The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-17
SEARCHING FOR
WOOTTON'S BODY,
Guided by the Spirit Control of
an Oakland Medium at
Fresno.
INSPIRED BY LITTLE KITE.
Mystery of the Unhallowed Grave
Still Unsolved-Uncle Billy's
Will at Visalia.
INSPIRED BY LITTLE KITE.

FRESNO, CAL, May 16.-The spiritual
lists have made their search; the body of
Wootton remains hidden from those not
gifted with the faculty of clairvoyance.
Very quietly and unostentatiously the
search was made. There were no blaring
trumpets. None of the detectives and
officials previously employed on the case
knew of the search. Even the keen
scented local reporters knew nothing OF
the search, who the searchers were or
when the search was made.
1t is several days old row, yet this is the
first public announcement that probably
the very last search has been made for the
body of William Wootton; made and
failed.
And yet all Fresno, all Fresno County
and the northern half of Tulare County
have been waiting, interestedly, a fort
night or more for that search to De made.
They have been waiting ever since the
Oakland test medium came down here,
rented quarters in the Pleasant View
House, went into trance and, under the
guidance of the spirit of Little Kitty, drew
a map of the Wootton ranch that aston
ished the experts for its accurateness, and
pointed out the location of the body with
a decisiveness that was indeed quite mar
velous.
No one can say that the body does not
lie at the spot indicated by the medium,
Mrs. R. Cowell. The search proved moth
ing. Four men dug for two hours at the
spot marked on the map and found moth
ing. They might have dug for a week at
the same spot and still, finding nothing,
yet be unable to swear that old Uncle
Billy Wootton's bones did not repose be-
meath the soil of that patch OF mud de-
scribed with such particularly by the
youthful visitant from the neither world
through the accomm odating mediumship
of Mrs. r. Cowell of Oakland.
For the spot described is a very large
one-when you go at it spade in hand !;
and Uncle Billy's grave may be very, very
deep. And Mrs. CowelI did not accom-
pany the searchers. She might have gone
into trance on the spot if she had, sum-
moned Little Kitty to her aid-or why not
the spirit OF Uncle Billy himself 2-and
then and there pointed out the exact loca-
ton of that unhallowed grave. But Mrs.
Coweli lett Fresno Tor Oakland the very
day the search was made, and could not,
therefore, accompany the searching party.
She might have delayed her return an
other day and enjoyed pleasant drive to
the Wcotton ranch. She might-but l
snail need all my space 10 tell what did
happen. 1t was this:
Two men rode down from Fresno one
day last week and reached the Wootton
ranch at noon. These were B. +. Kite and
A. l. Stevens. They neglected to notify
the Coroner, though they felt quite sure
that their errand would not prove fruit
less. What strengthened their faith not
little was what happened to Mr.. Kite
the evening before when he visited the
Oakland medium. Mrs. Cowell became
again possessed of the spirit of Little
Kitty.
.'Can you tell me where l am going to-
morrow" asked Kite.
you is going to the Wootton ranch, !"
replied Little Kitty, whose grammar, it
appears, has in no wise improved during
her residence in the spirit world.
''You is going to search for the body of
that poor old man what was murdered, -
said Little Kitty, and then she went on and
described the rig in which the journey
would be made, the exact number OF dig
ging implements that would be carried.
naming one short and one long spade, and
describing quite accurately, as Mr.. Kite
himself afterward related it, the three
other members of the searching party.
And all this time Mr.. Kite himself was
ignorant of most of these particulars,
having entrusted their arrangement to his
friend, Mr.. Stevens. And sure enough
when they set forth in the morning Kite
found that everything had been arranged
Just as Little Kitty mad predicted. Surely
here was good augury of success.
At the Wootton ranch Kite and Stevens
found Robert Simpson, proprietor of the
Reedley Hotel, and myself awaiting them,
as had been agreed upon. Is it needful to
state that both Mr.. Kite and Mr.. Stevens
are firm believers in the phenomenal pow
ers of Mrs Cowell and the truthfulness of
Little Kitty? Mr.. Simpson, be it re-
corded, is a devout unbeliever. But he is
courteous gentleman, quite willing that