Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-26
INGERsoLL ny SPIRIT TELEGRAPH
DIR. Franks Has First Communicn-
tiOn With the Great AgnOstic.


Spirituallstic mediums all over the coun-
try are busly arranging for exclusive con-
versations with the late Colonel Robert
q. Ingersoll, but TO Or. William Franks
Of No. PSI west Twenty-third street, be-
longs the distinction Of having had the
first communication in New York from the
spirit world with the great agnostic.
DR.. Franks's conversation with the late
Colonel Ingersoll occurred yesterday
about noon. 1t had been carefully ar
ranged Tor by young man connected
with an afternoon paper the night before,
so that DR. Franks was not entirely igno'
rant OF what was expected OF him. The
young man who had arranged for the in
terview appeared al DR.. Frankss office,
accompanied by a dozen persons, some
of whom we're Interested in spiritualism
and some in Colonel lngcrsoA. Among
them were Charles Broadway Rouss.
Charles Davis who was formerly Colonel
Ingersofs lecture agent, and a former
Judge from Brooklyn. ana Dr. Franks s
press agent says there was also "a former
Mayor Of New York city in the party.
lie declined TO divulgo the name of the
former Mayor.
DOCTOR WENT INTO A TRANCE.
Immediately on the party entering the
Doctors Office DR.. Franks went into a
trance without any generalization, and
all that happened thereafter Is d blank
10 him. Or. Franks says that il is a
very unusual thing FOR him TO go into a
trance in this sudden manner, and he
was rather surprised at u, because he
has a bad cold and has been kept awake
much of nights lately by the sounds of
Tevelry from the Red Dragon Inn, two
doors above Still. DR.. Franks went into
the trance. and the next moment. accord
Ing TO the stories of eye-witneSses, was
in close touch with Colonel Ingerson
a reporter for the Herald called on Or.
Franks yesterday afternoon to learn hrst
hand from him just what Colonel Ingersoll
had said and how be looked and what he
was doing. The Doctor. however. con-
fessed that he was unable 10 tell this. All
his communications with spirits are u
blank except TO the persons who are In
the room at the time ana hear what he
has 10 gay about II. This makes II neces-
sary in order to get history straight, to
depend upon the persons who listened TO
Or. Franks's talk during his trance.
The Doctor told his auditors that he
could see the form of Colonel lngersoll
very plainly. The Colonel told the Doc
tor that he was much worried about two
letters which had engrOssed his mind for
days before he died. one of these was a
letter which he expected TO receive from
. Archbishop CorIigan in reply to note
which he had sent 20 the Archbishop,
asking him these two questions; "Nhy
should man go 20 another man to con-
fess his sins? why should he not 90
directly to God If there is God?' Col
onel Ingerson told Or. Franks during his
trance that the failure OF the Archbishop
to reply 90 these questions was worrying
him greatly
NOT WHAT HE ANTICIPATED.
He said that he found his state of eX-
istence in the other world far from his
anticipauons. lie seemed 20 be COM
Portable. The laws Of the spirit world,
however. forbade him taking Or. Franks
as fully into his confidence as he could
wish. but he promised when he became
more accustomed 20 his SURROUNDINGS 10
sneak more in detail. Or. Franks eX-
plalned TO his auditors that Colonel In
gersou was satisfied that death was not
The end. but he was right In bis conter-
zion that there was no he'll
Colonel Ingersoll also told DR.. Franks
that he was worried a great deal about
his will Dr. Franks saw the VIII in his
dream. lie was unable 10 divulge the
contents. but It was in a hidden drawer
In a large desk Colonel lngersOll eX-
plained 10 DR.. Franks that he was afraid
his family would not know where tho Will
was secreted
Colonel lngersoll then went into some
details with Or. Franks as 20 what he
was doing In the spirit wcrld. DR.. Park
er Of London. whom he had also mst in
life. had told him since they met in the
spirit land that he OR. Parker had real
tied the faislty OF many things which he
had taught There was Rev. John Til
ley. OF Baltimore. whom Colonel lngersoll
had met on earth several times Since
meeting Or. Tlley again IN the spirit
land the Baltimore divine recanted many
of the things he had taught during iiie.
and admitted that ne had altered his
views materially
MORE DETAILS PROMISED.
Colonel lngcrsoll promised 10 take Dr.
Franks more fully into his confidence as
soon as the laws Of the spirit world would
permit and 90 make further revelations
regarding his controversy with Arch
bishop Corrigan over the confessional.
Friends Of Dr.. Franks regard these
communications from Colonel lngersoil
as far TOO important 90 be wasted on pri-
vaie seances. even when got up for the
sarpose OF supplying the good newspaper