The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-12-03
FALSE SPIRITUALIST
DUPES DRESDEN
Summons Herr Or. Bombastcs
and Extracts $1G1, 600 from
HIS Followers.
HAD PHILOSOPHERS STONE"
Spirit Knew How 60 Turn BaScr
Metals into Gold - "FaCtury"
About to BE Euilt When Police
Seize the Alleged SWind;cr.

Dresden. Saxouy highly in
tellectual citizens OF this capital de-
light TO call It the Athens of the
Elbe. Nevertheless, Dresden is
known all over Germany as the
abode of an extraordinary number
Of faddists. spiritualists. theosophist.
tclepathists the lists. And as IL
10 prove how narrow is the line be
tween wisdom and folly and that the
brainy people OF Desden are easily
duped spiritualist medium Herr
Bergman was arrested the other
day charged with swindling his CON
nding followers out OF no less a sum
than S161.000.
Bergman, at one time manager
OF a porcelain factory. turned his
acute mind to affairs less earthly and
summoned from the vast deep n
spirit, Herr DR.. Bombastus." who
knew the secret OF "the philosophers
stone who could transmute the
baser metals into gold.
First the crafty Bergman had TO
assemble the credulous clientele to
whom he introduced the gold making
Bombastus. So during several years
Bergman got around him a number
OF women and men all OF considera-
bic means. all well educated. all seek
ing TO lift the impenctrable veil that
hides the unknown.
AS soon as he thought everything
was ripe for his undertaking Berg
mana announced to his followers
that nc was about to build a factory
where lead iron and copper would
be changed into the precious metal
He collected his dupes at great
seance, and after some mysterious
formalities summoned the spirit OF
Herr DR.. Bombastus-wel named
shade wholly unknown TO those
present, but which asserted that the
new works" were TO be called after
his name. and now was the time to
begin the building.
The innoccnts present handed out
their thousand-mark notes and Berg
mann opened a banking account.
and at one of them Bergman in
formed his dupes that Bombastus
was the spirit of a great physician
who lived 500 years ago and knew
all about turning ordinary metal into
gold. Rich bakers and butchers,
tailors and shoe manufacturers in a
big way of business Joined the fra
ternity; even several Government Of
fcials handed In their names and
their thousand marks
Bombastus was summoned night
ly, and the gist of his communica-
until finally Bergman had Sl6l,000
In bank, besides a considerable sum
with which to begin the works"
He kept all the wires in his own
hands and he and Bombastus and an
other worthy learned in the stars.
who professed TO know the exact
hour when the cornerstone OF the
works" was TO be laid. agreed TO
share the plunder.
Besides the seances there were
prayer meetings, at which Bergman.
dressed as high priest" stood be-
fore an elaborate altar and went
through various mummeries of his
own invention. One of his disciples
gave him in one sum 100000.
There were no small contributions.
as Bergman said HIS works must
have solid foundations.
And now the Saxon police are ex-
amining into this gigantic and bare
faced fraud and Dresden citizens are
beginning TO ask whether their city
still deserves the name of Athens
on the Elbe."