The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-11
SPIRIT" IN A COTTAGE
CURIOUS RAPPINGS A SENSATION FOR
MALONE, n. ", PEOPLE.
Old Lady's Spirit Returns to Tell Her
Friend which Is the Best
Church to Join.

MALONE, n. Y, Oct. 10.-Friday night
a press correspondent, accompanied by a
lawyer, visited the house in Edward street,
in this village, occupied by the Tall
man family, for the purpose of obtaining
Information as to the spirit rappings
which have attracted such wide attention.
Before entering it a visit was paid to the
house of neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Gravel,
who said that the rapping has been contin-
ued from time to time for more than a week
and sometimes so loud that they could hear
it distinctly sitting in their own house. They
are not on intimate trems with the Tallmans
and therefore have not visited the Tallman
household, but they have shared in the ex-
element and are feeling much disturbed
Mr.. Tallman gave the writer a courteous
reception and told this story:
My wife was brought up by q Mrs. La
sabe, who lived with us a number of years
after our marriage. She was a kind old
lady, and we knew her as a mother and
called her so. She was a devout Catholic
and she frequently spoke to me in regard
to joining that church. My wife was a
member of that church, also my children
She importuned me frequently to join the
church, but L refused until should know
more about it. 1 was not a regular mem
Der of any church.
Fourteen years ago she died, and on her
deathbed she called me up, and, while hold
ing her hand in mine, asked me to promise
to join the church. 1 told her 1 would on
one condition-that she would come back
and let me know which was the right
church She said she would. Now she has
come back.
About a week ago we first heard these
rappings. 1 became somewhat frightened
and so did my wife We were busy around
the house all the while and had a sick boy
to attend to, and the almost constant rap
pings annoyed us. We closed and locked
all the doors and made a thorough eXami-
garnet, but found nothing that would eX-
plain the mystery. The rapping has con-
tinued at intervals since then; sometimes II
is light tapping, and sometimes heavy
rapping.
II have sent for the clergyman, who has
visited here two or three times After re-
peated prayers he gave us to understand
that there would be no harm done to US
L wanted to converse with the spirit, but
was timid that 1 dare not try. But
while l was after the priest Mr.. Aubrey
neighbor, who was here, asked 1t ques-
tions, Which were answered, and when
returned he told me that it was Mrs. La
sabe, come to fulfill her promise.
Then l began to converse with her In
the same manner by speaking to her and
receiving rapS in reply. She said that she
had come back as she agreed to do when
she died, and asked me to comply with keI
request and become Catholic. She In
formed me that it was the letter religion
and l have promised her that l will be-
come a Catholic. ] am not yet a member
of the church, but | am preparing to De-
come such, and 1 have no doubt that the
rappings are made by the spirit of the ole
lady. | made my peace with her yesterday
and bid her goodbye and farewell greet
ing, and promised that l would become a
Catholic that she might leave me in peace
to take care of my sick boy.
In answer to the question If it were true
that the rappings had continued since then
he said:
ut has been revealed to me by the spirit
of the old lady that my boy, Arthur, is
soon to die, and /, therefore, believe that
the rappings will continue until his death
when both spirits will leave the place to-
gether.'
In the room where the rapping has beer
going on lies the sick boy: He is about
eighteen years old, and had just had a Sc
we're fainting spell. He is very i'll and weak
from heart trouble. In conversation with
him, strange to say, he said he had not
heard any of the mysterious rappings, and
was only indirectly annoyed by the crowds
of curious persons who constantly We're at
tracted to the place. He is bright looking
and intelligent.
The bed was several feet from the wall
and the writer could discover, after dill
gent search, no mechanical contrivance OF
physical means by which the rapplngs
could have been produced. There is a single
board partition papered on both sides. with
no window or door in it, separating two
rooms in one of which the sick boy lies
AS the writer, in company With Tallman
stood close to this partition the rappine
began. three slight rapS being given. II
seemed to come from below ut one cid Of
the partition.
This was followed in p short time by 6
dull, heavy noise three times, as If made
by q human hard on the outside of the
house. Nobody could he seen outside there
and Mr.. Tallman went to look but found
nobody. A few minuetS later three more
light taps were given, and subsequently
there were more raps, seeming to come
from the outside wall adjoining the parti-
tion
At this time Mr.. TalIman went closer tt
the partition and called Mother, dear, DC
il louder" but there was no response. The
correspondents legal friend was all this
while in the room with the sick boy, stand
raps distinctly. Mr.. Tallman seemed 20 be
much affected about this matter. He takes
it seriously and seems to be reigiously i'll
clined and from all appearances he Is not
given to any deceit whatever, and seems
not to court any notoriety and to use his
own phrase does not wish to traffic in
the matter. He has no objection to people
coming there. but does not like to have
them come out of mere curiosity.
Some Spiritulists of this town have been
to the Tallman house and expressed desire
to hold a 'seance" there, but the Tallmans
refused to give them any announcement
and would not have anything to do with
them or their proposal
-e-o-e-
Work of the Mothers.