The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-19
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
LONDON, April 1S.-There is always
some fad or other conspicuous in this
city. Just now the popular fad is plan
Ghetto. This is probably due to the eX-
tenSiVe advertising this instrument has
received through a cause celebre re-
Gently on the tapis here in which the
us of planchette for purposes of fraud
seems to have been accomplished. The
alleged victim in the case is Mr.. II. S.
III. Cavendish, a well-known explorer,
and among other things the owner of
three London theatres. 1t is claimed
that by means of pretenses that GER
tain things We're said by persons in the
spirit world through planchette Mr..
CaVendish was induced to make over a
million dollars to a Maj. Strut and
his wife to invest as they desired. The
messages were said to come from Mr..
CaVendish's mother-Fhe trial has been
most remarkable one and has served
to get all London interested in plan
Ghetto, the mysterious message receiver
which once proved a craze in the
United States
Particularly are those interested in
physical matters entering into expert
ments with avfdity
This simple-looking continuance,
consisting of a heart shaped slip of oak
provided with caster wheels and a lead
qualities, according to devOtees of
'planchette." 1t is. they say. invested
with the power of prophecy; it can an
sWer any question put to it regarding
the past, present or ;future-in short,
it is sort Of inanimate wizard.
How PIanchette Works. 49,
1t is used in this manner. One, two
or three persons place their fingers
lightly on the machine and think of
some question TO which they require
an answer. Aftersa few minutes the
machine begins to move, apparently of
its own accord, and the pencil which Is
attached to it SeFaWlssan irregular line
on the paper. -ManXspeople claim that
1t has written mysterious messages for
them In readableseharac ters. And, how
ever the skepticals may sneera the
votaries of "planohette" place implicit
trust in the words of guidance or warn
ing, of good or evil. which the instru-
ment writes. Phatit does write when
the hands of one or two eXperimenters
are placed on the wooden disc cannot
be doubted.
The present writer has witnessed the
machine engaged in it's weird calig-
raphic efforts, and has deciphered the
words thus indited. But by what
agency the writing is performed and
whether there is any real justification
for paying serious attention to the
representations, are questions better
left for others to decide.
Among the evidence presented as to
the value of genuine planchette revela-
lions, was that of Mr.. A. Daniels, of
st. MichaePS, Liverpool, who stated
that his son, aged seventeen, has from
time to time achieved some remarkable
results with "planchette." 1t told him
of the case of a British steamer that
had been detained some days, through
an exceptional cause at st. Thomas,
West Indies, before the news was
cabled to Liverpool. "Planchette" also
wrote for the boy the passwords of an
important secret society, and disclosed
the amount of several friends bank
balances, subsequently found to be cor
rectly given.
"Planchette," added the witness, al
ways gives my son the best Of advice
and on all occasions processes the
greatest affection for him expressing it,
self in the most endearing language.
Strange and Uncanny.
In a case which occurred some time
ago two ladies had their hands on the
machine and invited a visitor to ask it
a question. II had been to hear Spur
geon preach" the gentleman in ques-
ton recorded, land was struck with his
text, the words of which distinctly re-
membered, though 1 had forgotten
where they came from. So asked
'planchette.' 1t instantly wrote '2nd
Corr and mentioned chapter and verse
We looked 1t up, and 1t was right. / had
not repeated the words of the text to
the ladies'"
This same gentleman told how at a