New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-11
SAW SPIRIT PAINT A PORTRAIT.
THE PROCESS DESCRIBED IN A LETTER OF
MRS. H. L. BEAcH-RoGERs WHICH
WAS PRODt-cFD IN coIR


Justice Gildersleeye. in Part VI Special Term Of
the Supreme Court yesterday continued taking
testimony in the action brought by Frederick Beach
TO have the marriage OF his aged mother. Harriet
y. Beach Rogers. to Henry Richardson Rogers. the
spirit medium, annued The proceedings are
based on the ground that Mrs. Rogers was men
tally unbalanced when she was married 70 Roesrs
\ sherin's jury recently decided that Mrs. Rogers
was mentally incompetent.
Frederick Beach resumed the stand when the
trel continued. and again began telling OF hs
mothers alleged experiences with spirits and Spir-
itualists. His testimony was the same as that
which brought out in the insanity proceedings
before the sheriT's jury.
Or. Charles Il. Lyon. superintendent OF Bloom
inglale Asylum. also reiterated the testimony that
he gave at the insanity proceedings In his opiaoa
Mrs Beach Rogers was suffering from chronic In
sanity. form OF paranoia.
DR.. Lyon said that Mrs Beach Rogers had met
with serious accident about thirty years ago and
in his opinion she suffered mentally account of H.
on crdss-examinston Or. Lyon was asked what
he meant by paranoia. In answer he said that
comparatively new term used by insanity
experts in place Of the term nonomana.
well. do you know Asa Bird Gardiner. the Dis
trict-Attorney9' asked Mr. Purdy. insinuatinsy.
yes. have heard Of him" replied Or. Lyon.
Mr. Purdy then started 10 make some comment,
but stopped before he finished
Mr. Beach then resumed the stand and told moro
about the spirit pictures over which his mother
raved. one a picture OF Mrs. Beach Rogers.
Behind her and In dim outline the picture OF
Henry Ward Beecher. Mrs. Beach Rogers told her
son that Mr.. Beecher her guiding spirit.
A letter written by Mrs. Beach Rogers. in which
she describes the spirit process OF painting piet-
ures. put In evidence In the letter the writer
, says that she had for long time wanted pict-
ure OF her mother. She said that one evening an
easel placed IN Mr.. Rogers's room between
two drawn curtains A clean white canvas was
placed on the easel and many flowers Of a variety
OF colors placed beside the easel
The lights In the ro9p were then tvrnsd Io :,
aa organ. Rogers then lay on lounge and vent
into a trance.
A few moments later said Mrs, Beaeh,Rofer.
the siie Of the easel At tie same tim. another
Dipping paint brush on cups containing the
a flowers the S!ner ig fSrw Tspd Hrs
Beach Rogers says that the picture ws: completed
in fifteen minutes and vas q beautiful So,or'
keeping his mother connnsd Al Lsk.wood 20
as to make !, son her iOF osesr a. me pr.s
snt trial f" MT' BeacRs lawyer refused 70 ;ev
him TO Sa he OF and re mother on
bad terms Gut admitted that she haf refused 20
recognize him in the courtroom at previous near
siiave YOU ever attended any seancesr vas
asked OF Mr. Beach
lie then went on to describe how he had been
The air was full Of them" said Mr. Beach.
when the head was asked a question would
nod afprmatively or negatively as the medium De-
sred suddenly some one jumped across the table
and grabbed one OF the heads ana the lights were
turned on Then saw how the scheme was
worked The heads were simply masks.
''rhe mask that grabbed had answered. 20
motber I showed the mask TO my mother ana
tried 10 show her how she was being numoussea
a. refused 10 be convinced however
After recess Mr. Beach gave way on tne stsnd
10 lanes Breen. OF Philadelphia lie testined fnaii
ia Mad lived in the same house with Rogers ana
his former wife In Philadelphia for several months.
Wr preen said that he knew the handwritng o.
~. ~ ,nd his wife and Identified several spirit
ietirrs" some signed Webster. az having been
IT, isv;Svers were I'm the midst Of an argument
- - The edmissibillty OF these letters as elihencs
when an adjournment was taken "nui 'on'y'