New-York tribune., 1921-06-26
Ragtitnne spook
Sings Seer Out
Of $1,000 Test
Too Busy to Accept
Offer TO Prove Power
When Ghost Lifts LOAD
Up Wagon and All Ride"
Rim Tries to Get Proof
Willing To Pay from SIS, 600
to $4,000 for Sight or
Sound of Real Spirits

Joseph F. Rim, who has been offer
ing from $4,000 to $4,000 for a verified
spook at intervals for several years,
dropped in last night on the spiritual
ist convention at the Waldorf Astoria
Hotel with check for $1,000, which he
offered to give to John Slater, intro
duced as "thc. worlds greatest
medium" for proof that Mr.. Slater
was not faker.
The challenge, which came right on
the heels of an offer of $4,000 by Mr..
Slater to any non-sectarian charity if
any one could prove that he was a
faker, caused tremendous uproar.
Men and women sprang from their
seats and crowded toward where Mr..
Rim stood. yelling, "Put him out!
Put him out!"
Test Offered BY Rim
1t was ten minutes before the uproar
could be quieted. Mr. Rim brought
down more criticism on his head by ex
planning his offer. If Mr.. Slater
would read sealed message then and
there or read a book with his back to
it, or in any other way satisfy un-
prejudiced observers that he had super
natural powers, said Mr.. Rim, the
check for $1,000 was his.
This statement was regarded rs a
deep insult by most of those present.
They advised Mr.. Rim to hire hall
With his $1,000. A woman who said
she was an amateur medium" told him
that such an offer was beneath the dig
nifty of Mr.. Slater, but that she would
take it up herself and fulfill the condi-
tions in an amateur way.
Mr.. Slater, who had been silent dur
ing the confusion, announced when it
had died down that he would accept
the challenge. "But not here" he said.
tended to furnish his proofs. He was
too busy. Spirits were buzzing all
around him demanding an opportunity
to entertain the audience.
One of them, the husband of a wom-
an who was present, was introduced
by Mr.. Slater and obliged with an
original song about load Up the
Wagon and Well All Take Ride" 1t
was pretty good song and gave the
impression that good time was had
by all in spirit land.
Spirits Oppose Prohibition
This impression was strengthened by
another spirit, who told Mr.. Slater
and wouldn't return to the u. S. A.
under any consideration so long as
prohibition prevailed. A good many of
the spirits who were lounging around
waiting to put in word got OFF some
better remarks about Mr.. Rim at their
first opportunity.
There is a strong sentiment against
Mr.. Rim in the spirit world and if it's
denizens have the opportunity there
is no doubt whatever that they will
blackball Mr.. Rim Unanimously when
he comes upsfor admission, thus deny
ing him the only really satisfactory
proof obtainable.
During the clamor that greeted his
offer to give Mr.. Slater 81 .OOo to prove
that he wasn't a faker, Mr.. Slater's
secretary made his. way to Mr.. Rim
and talked of putting him out. He
even called two hotel detectives, but
the detectives didn't put Mr.. Rim out
and neither did the mediums secre-
tary. Mr.. Rim went out under his
own steam after Mr.. Slater had said
he would accept his challenge-"but
not here"
He only waited long enough to point
out that Mr.. Slater's secretary had
dumped lot of sealed envelopes on
top of those placed on the table with
questions in them for the medium to
answer, so that it was quite probable
that Mr.. Slater would not reach the
questions writtey by newspaper re-
porters. Mr.. Rims guess was a good
one: The reporters questions were
sunk without a trace.
Several persons had asked Mr.. Slater
Tor private readings in his room, but
the management of che hotel forbade
IT, fearing that such proceeding
would be in violation of the city
ordinance against fortune tallinn