The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-24
Richardson Secret Sect Was
Promoted by Mediums.
Girls We're Told They Were
Sensitive" Subjects.
DOCTORS WIFE IS FOUND
Police Say Mystery Is Much
Nearer Solution.
How Old Physicians Were
SwindIed by Fakirs.

Hutchinson. Kan, Feb. 24.-The Of
fcers believe they are nearer the solu-
/ ton of the Nelson murder mystery
than they have been since the dying
girl was found in her bed at the resi-
dence of the late DR.. E.. z. Richard
son. The arrival of a grandson of the
physician has brought the officials the
news that Richardson had living
wife from whom he had never been
divorced. r. w. Adams, the grandson,
brought the news of Richardson's wife
to this city. She lives at Rupert,
Idaho.
girl and protegee of DR.. Richardson s
partner, still scouts the murder theory
and declares. her sister was q suicide
She could tell the secrets of the Rich
ardson house If she would. But she
shows no disposition to assist in the
work of finding the slayer of Edna
Nelson.
Miss Fife Nelson, the dead girl,
the physician, Richardson, his partner,
DIR. Pitzer, and two unnamed mediums
constituted what was known as the
big Six in spiritualism. They were
led by the mediums to believe that
they were of the highest development
possible for any member of the cult
There was no power nor position to
which it was impossible for them to
rise if they pursued the line of de-
velopment planned for them by the
mediums.
Numerical s6v Their symbol.
Stories are being told today of how
DR.. E. E. Richardson was duped by
spiritualists. He did not tell of his
loss until several weeks after the
money was gone, then put the matter
into the hands of q Denver detective
agency. He lost the suit, cross ex-
animation tearing down his testimony
and the jury were at loss who to be-
lieVe.
That the dead man believed in 2
strange mixture of spiritualis1n and
eastern mysticism is no longer doubt
ed. This faith was shared by five
symbol of the cult was the numeral
&C. Buttons with this figure were
worn by the group who called them
selves THE Big Six" The Big Six
the innermost circle. Their seances
could not be attended by the ordinary
spiritualists. So the seXtette met by
themselves for they were reputed to be
so far advanced into the mysteries of
the unknown that what took place at
their meetings would be far beyond
those who had taken only the first steps
in seeing behind the veil.
They Were .'Worth Developing
This idea was kept before the Rich
ardsons by two mediums who had
stirred I'D a sort of a SpiritualiStic re-
vival. Suppers were hurried over and
dishes were left unWaShed while this
seekers after the truth-and the curl
GUS oneS-prepared to attend dark room
sessions. In these preliminary sessions
the Richardson's were the most inter
ested. It appeared to the two medium
evangelists that the wealthy man and
his daughters We're ''sensitives' worth
cultivating and developing. They We're.
A great honor was in store for them.
For many years 1t has been the dream
of spiritualists to build a great tenn
pie in Kansas. In many places, includ
ing Topeka, organizations have been
formed for the purpose but without re-
suits In Hutchinson it appeared that
the time was at hand for the rearing of
a mighty edifce in the name OF spiritu
alism. The two mediums, it is said. i'm
pressed the Richardson's that they were
especially set part for this good work
And accordingly a large sum was APP
propriated from their bank account for
this purpose. This was testified to by
the bank people in the trial that fol-
lowed.
The Symbol of the Temple
one evening the lights were turned
ont in the room of the Richardson
house. Previous to this the money was
the spirits who were said to be pres
ent that the sum was devoted to the
building of the temple. The spirits
were also requested to show an evil
dence of their good faith. In the dark
ness they were to take the money and
leave in it's place a stone which wa,
to be symbolic of the temple
In pitch blackness the big Six sat
for a while. Then the lights were turn
ed on. on the table in place of the
money was a large stone. The coin was
zone.
But no work on the temple began