Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-25

klnd TO the sptrltuallStS. Ihey nave pup
lshcd columns of matter about Conan Doyle
and Sir Oliver Lodge and what they've seen
and heard It's perfectly ridiculous. Why
don't YOU tell something about the fakes?
The crooked mediums and exposures that
have been made of them
There haven't been any exposures to
amount to anything in recent years |
them up
Then tell about the exposures of other
years. he replied acidly.
once, years ago. somewhere about 1885,
" I had the experience in Pittsburgh Of
exposing an impostOr of the sort DIR. Watts
referred TO.
lie was tall. ascetic. angular, smooth
shavon fellow of about twenty eight or
thirty.
He had been conducting seance at fifty
cents per In room in the old Commercial
High School building ut the corner Of
Seventh avenue and Wood street.
His speciality was naturalization by the
coat trick in the glare Of gas jet. He per-
formed without cabinet, seated in full
view. which was as unusual then US it would
be now
I sent Lcmucl Acklcy. n reporter. who
went to Chicago later. bt*ame a prominent
lawyer and was assaSsinated in open court
by an insane client few months ago, to
investigate.
Acklcy reported the thing was a trick and
ought to be exposed.
Tho rrncinal demonstration of the pre-
tender took place aS he sat without coat or
vest between two other persons. a coat was
huttoncd around his neck with the back of
the coat covering his front and the sleeves
hanging loose.
One of tho sleeves filled ont mystcriously
and Il hand protrudcd. which bockoncd. and
pointed. and performed other litl" stunts.
Meantime the mediums hands and arms
mero WV rirI"iTn pE IN" committeeman seated
vi ',n'T sue Oh MN. A.,
rrS"IEeu on Hh expose ana TOOK up the
mater mater Tith Roger o. Mara. then Chief of
ioit,; asked mn! 10 sehd a good detective.
" AIr" WIS so ''kl'd NJ the ldea mat IN.
S''"0 ol schulhs nctcctlVc he went hlmselt.
TJNliE Scancc was held in the presence of
i about two dozen persons. among whom
wore tyn rcnortrrs from rho Disnntrh
After IA littlc address on the subject of
NATURALIZATION the fake medium called for
n cOmmittCc Instantly n younp man in
tbc frnnt row wont forwori Ono of nv
reporters also pushed to the front on the
other side.
The appearance of the reporter.
stranger disconrerted the nountcbonk for
n brief second. Then he called for a sack
coat.
Instantly, for the machinery had all been
prepared in advance. tho other enortcr.
standing in the rear Of the audience, slippcd
off his coat. In the hurry he dropnod il on
the tooS
He i,nmrdiatcly picked m not tho conf
he Lad dronnoJ' bnt nv nnotbrr brr tHot 'Ir he baJ
smucgcd in and which was living at his feet
behind the si,tcrs.
coII'asTr' the reporter on the committee,
a LAli"E coat had oecn pufposely Sc
"A lrctcd so that the impostor would have
annie room in which TO operate.
The chCatcr removed his coat and vest,
took his place on Il chair between the two
committeeman and held his arms at his sides.
where they were firmly graSpcd by the pair.
All III" gas jets in the roOm but one were
then cXtngui>hcd. The medium asked that
it be turned very low while a hymn was
being sung.
The room was practically in darkness for
n moment. When the single gas jet was
turned on full flare again the medium had
not changed position and the sleeves Of the
coat still hung limp.
Suddenly the right sleeve was seen to
quivcr Slightly. Then it moved sideways
from the body five or six inches only to
drop Imply back again.
This WAS part of the fake. The alleged
spirits were trying to get up steam. The
moment Of darkness had been utilized to
n purposp
Ten minutes, presume. were consumed
,1eet N ny G "a ~" fcow e "n 10 a,sS nG
remain there.
Roger D'Mara had meantime entered the
room during tlc ucriud of darkness and
taken his place unno,Iccd in the circle.
TNNAlLA IL" arm remained stationary.
i Then the medium turning to each COM
mittecman asked in turn:
"Will you tell our friends whether or
not You are still graspimg my arms and
hands, and Mat it is impossible for me to
move move ncm"
Each replied IN the affirmative.
My reporter was on the loft side and l
knew he to.d the truth. ! had my own idea
about the other committeeman.
Then the mystery worker declared that
he fclt the influences at work and that there
would be n satisfying naturalization.
At this point he slipped cog in his pre-
diction.
In the rourSc Of a few minutes the tips Of
two fingers were seen projected beyond the
end Of the extended coat sleeve. They were