The sun., 1918-11-28
SPIRIT OF FATHER
ADIVORCE WITNESS
Albert Houghton Pratt Ex-
plains Tributes to Nine.
Parma, the Correspondent.
SEEREss PAID THE BILLS
Editor Predicted Destruction
Of New York From Beyond
Grave, Son Asserts.

rxolainIng a Esprit message" said
- bave been received by Nine p. NIL
s-sd Parma and himself from his de-
,,ssed father. Albert Houghton Pratt,
formerly an editor Of the Houghton
nf,in Company publishing house.
I'm is being sued for divorce by
y,,ber.ne Sloan Pratt, told Justice
n.vs Yesterday the late DR.. Pratt
.,.sn. that the force OF the concen-
.-s,Ad thoughts Of greed and selfish
,s.s and lust and materialism that are
,s,ng sent up from New York and
prooklyn will bring their day Of reck-
oniug as sure as II did to Babylon and
S,neyeh." Nine. Parma Is named a.
correspondent
Another message alleged to have
been sent by DR.. Pratt owenty-rour
hours after his death read:
"Tell mother I wish TO be cremated-
During the many hours I was uncon-
scious / learned that the soul never
6,es and that It Is necessary to free 1t
sso,,ickly as possible from all chains
~ ,he flesh. She must realize that II
"a nv wish. I will look TO you TO have
y done. Tell her that live more fully
than ever before.
was your fathers body crematedT'
asked Justice Davis.
~No," replied Pratt
Asked II thought he were following
.he teachings OF the Sermon on the
Mount when he left his wife and child
without anything, and gave his money
and $500 Of his wife's to Nine. Parma
The witness said he thought he had "a
higher duty TO perform"
Spirit Had Eye to Business.
Mr.. Pratt was sure he had told hi
s1fe something" of his automobil
trips 10 Philadelphia, Boston and other
cities with Nine. Parma He did not
think Il necessary to inform Mrs
Pratt that he spent his nights with the
seeress She also knew Of the core
spondents removal to The Little
White House" in Atlantic Highlands.
His invisible teacher" had revealed ID
him and to his wife that the steps he
look were all right
Interpreting an alleged message
from his father advising the plaintiff
TO milk with gentleness the source OF
.er life," Mr.. Pratt said: "Oh. that
Imply indicates that one in passing
o the world beyond does not leave his
>anse Of humor behind. It Is a meta
rhorical way OF abiding to her father.
Questioned about his business trans
lctions for Nine. Parma, the defend
ant said that the seeress held a chattel
mortgage on the Princess Lwo6 Par
!aghys art objects. including a Per-
sian throne rug, and that he attempted
20 sell them to Mrs. Jack" Gardner
and other Boston notables. For this
purpose he went to the Hub city with
letters OF introduction. He admitted
hat he and the seeress occupied ad-
dining rooms in q hotel there.
Says seeress Paid the Bills.
Counsel for the defence argued that
Il the witnesses against his clients
lad had trouble with Nine. Parma and
hat their testimony in any event was
aot damaging. The enterprises OF Mr..
Pratt and Nine. Parma may have
cen foolish. fantastical and CONNER
Tally unethical." but their relations
e insisted. were innocent.
Mrs. Pratt's attorney pointed out
nat checks for Pratt's shoes and club
ILLS were in the correspondents hand
writing and that the so-called spirit
message was filed with graceful
.rioutes 70 Nine. Parma and urged
Trait to abandon, everything and de-
ro:e his life to the occult investlga-
Ion which she was making.
1T was battle between a wife try
ng to hold her husband and thi,
prophecies seeking to control him en-.
rely said the lawyer.
Justice Davis gave the lawyers until
December Is TO file briefs on the dis
puted points OF law.