The San Francisco call., 1896-04-07
The Nevada Citizen Had Implicit
Faith in His Spirit Friend
Rodman.
LETTERS OFFERED IN EVIDENCE
Professor Van de We're Seemed to
Enjoy the Recital of His Wonder.
full Powers.

George II. Bell, ex-Postmaster of Carson
City, told in Judge Lows court yesterday
how Professor Eugene and Professor Van
de We're, through the connivance of sun
dry "spirits," succeeded in obtaining from
him something like S1100.
1t was an intensely dramatic recital. in
which ghosts and creations of the other
world formed an important part. His
Honor, Judge Low, felt himself getting
under the "spell" and at o'clock found it
necessary to postpone further hearing OF
the case until Wednesday.
When the session ended spooks of the
Van de We're Eugene creation were at
discount. Bell was Introduced to at least
three wraiths from the other world as the
result of his sixty days intercourse with
the two noted clairvoyants, but just how
many more De We're and Eugene may have
had up their sleeves will not be known
until the trial is over.
The spirit of Rodman, the Postmaster's
dead friend, acting in conjunction with
the Kentucky article travelling under the
name of Rye, seems to have been the
cause of the Carson City gentleman's
troubles. The combination put all sorts
of peculiar ideas into Bells head, and
when he reached San Francisco Van de
We're had an easy time of it. Eugene was,
of course, cogniZant of all these little
mental frailties, including the spirit busi-
ness, and 1t was therefore an easy matter
for him to play on the credulity of the
new-made spiritualistic convert.
When Bell had told the court all about
the spirits he dropped back to earth in q
-
caused this descent, but such an every
day affair as a hen roost did not seem to
jibe well with ghost in good stand
ing. Nevertheless Bell told how
some unseen influence had caused his
friend Jaqua. the postal clerk, to
design chicken-coop for him, though Just
what he was to do with it was not quite
clear. In any event he took the chicken
coop, and for time treasured it, but later
consigned it to the flames. This apparent
defiance of the unseen" was due to the
wishes of his spirit friend Rodman.
The case against Van de We're was first
called. The defendant proved to be tall,
slimly built young man of perhaps 80,
with red cheeks and blonde whiskers.
During Bells recital OF how he lost the
$1100, Van de We're smiled and blushed,
and at times laughed outright. He evi.
IDENTIFY did not take any great amount of
stock in the spirits he had conjured up for
the postmaster's benefit. Bell began his
statement by telling of the numerous
visits he had paid the clairvoyants.
February 23" he said, 81 called on
Van de We're and he told me that some
thing of Importance was to happen. The
next day l called again and he said that
an evil spirit was about me and it would
require 500 to remove it. / drew S125
from the Hibernia Bank. paying Van de
We're the sum demanded.
He told me that he would begin work
right away. l saw him the next day and
he informed me that it would require ad-
ditional influence to remove this evil
spirit. He suggested Professor Eugene
and we went to see him. The latter tol6
me that he must have 5000 for his part of
the Work, all of which paid.
Sunday, March 1, 1 again called on
Van 6e We're. He then told me that about
the year 100 one James Bel of Scotland
died, leaving an estate worth f13,OOO 900,
of which / was the lawful heir. He said |
must be very quiet and secret about it,"
The witness then related how Van de
We're had told him that Choate & Co. of
New York would manage his interests on
this side. while Sir Charles Russell would
perform similar duty in Scotland. 1t
was necessary, however, to have some one
investigate the titles, and Van de We're
suggested one Charles A. Hodson of Chi
cago. This gentleman would cross the
briny deep for the paltry sum of $1,000 cash
down.
Bell did not have this amount. In fact
his American possessions at that time,
outside OF a lame mare, amounted in
cash to $500. He parted with this sum,
Eugene loaning him $500 and Van de
We're putting up the balance The wit
ness admitted that he was compelled to
borrow money in order to get back home.
Bell said he believed in Van de We're. Eu
gene and the spirits and for that reason
1t did not occur TO him to ask for a receipt
for his coin. He returned to Carson CITY
trusting, faithful spiritualist, and from
that time on Van de We're never gave him
cause to doubt. In fact the clairyoyant