Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-05
EAKERS' CASE
POSTPONED
HOLIDAYS DELAY TRIAL OF THE
RAxTERs
"MEDIUMs MUST CO." DECLARES
PROSECUTOR
Many Gather for First Hearing of
spirltualists, but Are Disappointed.
Couple Arrested for Fraud
In Toronto

Fully a score of spiritualists, non-spir-
ituaiists, takers and anti-fakers were III
police court yesterday morning, awaiting
the arraignment of G. B. Baxter and wife,
the Twenty second street couple who call
up the spirits of departed friends ana rel
atives with the aid of darkness and a
gospel hymn. 1t was 1880 before Justice
Austin took his seat in court and an
nounced that the Baxter case would come
up on the first judicial day. The date for
the appearance of the two Baxters is,
therefore, problematical.
Mrs Baxter was released from Jail Sun
day morning on a cash bond, and yester-
day Baxter was also released after de-
posting $50 as surety.
That the Baxters will plead guilty is
the hope Of many of those who have
known them for a long time and who
have advised the couple to settle their
trouble as speedily as possible. Chief
among these advisers are A. j. Sphinx, a
painter. living at 21S East Eighth street,
and Andrew Anderson, 1421 Newton street.
Sphinx said he went to the station yes
terday from two motives; one to do what
ne could TO aid the Raxters. and the other
out of curiosity. II am anxious to see
that rag the spirit is said to have worn,
said Sphinx, and he was disappointed be-
cause the case could not come up for trial
at once.
Supporter LukeWarnn
Anderson who said, the day following
the raid on the Baxter house, that he
would aid the two takers in their legal
fight, was rather lukewarm in his express
sions of support yesterday.
YES" he said, II would like to help
them to fight the case If 1t did not cost
too much. l would like to see this mat
ter settled in the courts-not the question
whether these people are takers. but
whether the ordinance under which they
were arrested is constitutional. So far as
the Baxters are concerned 1t is simply a
matter of sympathy on my part
Anderson said he had received so many
manifestations that his belief in material
ization could not be shaken. The old man
was the center of a large gathering in
the corridor outside the prosecting attor-
ney's office yesterday, and 'materatiza-
tlon,'' Standardization guides"
''manifestations,' and other terms of the
spooksters' cant thickened the air.
Spiritalists and others interested in the
study who had read in The Herad Of the
raid on the Baxter home were present in
force, and the contentious between the
believers in visible and invisible manifes-
tations became warm at times.
One pronounced unbeliever in Baxters s
methods present was Robert Hale, presi-
dent of Anti-Faker society of Los An
geles. Between Hale and Anderson there
was an exchange of hot words.
do you remember buying a silk dress
for your soul mate?" asked Hale.
Eyes, do" said Anderson.
1t was brought out by Hale's ques-
tioning that Anderson had some time ago
purchased silk dress costing s22 for his
mate in ''spiritland," and that the same
costume had later been seen gracing the
form of the so-called medium whose ses-
sions Anderson attended nightly.
"And did you get stung?" cried Hale,
convincingly.
Eyes, 1 did that time," acknowledged
Anderson.
While the takers and their followers
were sitting around on the benches out
side the court room doors they were
shown a report from Toronto, Ont, tell
ing of similar raid in that city in which
the fake joint of two people formerly of
Los Angeles was raided. In the Cana
dian raid the spook was cautpred in the
person of Mrs. Clarence Howland, and
the woman and her husband. the REV.
Clarence" were taken into custody and
jaiIed This couple were forced to leave
Los Angeles two years ago because of
their work
Prosecuting Attorney Guy Eddie yes
terday said 1t was his purpose to do all
in his power to stop the work of such
people as the Baxters, and he welcomed
every chance to put stop to their work
''If these people will go so far to de-
fraud people in this manner" said Mr.
Eddie, "they would not hesitate in taking
other measures to gain wealth. There
must be stop put to this kind of fake
i~ and an example might as well be
made now as at a future time"