Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23
ever, so the date of the investigation
was set for December Is at 1880 o'clock

ever, so the date of the investigation
was set for December Is at 1880 o'clock
at night.
Promptly on time the committee
showed up, but Mrs. Johnson was not
on hand. Imerson was present and
stated she did not feel in medium
istic spirit that night and asked that
the investigation be continued for an
other week. The members of the COM
mittee were most agreeable. They
agreed, but instead of interest in it
dying down, as Imerson supposed II
would, it grew and last night when the
time came they were all on hand.
They met in the room, which is an
office owned by Howe, who runs a
printing establishment during his
working hours. There they were
greeted by Howe and Imerson and
shown many courtesies DR.. Wise had
brought slate with him. 1t was his
wish to have writing appear on that
slate. Soon Mrs Johnson appeared and
was introduced to the crowd. She was
an old friend of DR.. Wise. Diteweiler
was also introduced to her and it came
out in the Introductory conversation
that he and Imerson were old friends.
Then the fun began.
Every one was there to see a per-
formance in slate writing. The states
which DIR. Wise had brought were eX-
amined intently by all those present
Some even went to the trouble of wash
ing them. This riled Diteweiler, who
offered TO go out and buy states If
the ones which had been brought were
not satisfactory. He was told to go
and in company with Willis and Hard
ing went to a nearby stationery store,
where two were purchased. With their
possessions they returned to the Of
flee and the game was on.
Slate Does Not Work
During their absence DR.. Wise in
formed Mrs. Johnson that he would
like to see if the spirits would do any
writing on one of his states. She
agreed, and the two sat down, DR..
Wise holding her hands tightly, while
she clasped a slate over which heavy
overcoat was thrown. No writing ap-
peared and when the new states were
brought in they acted as a good eX-
cuse for disseminating the farce.
The new states were also examined.
They were we'll washed, in fact two or
three of the committee took turns in
washing them. Then they were handed
over to the so-called slate writer. AT
this juncture one of those present asked
Mrs. Johnson's permission to place the
slate inside paper bag, She could not
the oVercoat over the slate. This was
also objected to, but Mrs. Johnson
maintained that spirits would not an
swer her call If the slate was bare. If
this was the case those present were
willing to be reasonable and allowed
the game to go on.
First Mrs. Johnson requested Dite-
weller to hold her hands beneath the
coat. He did so. This was at 855
o'clock For five minutes they sat there,
each tightly grasping the slate and
Diteweler holding her hands For four
and one-half long minutes they sat
there, while the spectators sat In eX-
pectancy awaiting some demonstration.
Each second seemed as long as an hour,
each minute as long as day, until
suddenly, without warning-the lights
went out.
Confusion reigned.
"Fraudl Humbug!" shouted Web
ster.
''You liel" screamed Howe, and for a
minute the audience stood gazing, eX-
pecting the two men to fly at each 9TH
er's throats.
Then someone thought to light the
gas. When 1t was turned on there sat
Mrs. Johnson and Diteweiler still hold
ing the slate with the oyercoat on it