Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-01-19
THEY LAID THE GHOST.
A Spiritualist Ghost Producer Exposed
in the Midst of one of His SeanceS.


For some time past spiritualism has
been somewhat on the gain IN Gratlot
county through the seances that have
been conducted by one l.. L. Mitchell.
These seances have been held at differ
ent places, In and near Alma, Ithaca,
etc, and those who have been fortunate
| CD enough TO receive invitations TO be
present, while not all believers, have
certainly been mystified, and in conse-
quence the interest in spiritualism has
| increased, but on Monday evening OF
this week the whole affair was exposed
and the man Mitchell and those who
have aided him in his nefarious work,
| stand disgraced in the eyes of even their
hitherto warmest friends. The manner
in which the fraud was exposed would
do credit TO the most astute of Pinker-
| toms detectives and that the success OF
the undertaking was complete is evil
dence in itself For some time past w.
X. Ludwig of Ithaca has attended the
Mitchell, ct al seances at the homes OF
/ the mediums adherents, and determln-
ing that the whole thing was fraud,
decided upon a plan of ascertaining that
such was fact beyond dispute. Ac-
cordingly he professed to be believer
and also persuaded several others TO join
him and attend the seances regularity.
On Sunday last seance was held III
Ithaca and after the medium had ma
terialized his stock of spirits 1t was
suggested by Mr. Ludwig that few Of
the faithful meet at his rooms III the
Scott building on the evening following
and hold select seance of their own.
This was agreed upon and then Mr..
Ludwig secured his assistants and the
plan was unfolded whereby the fraud
could be exposed. Mr.. Ludwig's rooms
consist of sitting-room and bedroom.
The plan was TO conceal one
Of the members in the wardrobe, have the
medium produce from the bedroom,
while those in the circle would remain
in the sitting.room and at given signal
those on the inside were to act together
and ascertain how it was done. Glenn
Waterbury was concealed in the ward
robe with the doors fastened on the in
side so that the medium (0 could not
force them open, while W. X. Ludwig
". d. Iseman, Harry Parish, Edward
Craig and Roy Smith were in the circle
to assist in the exposing. Mr.. and Mrs
X. p. Peet and Mrs. Mitchell were alsC
present, but of course they were not IL
the scheme. Mitchell materialized sew
eral forms CD and while Mr. Craig wa
shaking hands with one of them MIR
Ludwig gave the signal whereupon Mr.
Waterbury rushed out of the wardrobe
and graphing the form threw it into
r the room, the electric light being imme
. diately turned on. The medium laid OF
the floor and all of the devices he useC
to produce the different forms were still
on him and the expose was complete
Mitchell wears full beard and he useC
, a piece Of flesh colored silk 10 cover thu
2 up, while white handkerchief served
the purpose Of white shirt front and
= piece of black cloth helped to make th
e delusions complete The parties wh'
p assisted in the exposure retained thes
evidences in their possession while tn
owner was advised to leave the rooms a
soon as possible, privilege he was no
long in availing himself Of. Mitchell i
farmer, who lives in Lafayette town
ship near Breckenridge, and those VIII
received invitations TO attend his seance
J., were required TO pay the sum of 81. %
each occasion for the privilege of havin
him materialize @ the form of some de
parted relative or friend. The majori
ty of those who attended were Of tn
y opinion that it was fraud, but as the
were placed upon their honor not to IL
terfere in any manner and were III
guests Of Mitchell's friends each tim
n they had to desist from making an
Investigations. 1t is too bad that th
J laws of this land permit such fraud
under the cloak Of christianity, to exi
and impose upon the people. Ithac
people are very much excited over tf
affair and we'll they may be. A coat
tar and feathers would be the prop'
thing at present to give the fakir an
then let the law take it's course.
Gard Of Thanks.
wish to publicly thank the kir