The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
"Spiritv Making Now More Of q Fine
Art and More Deceptive than
Ever Before.
TRICKS OF DECENTRALIZATION"
HOW SPIRIT HANDS, VOICES AND
MUSIC ARE SIMULATED.
The Sitter Led TO Think He IL Hold.
ing Mediums Hand-The Nfmble
Foot Made Useful.

O0AhccPchocASN "a ~ fObc IL
WASHINGTON. Oct. ls.-Some Of the
spirit mediums were exhibited to me a day
or two ago by a professional man. who for
many years has fostered a fad for presti-
digitation. employed very industriously In
independent psychic research. None OF these
bits Of apparatus Is for sale. In the metrop-
oils there is a market where magicians as
semble annually to purchase their next sea-
sons equipment. with which they expert
ment in q model theater attached TO the
establishment. But the man who poses as
a genuine hobnobber and elbow-rubber with
the spirit world does not buy his outfit IN
the open market. He invents his best Jug
glery tools and has them manufactured.
confidentially. by a skilled machinist or
model maker. In time the secret. especially
If rusted. is passed to a pal in the trade.
Then, again. not a few fake mediums
are always deserving the world of graft"
for the honest business of open legerdemain
If we can so adjective so hidden a calling.
That 1t is well to set a thief to catch a
thief is a trite bit of wisdom, and IL is less
trite. though no less wise. that it's best to
set a prestidigitateur TO catch a prestidigi-
tateur.
Sleight-of-foot Is now being employed
quite as extensively as sleight-of-hand by
the progressive fakir operating under the
mask of spiritualism.
The false toe, perhaps the very newest OF
the inventions in question. illustrates the
Importance which the pedal extremities
now play in fraudulent seances or sittings.
1t is a counterfeit of the tip OF the shoe,
not of the fiesh-and-blood digit OF the lower
extremities. A pair Of these was lately dis
covered In the kit of an ingenious seance
| juggler. They are made of spun brass as
| thin as paper, but with a wonderfully high
| degree of tensile strength. They snugly 1T
over the tips of a pair of patent leather
shoes, and being ~lacquered over, have the
precise polish of a glossy boot. Even the
extension Of the sole, the stitching therein
| and the fancy border of the tip are repre-
scented. When worn over the supposed me-
dium's shoes they attract no attention.
Thorough exposure OF sleight-of-hand
manifestations has made the progressive
bogus medium more wary of manual ma
nipulations than he used TO be. In indi-
vidual seances he may place the sitter"
opposite him at a table. The spun-brass
toes are in place. The room is bare and
the doors locked. The light is turned dow
after the possibility of Intervention OF a
| third person has been banished. Now. 20
| prove TO you that these manifestations
which you are about TO witness are not
caused by me-" says the medium. II will
| ask you to grasp both my hands and place
your toes upon mine. Thus you, can ac-
count for my hands and feet throughout
the experiment"
The sitter presses his toes upon those OF
the medium" BY SO doing he enables the
latter TO withdraw one or both OF his feet
from the false shoe toes. The sitter con-
tinues to press hard upon the spun brass.
The medium holds his hands lightly. and
therefore is assured that he cannot stoop
to peep under the board. The manifesta-
lions m They are skillfully worked
by the juggler's feet.
THE SPIRIT HAND.
A papier mache hand is secreted In the
lower leg OF the mediums trousers. which
are made baggy for the purpose. This hand
is waxed and painted. From the wrist ex-
tends upward a fesh-colored stocking leg.
This hand is fastened to a long elastic band
attached to the mediums waist. Having
withdrawn his toe from beneath that of
the sitter, his arms begin to jerk and
twitch. He attributes these spasms TO spirit
influence, which he feels coursing through
his nerves. but they give him excuse 10
knock something from the table with his
elbow. He must break the chain for q
minute to pick up the troublesome thing.
While apparently grasping for IL with his
free hand he pulls the papier-mache hand
down his trouser leg and deftly fits Its
wristlet on his toe. Then he resumes the
chain" with his hand. Presently. by dint
of a delicate high-kicking feat beneath the
board, he causes the spirit hand" TO dart
up here and there, at the edge OF the table.
Sometimes ii plucks at your elbows. and IL
the room be very dark IL CLOVIS as a re-
suit Of a coating OF phosphorus. This
astonishing naturalization having been
completed. the medium kicks the anklet
loose and the elastic band carries the hand
safely to it's hiding place up his leg.
Another spirit hand is In reality the medi-
um's foot exposed half way to the ankle
by a stocking deprived Of the toe. Now. .
foot Is very like a hand In all primary re-
spects. but not until we compare our upper
and lower extremities by placing them side
by side do We realize how very unlike a
hand a foot is. But by drawing with grease
paint dark brown lines TO simulate extern
sion Of the spaces between the toes. these
digits can be made to appear long. BY
making a fist OF the foot so treated-al-
though not Of the treatment-the unthumb-
like length OF the great toe win not be
noticeable in the dim light.
TRAIN TOES TO PINCH.
BY training his toes to pinch objects. or
perhaps by exercise Of an innate ape-iike
power. the bogus medium who employs this
latter form OF spirit hand" In able TO
strike wonderment TO the hearts Of his sit
tiers. who feel the departed dead plucking
at their sleeves and even at their neither
garments. But there Is no evidence that
this bit Of hocus pocus is utilized In con-
nection with a sham shoe toe. A slipper
from which II may be readily withdrawn 10
employed as the incasement Of the painted
foot.
A pair OF false hands for quite anothe
purpose were manufactured by a supposed
Baltimore medium. who works them with
great success. He took a pair OF steel an
kle guards. such as used by bicyclists. and
to one end of each he attached a block OF
rubber ntting snugiy into the thumb OF =