The Washington herald., 1909-04-08

Escape. but Promoters of Seances
Are Landed In Police station Cells.
Spirits from somewhere were gambOling
In a darkened room in Fairmont street
last night when Washington detectives
naughty. naughty men-dared 10 enter
and arrest the mortals who brought the
ghosts 10 earth.
The average Washington detective is
not Gfraid # ghosts. Neither is he afraid
10 go where angels tread. provided the
angels are the make-believe kind so
far as the Washington detectives are con-
cerned, they do not believe that either
ghosts or angels. especially the latter.
ever come TO the National Capital. So
when they heard that real ghosts were
in the Fairmont street house, they de-
cided they would have a look and, IN
cldentally. add to the excitement OF the
.sesnce.
Had the Moral Right.
And the naughty thing was done-done
without compunction Of conscience-just
as If they had moral right 90 interfere
in such an affair as spirits coming 10
earth TO tell secrets and scare people
half 20 death
When the patrol gong had ceased its
clang. Pierre l. o. A Keeler had left the
spiritualistic atmosphere OF his richly fur
nished home. AT 1901 Fairmont street
northwest. and had landed in a cell az
the First precinct police station.
He was accompanied by Albert G. Hall
Of 1912 Calvert street northwest.zIhe trip
was made in the company Of the de-
teCtives. who charge the men with con-
spring 10 defraud-
As a result pandemonium reigns in the
spirit world One OF its leading expo
nents. Keeler. has been touched by the
hand of the law and spirits know nothing
OF law.
II they DO. il is safe 20 say they would
have prevented a detective awakening
keeler while he was meandering peace
fully IN the land Of visions The seance
was held En- a dimly lighted room of
mysterious proportions on the second
floor Of the house. Ii was about 10 o'clock
when spirits descended 10 the room,
wherein were Fathered some twenty or
more spectators. six detectives. Keeler.
Han. and an odd assortment Of bells.
wires. rope. curtains. knockers sheets.
horns. banjos. and pads OF paper and PEN
ellis
The Voice OF KeeIer
Guided by the compelling voice OF
Keeler- the Inhabitants OF the universe
Of nothing rang the bells. pulled the
wires and ropes behind curtains. made
merry with the knockers. cavorted in the
sheets. thrummed the banjos. and wrote
mysterious messages on pads OF paper
Il was really interesting 10 watch the
antics Of the spectators. say the detec-
tives
While the shadows danced about the
room 10 the accompaniment OF weird
music and The visitors gazed in awe.
listening 10 the voice OF George Cristy.
the famous minstrel Detective Weldon
left his chair. and stealthily crept for
ward The room was in almost total
darkness. and the spirits were coming
and going thick and fast
Undismayed BY the SpirituaIistic hap
penings- Weldon approached a curtain
from which the strange messages We're
delivered Through a hole in the cur
tain appeared the hand OF a spirit. grasp
ing in its shadowy fingers the pencil with
which the messages were written.
Suddenly Weedon leaped forward Il
was magnificent spring that he made
He grasped the hand OF mystery in his
own and clung 10 IL for dear life A
hullsbaloo broke loose. Spirits went
through the ceiling - actually passed
through the very plaster-like mad, for
getting the sheets which covered their
specter-like bodies. Men and women
joined in the excited babble OF the spirits
amid the deafeninge changing OF bells. the
frantic tOOtingS Of horns the heavy
poundings Of knockers and a confusion
Of sounds from banjos.
In the midst Of the excitement was
heard the deep voice OF the detective
calling 70 his comrades.
I've got him. boys; I've got him.
Detectives left secluded corners even
as spirits came from closets a few min
utes before. Somebody forgot his man
uers, and turned on the light Weldon
and Keeler. the far-famed medium. rolled
from a mixture Of curtains. paper pads.
pencils, banjos, bells. horns. wires, ropes.
and chairs 10 the floor. while the spirits
screamed a shrtH protest.
An EventfuI Moment.
It was an awful moment-thal moment
when spiTituajism was confronted by
stern reality and ANONYMOUSLY defeated.
In a few seconds those in the room be
gan 20 gather themselves together. and
in a little while the police had a SEM
blance OF order. Everybody. even the
spirits. insisted on talking. though most
Of them were too busy disentangling
themselves from disordered paraphernalia
TO devote time TO conversation.
Keller and Hall were isolated from the
throng. and gently told they were under
arrest. Another crisis arose. but the de-
tectives quieted things down by threat
ening 10 make more arrests.
With Keller and Hall in the vanguard,
the procession from the house 10 the sta
ton began. Detectives Weldon. BUrlin-
game. O-Brien. Springman. Hewlett. and
Pratt bringing I'D the rear. bearing muSi-
Cai instruments OF every description and
closely resembling a band Of travelling
minstrels Capt Elliott. Of the Tenth
precinct. in citizens clothes. formed the
rear guard. and tried his best to conceal
smiles which covered his face at inter
walls.
Didn't See the HumOr.
Only KeeIer and Hall failed to see the
humorous side Of the journey. and they