New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-01
DISS DEBAR ONCE MORE.
REPORT THAT THE "PRIESTESS" has
RETURNED TO NEw-YORK
SHE MAY TESTIFY IN SUIT TO RECOVER A lot
OF old MASTERS" WHICH WERE SEIZED
AT MARsH's HOUSE AND HAVE BEEN
STORED AT POLICE HEADQUAR-
TIERS EVER SINCE.


STORED AT POLICE HEADQUAR-
TIERS EVER SINCE
There was a disquieting report at Police Head
quarters yesterday to the effect that the notorious
Ann ODelia Diss Debar, the former "spook
priestess" who bamboozled the venerable Luther
K. Marsh and a good many other people in the
city years ago and supposed by many to
have gone to the spirit world through the avenue
Of suicide, hal returned to New-York and would
soon appear a witness In the Supreme Court.
The report was disquieting because Of the fall
ure Of the people who spoke Of her probable ap-
pearance witness to explain If Ann ODelia
was to appear In that abundance Of flesh which
formerly helped 70 make her conspicuous a
spirit msterialized for the occasion.
The need OF the Dss Debar's appearance In
court is on account of long-7tanding suit for the
recovery Of a lot Of paintings which have been in
the possession Of John F. Harriet. the property
clerk at Police Headquarters since 1883, when
General and Ann O'Delia Diss Debar were
sent to prison for swindling Mr.. Marsh. These
paintings are not the "spook pictures" which
were exhibited at the trial Of Ann ODelia and her
partner and were delivered to Mr. Marsh later.
but they We're seized in Mr.. Marsh's house. where
the woman had stored them. and were declared
paintings had belonged to a dealer named Low
enhurst, who had fallen under the influence
OF the Diss Dehar before his death.
Exactly how the pictule-dealer had been led
to part with the paintings WAS so much matter
os mystery that D. vakenburgh, the executor
Of his estate at loss how TO proceed to
recover them, but upon his charge that they had
been obtained from Lowenhurst by fraud. the
mr.
the keeping OF the property clerk. The executor
has not been able to show that the pictures be-
long to the LOwenhurst estate. and General
Diss Debar. who made the claim that Of
them were his personal property, has kept alive
a suit for their recovery
When Ann ODclia disappeared from Taylor's
Hotel In Jersey City IN April, 1891 she left several
letters declaring th,t she was going direct to the
spirit world. and the report that she had drowned
herself was afterward believed by many people.
Previous TO her departure from Jersey City she
hal transferred 20 the General her rights in
the remaining ''Old masters at Police Headquar-
ters. Dss Debar's lawyer was ale some time
ago to get a judgment Of $1,000 against the prop
erty clerk fer Withholding the lectures. but the
case was reOpened ir the courts and Mr.. Valken-
burgh was made party 10 the suit because he
had authorized the SELLING OF the paintings. The
case is on the Supreme Court calendar for to-mor-
row. when there may be another adjournment or
Ann O'Delia may reappear.
For time the alleged cid masters were kept In
the museum nj Police Headquarters. and police
man detailed 10 watch them. Later they
were locked In n shed In the basement where they
have remained several gears The dampness Of
the shed has caused mould to gather on every
canvas and when Mr.. Harriet went 10 inspect
them on Monday al the request OF John ID. Town
send Dlss Debars counsel he exclaimed in as
constituent:
Here's another spirit manifestation, I'll be
hanged II every old master hasn't grown whisk-
oi TP
Dir Harriet said he thought that whatever the
original value OF the pailtings might have cen.
their present value was about 81 for the lot.
II was learned yesterday that Ann O'Delia $ de-
parture for the spirit land had been postponed
and that she had No intention Of committing sui
eide when she left Jersey City suddenly In 1891.
She went to Chicago and other Western cities 70
continue her tricks allegel spirit medium.
and In February 1898. she was indicted In Geneva,
H.. for swndling a large scale She had called
herself Vera +. Alva In March Of the same year
she convicted and sent to the Joliet Prison
for term Of two Yeas. Where she went after
being released from prison at the expiration or
her term could not be ascertaincd yesterday. but
II was known that General" Dss Debar was In
Ia Ialr lr,hi