Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-07
ACCUSE SPOOK OF
FORGING WRITING
ST. LOUIS SHADE IS CLEVER
SCRIBE
Missouri Circuit Judge Goes Cunning
for Fskers with Local Truth
Seeking society--Deerea
Is Issue
snecIal to rhe aeraid-

Special TO The Herald.
ST. LOUIS, April GA spirit Is un-
der suspicion Of having committed for
gerry In connection with the "manifes-
tations" Of Mrs. Josie X. Folsom, spir-
ltualist, and Circuit Judge Taylor, who
has reopened the hearing on the appIi-
cation of the Truth Seekers society Of
Missouri for a pro forma decree of in
corporation, is hot on the trail.
The spirit is alleged to have forged
the writing of Miss Ella Preston, for
merly associated with Mrs. Folsom
Cards bearing handwriting very like
that of Miss Preston are In evidence in
the case. These. according to the testi-
nony, were handed out by Mrs. Fol-
som at her seances.
Judge Shows His Hand
1t was while Mrs. Phoebe Wolfe,
treasurer of the society, was testifying
that Judge Taylor asked a series of
questions indicating that he was trying
to burn the spirit forger out of the
business.
1--WE have here" he said, forgery by
spirit of the handwriting of Miss
Preston What object could the spirit
have had In forging the writing OF Miss
Preston?"
Mrs. Wolfe said she was at a loss
herself to explain it. Then it occurred
to her that the judge might not be
sure that the writing was like that of
Miss Preston and she triumphantly
rallied back at the judge with some
such a suggestion.
What If Miss Preston says that the
writing is like hers?" asked the judge
"She might be telling a barefaced
lie" said the witness.
Forgery at Long Range
Mrs. Emily Sibille, who alluded to
herself as "one of those awful people
who get independent writing manifes-
tatlors," and who said she would not
swear to her own handwriting unless
1t had not left her side since it had
been written, called the attention of
Judge Taylor to the fact that photo
graph of card produced by Miss Pres
ton at test in Des Moines bore a re-
semblance to the writing of Miss Pres
ton. She was unable to explain what
motive the spirit forger might have in
Stimulating Miss Prestons writing on
one of Mrs. Folsom's cards in Des
Moines.
Gustav Viernow told with good deal
of pride of the manner In which he
shifted the cards at a public meeting
conducted by Mrs. Folsom. The fact
that writing appeared on cards substi-
tuted by him for the ones given him
to hold convinced him that the phe-
nomenon was genuine.
Judge Taylor wanted to know why,
| If he was clever enough to shift the
cards on Mrs. Folsom, she might net
have been clever enough. to shift them
on him, but he didn't think so.
| A large number of cards bearing al
| legged spirit messages are in evidence.
Some of these are claimed to have been
| tampered with after leaving the hands
of Mrs. Folsom.
One, claimed to have been received
by Mrs. Cornelius, bearing a written
message and the print of an autumn
leaf is said by Mrs. Folsom and her
friends to have only borne the print
of the leaf when Mrs. Cornelius re-
ceived it. Judge Taylor, however,
pointed out that the writing was under
the leaf print. None of them could ex-
plain how the writing could have been
slid under the leaf print after it left
Mrs Folsom's hands.
Judge Taylor some time ago refused
q decree of incorporation to the society
but was induced to reopen the case.
His position is that the society is not
entitled to a decree if there is sub
stantial evidence of fraud in the al
legged spirit demonstrations.