Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-06
JURY FINDS
SPOOKTTES
ARE Gull TY
PAINTER SAYS He HUGGED
REAL GHOSTS
SEES 'EM IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
AND THEY'RE SOLID
Another Says He Has Weighed Souls
of Departed and Finds Them
r,eaVy as Flesh and
Bone

AIlGl ISltIilIlS " SldlCAiiNillH liicloC III
all earnestness by witnesses, and which
must have carried their minds back to
the peculiar conditions that would
maintain and foster the belief i'm witch
craft in the old New England days,
jury in the police cou1 of Justice Aus
tin at $50 o'clock yesterday brought III
a verdict of guilty in the case of Mr..
and Mrs. C. F. Baxter 1869 East Twen-
ty-second street, charged with N1olat-
ing the city ordinances by practicing
spiritual mediumship without license
Sentence was continued until this
morning at 10 o'clock
The trial was the result of a raid on
the Baxter place on the night of No
vember last, when the man and wom-
an were arrested and taken to the po-
lice station, together with some of the
paraphernalia used in their work.
The raid followed an expose to the
city prosecutors office by reporter OF
The Herald who, under the name OF
Harry Hamilton, went to the Baxter
home. and, representing himself as a
litigant in large estate left by nc
titious aunt, sought advice and conso-
lation for a troubled mind. He re-
ceiyed it, together with the aunts
eheesecloth robes.
The fact that the BaXters were car
rving on their reprehensible work was
first learned by Mrs. n. r.. waller
Spiritualist of the reorganized school.
She visited the place a number of times
and early in October introduced
young woman, Miss Ada Ballard as
Mrs. Harry Hamilton. The latter paved
the way for the first visit of her sup
posed husband, which was made Octo-
ber rs.
Mrs. Hamilton had already told the
story of the tied-up estate and the
anxiety of her husband concerning the
outcome of the legal battle. Aunt
Elizabeth" was the name OF the WealIhy
deceased, and 1t was from her lips that
assurances of good fortune were hopeo
for.
And the "Aunt" Came
According to the testimony yesterday
tho aunt appeared. following a number
of other alleged denizens of the upper
or neither world, these including LIT
tle Eva" ''Uncle Pat Aunt Esther
and ''Dr. Lurton." which latter hau
passed away ninety years betore put
was modern in his conversation 10
such point that he used the familiar
slang of today.
"Aunt Elizabeth assured the appar-
emily distracted seeker after knowledge
that his troubles would soon be over
and with a "God bless you" departeu'
nrobably to the realms of rear peu-
room. ..;.its
ing with her grandfather and tlctl-
tious child, swathed in cheesecloth.
Other FORMS she said, appeared 10
greet persons in the gathering, Wnile
her Cousins mother announced that tne
former was well but still in the earlh
life Another cousin had started on
her tourney to the spheres" ana JOY
fulness. ~,
Mrs. Hamilton" also related her eX.
neriences with the inhabitants of
..snookdom." and Detectives Murray
and Mcnamara told of the arrests.
Mrs c. F. Baxter, one or the u9-
PENDANTS said she is a spirit material
izer. an ordained minister of the
"Psvcho Religio church of ReVela-
tions." which puzzling name was print
ed at the top of a large certificate or
ordination, granted to MRS. ANNE
Higgins" on August 8, 1902, and which
was placed in evidence.
At the foot of this paper We're the
names of O. r. Arnold and Mrs s..
Johnson, president and secretary re-
spectively, two persons whose work mas
heretofore been exposed in Los An
geles.
She explained that her work was
mart of the religious ceremonies of her
belief Mediumship and spirit mate
rialization, she admitted were part OF
her work but she disclaimed any abil-
1tX 10 tell fortunes VI NOliNuNN Nie1AA
voyance and clairaudience sessions.
Why She Wanted the Robe
When asked why she had made such
a desperate effort to get possession of
the ghostly robe worn by Aunt Eliza
BETH Mrs. Baxter said she wished to
show those present that it was not
what it was represented to be by the
man who had gained possession of it.
Mrs. Baxter said her religious ideas
involved the belief that friends come
back and look up earthlI mortals and
that mediums perform the same work
as a pastor, and as such she acted as
the go-between of the people of this
world and the inhabitants of the
spheres"
She disclaimed any intention of try
ing to work" wealthy persons and
said the only money received was by
contribution, and those attending the
$, ances We're not required to give
money unless they saw fit.
II hold my hands on the wrists of
those talking to spirits" she said, ''in
order to form a battery and give
strength to the spirit. The dining room
was used as cabinet and this cloth
if it was on the spirit should have
dematerialized when the lights were
turned ON, as sririts an not visible II
the light.
Baxter became quite excited while
giving his testimony. He said he alsC
was a member of the Psyche -ReligiC
church, but was not a medium, leaving
that work for his wife.
my wifcs guides" he said "wil
not allow any but ladies and gentlemen
to come into the house. The rules arc
formulated in the spirit life, and if a
person lies to a spirit there is always
=. spirit to cOunteract the statement OF
the person with another lie.
This explanation appeared to crafty
the believers, as il cleared their minds
of the puzzling question how such q
person as Aunt Elizabeth" could APP
pear when she never existed.
Doesn't Even Eavesdrop
He declared that he heard little OF
what the spirits said to his visitors
as it was none of his business, and
said that if people were righteous anC
truthful they could see spirits sur
rounding them in the court room.
Alfred Chaudet real estate man
said he had taken up collections at tho
meetings, but the money was used tC
pay for the rent of the room.
A. j. Sphinx, a painter, said he had
embraced spirits many times and dis.
covered them to be ''as solid as human
beings" He had even seen spirits il
broad daylight.
The last witness was man named
Payne who said he has seen the spir
it's of deceased relatives from the east
He said he was not laboring under I