Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-03
SPOOKSTERS
RADED B Y
DETECTIVES
FAKERS CAUGHT DEFRAuDlNG
GULLIBLES
WHITE ROBE sNATcHED FROM A
"sPIRIT"
C. r. Baxter and Wife Locked VI
After Exciting Struggle, Expo
sure and Capture of
Paraphernalia

snookdom received a terrible jolt iass
night. Two mediums were captureu dnu
the regalia of ghost with three a
nets will rest peacefully at ponce neau.
quarters ready to be placed in evloeiice
against gang Of the most prohouneeN
takers ever seen in Los Angeles.
rSrosecutinc Attorney Guy Eddie yes
terdav afternoon issued complaint
charging c. f. Baxter, Mrs. c. F Baxter
and Jobn Doe and Jane Doe with a VIZ
1ation nf the city ordinance in practicins
without a license The complaint was
turned over to Captain Flammer anu
detectives James ]. Mcnamara and Fat
rick h. Murray detailed to serve the
warrant. - a.
',Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hamilton &C
companied Mrs. NJ e. Walling anu MI.
Murrav--the latter cousin OF Mrs.
Wailine-to the Baxter house at 1863 East
Twenty-second street, where they met
about twelve people, waiting Tor the
seance to begin. Detective McNamara
and number of officers followed In an
automobile.
Rv 8:15 o'clock twenty people had gali-
nv s.15 o'clock twenty people had gain
cred and Baxter led the crowd TO tne
the familiar semi-circle. The Herala re-
porter. who took the part OF MI tiaii, ,
ilton." and Detective Murray were placeo
Of the upper end of the room, racing
+ha large green portieres covering the
double doorway leading to the dining
room. The crowd was exceptionally
large and Baxter smiled as he agreeo
to stand up in his corner near the doupie
doors. there being no room for turther
seats.
chaudet Kisses Spook
The nortieres were drawn and the
,,atts were turned out. Someone started
asNearer, Ny God, to Thee ana tne
second vcrse was barely hnisheuS wnen = =
white-clad body was seen coming to"aru
the curtain. But 1t receded and the pc,
lievers said the spirit was mot strong.
Rnt a few words of another hymn
were, sung when the spirit Of stella
Mrs. Baxter s. guide, was seen. MRS.
Baxter,s guide is quite small, probably
one Of her smaller children. TheA con-
versation between the woman and ner
spiritual leader soon faded away.
"Sister Emma" however, who came
next. was strong. This spirit wanted 10
talk with a Mr.. Chaudet, VINO was pres
ent with his wife, son ana daughter.
Mr.. Chaudet kissed the spook, gave II
a flow and said good night.
.sMr. Hamilton s." turn came early last
night. He was fortunate enough to be
called by the fourth ghost, and his hands
were not held as they had been on MS
preceding visit
nAunt Elizabeth" called Mrs. Baxter
from her corner and The Herald man
walked forward, told ''auntie" how glad
he was to see her. and with the words
"I have some good news for you, aun-
tie" grasped the hand of the fake spook.
The hand was covered with soiled piece
Of cheesecloth, which came Off as the
Rx-Ax fha n.
The Herald man held to the cheesecloth
and as Detective Murray turned on the
electric light the bare legs of a boy could
be seen retreating behind the heavy por-
there's.
Woman Fights Desperately
Mrs. Walling, with rare presence Of
mind. rushed for the front door, which
she threw open, admitting Detective Nc
Namara and number of other men in
waiting outside.
Mrs. Baxter, realizing the value of the
cheesecloth as evidence, suddenly grasped
it as the reporter was showing 1t to Bax-
ter's dupes as a sample of what they had
been worshiping. The woman seemed en-
dowed with the strength of tigress. and
five men worked almost ten minutes to
secure the cloth.
Detective Murray read the warrant to
Baxter and his wife and they were told
to get ready to go to the station. This
they did only after threats to call the
patrol wagon had been made. Baxter and
hts wife with the trumpets and ghostly
regalia were placed in an automobile and
, taken to police headquarters, accom-
panied by Detectives Murray and Nc
Namara.
The gullbles gathered at Baxters house
were for the most part almost stupefied
kT..>N vol = Co.. - f1,a hnao no
beliicose, but We're soon quieted AS a
rule there seemed to be a feeling of re-
lief that Baxter's deception had been ex-
posed before their eyes.
Woman Swats Detective
II am glad it happened said young
Chaudet. II am only waiting here to see
that my sister gets home safely. She has
tainted and | am waiting until her con-
dition is such that | can take her home'
The Baxters have five children rang
ing in age apparently between and 49,
II IS quite certain that the children are
the ones who take the part of spoks, and
talk with them last night showed they
were we'll trained their one answer to all
question being almost iaVariable, II don't
know
Neighbors of the Baxters said last night
that the children were shamefully abused.
~ had almost made up my mind to ap-
peal to the Humane society" said Mr..
Gorge Rainey, who lives next door to the
Baxters, after tile raid last night. THE
children are beaten every day and seem
irgly without reason. | never could un-
derstand what was going on in that
house, but, thought it was some sort Of
fake, and that the gospel hymns were
sung simply TO put the neighbors off the
track.
spooIs Is Barefooted Youth
no prevent the spook's escape via the
back yard and the alley two men were
stationed in the alley back Of the Bax-
tre home.
Following the signal Of the watchers 10
1.....-l....a.l M. laa.-.. nn.reeA