The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-07
EXPOSED HIS TRICK.
John Carter Discovers How "Spiritu-
alist' Clarence J. Eddy is
Not Shot.


John Carter ex-city marshal, at
tempted to shoot Clarence J. Eddy, the
Topeka medium, in this city last night.
However, no arrests have been made as
the shooting was at the request of Mr..
Eddy.
1t occurred on the stage of the Craw-
ford theater, and was the last number
on programme arranged by Mr. Eddy
for the entertainment and possible
mystifcation of small audience. He
produced a giant pistol a small bag or
powder and a bullet and informed the
spectators that he proposed to allow
any member of the audience to shoot
at him, with the result that he would
pick the bullet out of the air.
The bullet was then passed among the
people in the parquet, and marked with
pen knives by several of the men. john
Carter, whose hobby is the exposure OF
spiritualists, volunteered to do the
shooting and climbed up the steps lead
ing to the stage. The first thing he
did on arriving there was to pour out
some Of the powder in his hand and
taste it. Pears to be genuine, all
right" said he for the benefit Of the
other spectators.
The bullet returned from its tour in
the parquet and was dropped into the
barrel Of the pistol after a charge of
powder by Mr.. Eddy. Carter was
watching the operation intently. THAT
bullet is too small for the BARREL" said
he; let me pack it "Oh no. said the
medium, producing a small ramrod and
commencing to run it I'D and down
the barrel Of the gun, that bullet is
just the right size"
Let Carter do the ramming," shout
ed some one in the audience.
Yes, let me try it," said Carter, taxi
ing the pistol out of the mediums
hands. See here said he withdrawing
the ramrod and looking at it, what's
this hole in the end for 90
That's the way it's made" replied
Eddy again recovering possession Of the
pistol and starting to operate the rod.
This time instead of ramming the bullet
he turned the rod in screw fashion
around the barrel of the gun.
This process continued for two or
three minutes. Then soto voce to Car
ter the medium said: There is some
thing the matter with this gun. If it
was discharged the way 1t is now 1t
would kill me. I'll have to fix it, and
with this he walked into the flies, re-
turning a moment afterward.
Now it's all right" said he. Take it
and stand over there at the other side
of the stag e."
Carter did as he was told and Eddy
took a position in the. center of the
stage facing Carter with his arms ex-
tended. Where do you want to shoot
me- he asked.
7 don't want to shoot you at all" re-
piled Carter, land I'm not a bit scared
of doing it,
Ready" said the medium, 'airn-
fire" There was a report and bright
flash of powder as Carter pulled the
trigger. Eddy's right arm gave a jerk
and he turned and threw the Identical
bullet to the people in the parquet. The
curtain was rung down.
Practically the entire audience crowd
ed around Carter as he made his descent
from the stage. How about it, Carter"
said some one.
''All a pure fake" said Carter. 1.-THE
bullet was too small for the barrel of
the gun and just fit the cavity in the
ramrOd. When he screwed the rod
around he screwed the bullet into it.
and when he went off the stage he took
it out. When he walked back he had
was charge of powder"
Mr. Eddy is a novice in the art Of en-
tertaining audiences by the supposed
assistance of spirits, and showed it last
night. Every few minutes he would
turn to the audience and say:
''Now I feel just as though couldn't
go a bit farther with this programme,
but I will if it kills me-
Despite his nervousness Mr.. Eddy did
some fair cabinet work, performed three
feats of slate writing and added figures
and named articles while blindfolded
When Eddy called for names of per-
sons dead for the first slate writing
test, some one in the gallery shouted
Hockey Jim" Governor I,eedy''
shouted another. Stanley" shouted a
third.
Mr Eddy failed to tip table and
make a wooden hand rap. When he
found he couldn't perform these feats,
he told the audience that he had re-
ceived a spirit message saying he would
have no success.