The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-27
DR.. j. j. SKATERS TRICKS
BOTH AMUsE AND CONFUSE A LARGE
AUDIENCE At ENGLIsH's.
A Committee Of WeII-KnOwn Citizens
ON the Stagc-Performance Called
an "Open-Light Seance.'

DIR. ]. ]. Slater, spiritualistic medium,
charatan, fakir, magician, or whatever one
chooses to call him-for he suggests neither
name for himself nor for the power or
means by which his manifestations are ac-
complished-gave an "open-light seance" at
English's Opera House last night. The
audience that witnessed the doctors" re-
markable exhibition was the largest that
has gathered at that house since Richard
Mansfield was here with "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac." Every seat was filled and many
stood up to watch the performance.
The doctor began with a somewhat
prolix address. in which he stated clearly
that he offered no explanation whatever OF
the phenomena that would be witnessed,
leaving the audience perfectly free to draw
its own conclusions. He also said that he
would call for a committee of four we'll
known citizens of Indianapolis to come
up on the stage and watch him closely
while the manifestations were taking place.
Prior to the selection of this committee the
familiar ';slate-writing' was done; also,
demonstration of alleged telepathy, or
mental telegraph, in which the result Of an
addition performed upon slate by men,
ber of the audience, with DR.. Slater seated
at his side, communica ted in some man.
ner to his assistant upon the stage without
"a word being spoken or a sign made, so far
as could be detected.
A committee, composed of ex-Prosecuting
Attorney John w. Hoffman and Drs. Out
land, Woodard and Hacker, was then chosen
and requested to seat themselves upon the
stage. The doctor exhibited his spirit
cabinet, which Was made of cloth draped
over pieces of gas pipe, placed close to the
back or the visible part of the stage, the
remainder being shut off from view of the
audience by hangings OF some sort OF cloth.
When the committee" was given permission
TO examine the apparatus DR.. Woodard and
Mr.. HoltZman caused considerable merri-
ment by their cautious Investigations, which
were pursued to the extent of raising the
canging in the rear Of the cabinet and care
fully stripping or peeling off the cloth COW
ering of the cabinet itself The doctor
then gave number of manifestations in
the cabinet, after having been apparently
securely bound in various ways by members
| OF the committee. Bells and tambourines
would be forcibly expelled over the top Of
the cabinet, board nailed to the seat OF a
chair. the noise of the hammer being clearly
audiole In all parts of the theater. and
handcuffs conveyed to the doctor" by a
police officer In full uniform) removed from
had first been locked and the key retained
| by the guardian of the peace.
The doctor also caused a pair of hands
10 appear at the top of the cabinet while
| ne was handcuffed within, and these hands
| moved as far from each other the width
oi tnS cdDlnet, dltnOugn his own could not
separate further than six inches owing to
| the chain attaching the cuffs together
| The last manifestation was prefaced by
placing an assistant (who travels with DR.
| Slater) in wooden cabinet within the
| cloth arrangement, and drawing over him
| sack, the bottom of which was fastened
| TO the floor. The curtains of the outer cab
| met being closed for a few moments. they
We're thrown open again and a figure veiled
| In white appeared at the opposite end from
| the sack-coveTed cabinet. supposedly con-
| tanning the assistant. The curtains were
drawn together again, and. being with
| drawn second time, a seemingly different
| ngure appeared, which rang bell without
| disar-anging or moving the draperies in
/ which II was enveloped. Upon the sack be-
| ing detached from the wooden cabinet the
/ same was found to be empty, and the as
slstant appeared at the rear Of the audi
| torium.
DR.. Slater invited all who cared to do so
| 10 come on the stage at the close of the
exnlDiuon and examine the little apparatus
| he uses. A number of people availed them
| selves of the offer and one woman who
| shook the doctor" warmly by the hand and
| said, Doctor, was with you all the time
| and threw all my power to YOU" A sphinx
| ike smile was her sole reward.
| Mr.. Hoffman stated to a Journal repre-
| sentative that he was able to understand
Slater is a wonderfully clever man" DIR.
| n. ID. Woodard contented himself with saw
| ing that explanations of some of the phe-
nomena could only be suggested.
| The small prices referred to i'm DIR.
| Slater's advertisement proved to be so cents
10 for place in ''the peanut gallery" No
one, however was heard to register a COM
| plant OF eXtortion. and all seemed well sat-
isfied, even glad that they had come.