Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-26
EXPOSES TRICKS
OF SPIRiTUALISM
EXPERT RAPS OUT MESSAGES
IN COURT
TRUMPET UTTERANCES GIVEN
THROUGH RUBBER TUBE
Slate Writing by the Departed Pro-
duced to Order During the Trial
of viii Case Before Judge
Rives

Judge, attorneys and spectators were
treated to a remarkable demonstration
of the arts of mediums yesterday aft
ernoon in department two of the supe-
rior court, Judge Rlves presiding.
Bishop G. S, Garrison was given the
opportunity of making practical DEM
onstrations when under cross-examina-
ton by the attorneys for the defense of
his ability to qualify as an expert wit
ness on Spiritualism, he having testi-
fled that he had studied the occult arts
for fully twenty-six years and had aid
ed in exposing many self-conStituted
mediums. He gave an exhibition of
spirit rapping, slate writing and trum-
pet messages from the spirit world
that to say the least, was startling In
it's effect on believers in the occult.
With the permission of the court,
Bishop Garrison, attired in white vest,
impressive red tie and Prince Albert,
proceeded to show how the fake medi-
ums mystify their subjects and lead
them to believe that through their per-
sons messages from relatives in the
spirit world are being delivered. The
witness first gave a demonstration OF
spirit rapping, the simplest of the
means used by the mediums to reveal
the alleged presence of the unseen pow
ors of the spirit world. This he did by
a simple movement of the knuckles of
his hand spread flat on the judges
bench. Not a movement of the hand
could be seen by those few feet
away, but the steady tapping was
plainly audible.
Next the witness, with the aid of
confederate, introduced a cabinet, and
showed the method of producing trum-
pet messages from the spirit world by
means of rubber tube extended
through the floor, the confederate act
ing as the communicating spirit. The
demonstration concluded with slate
writing, wherein the witness exposed
to the gathering in the courtroom the
opportunity for fraud in this peculiarly
fascinating form of spiritualistic man
ifestations.
Producing a small single slate from
a satchel, Garrison handed it to
Charles Cassatt Davis, prominent at
torney who is interested in the case,
and told him he would send mes
sage from the spirits after the manner
of the fake mediums. The slate was
passed around and found to be clean.
Another and larger slate was then
brought out, carefully wiped and
passed around, and then both were
placed under Mr.. Davis foot, the
larger slate on top.
This would work better II the sit
ter was a believer" stated Garrison,
going into the matter at length for
several moments.
KINDLY look at the larger slate" ex-
claimed the witness, after pause, and
Attorney Davis found thereon family
legible inscription saying 1--WE are the
spirits of departed friends" accom-
panied with vague shadowy picture
outlines. How this was accomplished
the witness refused to state. declaring
it a secret, but he proved his ability
to duplicate the seemingly mysterious
feats of the fake mediums to the satis-
faction Of even the opposing attorneys.
The demonstrations occurred during
the attack by the heirs on the will of
the late Richard Crawford Smith, who
left considerable sum to three Spir-
itualists, who, the heirs affirm, exert
ed undue influence over the old man.
It occupied the entire day in Judge
Rives' court, and besides Garrison the
principal witness was Prof. Harrison
d. Barrett of Portland, who stated that
he had been interested in Spiritualism
for twenty-nine years and for four
teen years had been president of the
National Spiritualists' association of
the United States and Canada.
Barrett, under cross questioning, told
of his beliefs regarding the principles
of the sect and, examining numerous
photographs, in which a figure was
shown surrounded by spirit personages,
declared them "doctored," spurious and
composite. One of these photographs
was identified by one of the heirs, who
was placed on the stand, as having
been found in Father Smiths trunk,
thus tending to show the influence fake
Spiritualist mediums had over him..
Barrett explained in detail some of the
secret workings of the fake mediums.
The case was continued to next
Tuesday morning.