Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-08
BOTH MEN ARE HELD
Hearing Of Keller and Hall
Postponed a Week.
CONSPIRACY is CHARGED
Spiritualistic Seance Raided by the
Police.
SIX DETECTIVES ARE PRESENT
Prosecution the Result of an Inves-
tigation Begun Last Month-Evi-
dence Gradually Acquired.

<aai0 Spun WOTlu drawn earlnWarQ In
an orientally scented parlor. with the
Just-the-proper light glow. and all silent
but for the almost inaudible murmurings
or most sociable ghost behind spangled
tapestry. to Police Court pen seems
hardly credible to the everyday mind Of
mere man. Such is a fact, however. and
the stern. ruthless and unbeieving de-
tectives Of Inspector Boardman are re-
| sponsible for it.
Pierre l.. Q. A. Keller, described by
the officers as the spooks' earthly in
innate. and Albert G. Hall, alleged to be
| mis- intimacy's booster in turning 1t to
financial gain, found themselves in Judge
| Mullowny's branch of the Police Court
ms morning charged with conspiracy to
defraud. They were arrested last night
at the scene of kee4er's ghost gatherings,
1901 FairmOnt street
Inc case filed aga INST them, according
to Assistant District Attorney Ralph
Given, Is an accumulation of a goodly
quantity Of evidence after a ten-day in
| vestigation by the plain clothes men. At
the request of counsel for the two de-
PENDANTS the hearing was postponed unit.
next Thursday morning. and, pending the
calling OF the case, both men are held
In II 900 bond for their appearance
Evidence Gradually Accumulated.
There have been several compla nts
against these PERSONS said Mr.. Given
this morning, but not until ten days
ago could I gather sufficient together to
take the matter up with the police de-
partment and proceed to have them
formally arrested and hailed before this
court. The investigation began by De-
tectlVes Burlingame and Weldon the lat
ter part of March, when they visited
Keller s place at my instigat. on and dis
covered what was going on. These visits
were repeated and the evidence gradually
accumulated until it was decided to RAID
the place last night.
Il expect to prove that the dollar which
they charged to admit one to these So
called seances was obtained in fraudu-
lent manner, through material witnesses
and undecipherable messages from ghosts
or spirits handed out to the officers. l
consider the case l have against them
good one, and in the event of a convic-
ton it will be salutary warning to
|otherS who are practicing the same game
here in Washington
The detectives who participated in the
raid last night, Detectives Burlingame
Weldon and Springmann Of the central Of
fee, with all their witnesses, were on
hand this morning, expecting the case to
go to trial. Chief among the government
exhibits were two pieces of paper written
in an undecipherable hand. which Bur
lingame alleges were tossed to him over
the ''spook curtain" after paying his adj
mission fee of 81.
The notes are written with a lead penci;
and on paper torn from a cheap writing
pad. In one of them not a word of poss
bly, a dozen or more can be recognized
and in the second but two out Of fifteen
or sixteen. They are: you shall lii"
Both notes are apparently written by the
same hand. and the signatures. which cam
not be recognized, either, are also the
same.
In addition to these two exhibits, which
by the authorities, six or seven witnesses
have been summoned to testify for the
prosecution. The exact nature of their
testimony. however. was not revealed to-
day.
Hard to Get Evidence.
In speaking of the arrest Of the two
men, one of the detectives said: TITS
pretty hard to get SUFFICIENT evidence
against people of this sort as those who
have been stuck are ashamed to come to
the front and peach. This investigation
was started upon the strength of an
anonymous letter making a complaint
against keeler, about two weeks ago. 1t
was apparently written by a woman and
denounced him as fake"
The two prisoners were taken to the
court in the prison van. and will in all
day. as up to a late hour this morning
neither seemed able to furnish the neces-
sary security to obtain his freedom.
do you care to make a statement rela-
tive to your seances or the raid Of last
night?" Keller and Hall were asked as
they sat on the court pen bench.
mo, no." they replied together mo.
no; we've employed an attorney. He will
do the talking"
Detectives Attend Seance.
Detectives Weldon, Pratt, Burlingame.
Hewlett. O'Brien and Springmann repre-
scented the central Office at the seance
last night, while Capt. H. B. Elliott Of
the tenth precinct. the precinct in which
the Keller house is located. was there to
see how the affair was conducted. Two
of the detectives had attended the seance
there week ago and were familiar with
the surroundings. They had enjoyed the
evenings entertainment, and were willing
to spend another evening in the spirit
world. Detectives Pratt and Hewlett re-
manned outside the room until the trou-
BILE started. and then they went in to as
sist the others.
One by one the six detectives called at
the Fairnfont street house and were ad-
Of others called to attend the seance,
and shortly before 8 o'clock they filed to
an upper rear room, where. it was an
nounced. the spiritual1stic seance would
ed, the detectives say. a red effect being
given by a colored glass in 'antern.
When the assembled guests were seated
and semi-circle was formed in front of
the cabinet a collection of so cents each
was taken up, it beinS stated that an ex-
ira collection would be taken from those
who received spirit messages. The use Of
rugs and drapery in the room gave the
place an oriental effect but the detect
ives declare. there was nothing ghostlike
about the room nor was there anythin.
celebrated to give them such sensation
as is expected t. be experienced by a
visit from the other world.
Awaiting Christy's Spirit.
The patrons of the spiritua istic medi-
um were told by Mr.. Keller that the
spirit of George Christy, the minstrel
usually materialized, and it was the
custom for the spirit to appear with
musical accompaniment. 1t is alleged by
he detectives that the music which &C
companies the spirit is furnished by in
struments they found in the room after
hey had made the raid.
Intense interest in what was going on
was displayed by those in attendance. de-
tectives taking more than ordinary inter-
est In the affair, because it was their de-
sire to tax, charg, Of the alleged spirit.
I'VE will have no trouble taking the
spirit" whispered one s.euth to another
after Keller had announc that tn body
blood in which 1t left this world.
IF that is true" the detective added.
I'VE will have George before the night is
over"
1t is stated by the detectives that the
spirit voice, speaking through the medium.