Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-16
N WAS VERY MYSI|FY|NG.
AN UNIQUE AND INTERESTING EN-
TERTAIEMENT GIVEN BY H.
w. ROGERS LAST NIGHT.
EXPOSE OF sPIRITUALIsM
Slate Writing, Spirit Wraps, Cabinet
Work, snd Trance Test-Fuil
Fern observation-disclosures Known
Citizens Were ON the Stage, But
Could Not Detect Mr.. Rogers
Methodist Talk on "Medfums."


the expose Of spiritualism by Mr..
Harry w. Rogers, on the stage OF the
Opera House last night. He had fair
sized audience, composed mainly of
skeptics, but including one or two
mediums" and a number OF per-
sons who have made a partial investi-
cation of the phenomena which Mr..
Rogers showed in a more skillful man
ner than the ordinary medium, but
with the explanation that his results
were achieved through trickery, pure
and simple. The public is familiar with
Mr.. Rogers investigation of spiritual
ism, and number of persons have
attended private seances given by him.
was because of numerous and per-
sistent requests for private exhibit
tions that he decided upon the public
expose last night. The proceeds went
to the City Hospital
Those who were present last night
witnessed duplication of all the So
called "phenomena" which mediums
have developed in Wheeling. No me-
dunn ever did so much, as it is gener
ally understood that medium excelS
in a particular line for which he is
developed" This fact was explained
in a short preparatory talk by Mr..
Rogers. His investigation covered a
wide range. 1t was not confined to at
tendance upon "seances," but embraced
a study Of all the literature obtainable,
having a bearing upon the subject.
A peculiar phase of Mr.. Rogers in
vestigations and subsequent expose,
as explained by him last night, is the
unwillingness OF honest beiievers in
spiritualism to accept the result of
his Investigations. 1t is being said that
he actually has the power and is
really marvellous medium, but is
endeavoring to deceive the public.
This illustrates the degree in which
the mysteries of the dark circle" and
the cabinet have fastened themselves
upon the minds of spiritualistic dupes.
To Offset this, the Register is author
lied to offer a reward of $3.50 to any
medium who will come to Wheeling
and produce a single supernatural re-
suit.
Incidental to his tests, Nh Rogers
gave evidence of the earnestneSs of his
desire to undeceiye the dupes of So
called mediums, and he came danger
ously close to mentioning names, in
giving instances of the frauds which
are being practiccd in Wheeling. He
told of one or two cases in which
victims Of "mediumistic' frauds were
driven almost to the verge of insanity,
and he was bitter i'll his denunciation
Of al 81 ~
ton.
On the stage with Mr.. Rogers were
Col. Robert White, Henry VI. Rus
sell, Esq. DR.. Beabout and Dr. Eugene
Hildreth. Other persons in the audience
responded to his call for volunteers
to assist in several tests. The first ex-
posed slate writing, by showing how
easily duplicate States are used. He
then answered several letters, which
had been previously mailed to him,
returning the letters to the writers
with the seals unbroken.
1t was his cabinet work which was
most mystifying. He first permit
ted the committee to go through the
cabinet, and invited every person in
the audience to inspect it. Then, seat
ed behind black curtain, with gen
tlemau on each side, their heads pro-
truding from holes in the curtain, he
caused tambourines and bells to ring
in the cabinet, after which they were
tossed out by spirit" hands. Spirit"
flowers were materialiZed, blank cards
were passed into the cabinet, and re-
turned with faces drawn by spirit"
hands. When the curtain was raised
members Of the committee were will
ing to swear that they held his hands
all the while Mr.. Rogers then permit
ted himself to be handcuffed, using
bracelets for which the manufacturers
offer a reward of $500 to airy person
who can open them without a key.
The same results were obtained, and
spirit" hands were seen moving in
the cabinet and touching mem 0ers Of
the committee who endeavored to grab
them. Then two states containing no
writing were nailed together and
clinched, and passed into the cabinet.
In short time they were passed out,
pried open, and found to contain mes
sage.
All this was done in full light, and
mittee were compelled to acknowledge
themselves mystified. Mr.. Rogers
did not give an explanation, save that
it was tcickery. He exposed a trick
by Anna Eva ay, however. He started
pGtting his hands, so that the noise
so produced could be heard in the au-
dience. Then he walked into the cabi-
net, and the noise continued, but the
tambourine played, the bell rang, and
a spirit hand was seen. The expose
was so simple as to be almost ridicu-
lous. Mr. Rogers made the patting noise
by striking one Of his cheeks, his other
hand being free
His naturalization Of full forms re-
quired the extinguishing of the lights
The cabinet was examined and found
to contain nothing. Mr.. Rogers enter
ed, and a little later a ghostly form,
clad in white, emerged and conversed
with the gentlemen on the stage A
judicious use of PHOSPHORUS paint fig
ured in this test Mr.. Rogers then ex-
posed the trumpet voice fraud, showing
plainly how it is produced. He con-
cluded his entertainment by having the
committee tie him securely in a sack.
The committee sat with their backs
to him, but the audience was enabled
to see him get out of the bag. There
were two bags. The audience enjoyed
the puzzled look of the committee