the light.
Mr.. Walters?"
Mr.. Walters turned up the light and
at once Mr.. Jackman went around the
circle i'm a business-like way and col
lected 80 cents from each male in II.
After he got them all in the pot he
turned the money over to Mrs. Roberts.
who announced that she was now ready
to go on with performance The money
she put away carefully in large purse
she carried.
The light was turned down again.
Mrs. Roberts retired into the cabinet,
and all was still. Suddenly there came
from the darkness the voice OF the
medium announcing that she was sit
ting i'm a chair. She said she was too
tired to stand and that she had a feel
L.
a feeling that something was going to
happen. When she said this. all the
conspirators who could reach each other
shook hands i'm the darkness. Mrs. Rob-
erts admonished no one to leave the
seat assigned to him or her. and said
the success of the seance depended on
this She cautioned all against out
breaks. Anything seen that brought
surprise sufficient to make one of the
auditors cry out was all right. she said.
But she wanted IL understood that
there would be no spirits In that block
If anybody whispered or moved
Following this she advised everybody
to sing. II helped her to go into a
trance. she said. Sing loud and
strong" commanded the medium.
Sing some hymn you all know, and
sing IL with a vim. / can always ma
terialize better when the circle Is sing
ing" Somebody began to sing Nearer.
My God, to Thee" but IL was a weak
effort. But the medium was not salts
fed. The singing was not loud enough.
wind up the music box" she COM
handed and her son and manager
who was standing near n table within
two feet OF the cabinet wound up the
music box. pulled the spring and one
of Strauss waltzes pealed out. Keep
on singing" cried the medium, and
then was presented the spectacle of a
IL Il
sitting around In a circle. In dark
room. with hands Joined. singing, AT
the cross. at the cross. where l first
saw the light" to waltz music from a
music box. At last the medium was
satisfied-there was noise enough.
Then came the usual spiristic manif-
! festations. Spirits came in and went
out. lights flashed all around the room.
and the men with the matches held
them grimly waiting for the word from
Mrs. Walters. Suddenly there appeared
"A tiny spirit. dancing around the floor
near the cabinet II was white and
flmy.
do you see that Lottie?" came the
voice OF Mr.. Walters across the
room.
Mrs. Walters Strengthened herself up
in her chair and shook loose the grip
Of the young man who was restraining
her.
IT'S the spirit OF a baby" murmured
a woman's voice.
This is too much" cried Mrs. wal
tiers. She stood up and sprang at the
shadowy form, shrieking Help at
the top of her voice. Half a dozen
matches were lighted. Some one lit
the lamp. and the exposure was COM
plete.
In the full light Mrs. Walters was
discovered in the cabinet with her arms
] n 4. l.
ing and the other women In the room
Joined i'm. There was rush for the
cabinet and Mrs Roberts was dragged
out. She had taken of all her clothing
and her shoes. and was sitting only in
a long white gown and piece OF
CHEESE cloth. On her face was a mask
of white gauze and I'm her hand was a
small piece of white mosquito bar-the
the spirit of the infant. Her clothing
was on the chair in the cabinet. and
under the chair were her shoes. Her
arms were bare and her gray hair was
hanging down her back. Why she
wanted the crowd 10 sing was ex-
planned
Walters acted like man half
stunned Eager hands dragged the
woman in front OF him and showed him
the devices she used His wife chung
around his neck imploring him to say
ne was convinced he had been deceived.
He would not. and the room was filled
with shouts and cries. Under threat OF
arrest the woman made open confess
sion TO Mr.. Walters that she had hum
bugged him, and then the wife tainted.
While the manager ran around trying
20 give everybody the money they had
paid in one excited man ran out on the
street in search for an officer. The
street I'm front OF the house was crowd
ed with people attracted by the noise.
and an officer who had been standing
on the next block started for the scene
In FIVE minutes Mrs. Roberts and her
son were under arrest. and as soon as
she could get on her clothes a wagon
was called and they were taken 10
the station. leaving behind a little
woman in a most serious condition,
brought on by her effort TO save her
husband The husband was nearly dis
tracted and IL is safe TO say he will,