South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-20
SIR CONAN DOYLE
TALKS WITH SPIRIT
AT INITIAL SEANCE
Bell Rings, Piano Plays for De-
ceased Medium at First
Ghost Party in L. S.
By FDWARD VI. THIERRY


Copyright, 1922. ny NEA Service, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. Republication
Prohibited Anywhere I'm the World by
NEA Service, Inc)
NEW YORK, April 19.-Sir Ar
thur Conan Doyle has attended his
first ghost party I'm America.
Ghostly voices and spirit noises
were hesrd-and he talked with the
shade OF Madame Eusapia Palladino,
world-famous medium. dead three
years.
The exclusive story is given here
Of Sir Arthurs first contact with
spirits since his arrival in America.
The seance. which Sir Arthur de-
scr.bed as highly successful took
place at the American Psychical In
stitute and Laboratory i'm this city.
The dead Palladino apparently
talked through the lips Of Nino Be-
coraro a young italian medium.
Spectators included Sir Arthur and
Lady Doyle and a party of members
os the institute headed by Dr. Here
ward Carrington, research officer and
secretary of the institute, who ar
rareed the seance for Sir Arthur.
WEANt ltADOllEf lltluulnk LiAG 10Y
medium. sat around the table in the
ghcstly glow Of a single dim red
light. OF four candlepower. To WOO
the spirit OF the famous lead
medium the same table was used
that Madame Palladino had used
when she visited America Il IS all
metal. weighing only Il pounds.
Instruments Placed on Table.
The table was placed directly IN
trent of a black curtain covering an
alcCve, the three natural walls OF
which had been lined in black. COW
ering three doors that were securely
locked
Within the cabinet was a small
table on which had. been placed a
bell. tambourine and a toy piano.
Outside. at the head of the large
table, the boy medium sat with his
back against the curtain. All u
persons put their hands on the table.
their fingers touching They sang
hymns. Onward. Christian Soldiers
and Nearer My God TO Thee" and
a phonograph internationally played
Ave Maria"
The table moved II titled back
AMI forth for several minutes.
The medium was slowly sinking
into trance His face was very
pale and his breathing very deep.
Sic Arthur found his pulse slow and
regular.
A coil of picture wire was pro-
dUced and DR.. Darlington and the
mediums instructor. who also acted
as Interpreter, bound the mediums
legc 10 his chair and tied his hands
at the wrists. Then he was moved
into the cabinet behind the curtain.
Sir Arthur and Lady Doyle sat a.
the lower end Of the table. theii
hards still on it. Joining the others
Weird Sonnets From Cabinet.
Uncanny sounds issued from the
darkness of the cabinet-a low
moaning. punctuated sharply by vio-
lent snorts. Then came a creepy
sound like the rustling OF cloth OF
silken draperies.
Faint whispers in Italian were
heard
Aida Aida murmured the me-
dunn. pronouncing the name OF
dead relative.
Suddenly the curtain was blown
outward as II by a strong gust OF
air. And the table moved violently
under the hands OF the spectators.
Il feel cold air on my hands" said
Sir Arthur
Lady Doyle said she too felt the
cool breeze. which DR.. Darlington
laler described as a ghostly herald
characteristic OF a seance.
Now came a curious rafting as o.
5ansling handouts. Then a scratch
ing sound, like a spirit finger family
moving against the curtain.
EXplosively came a terrific shrek
one Italian word. indistinguishable
even 20 the interpreter. The me
diums sister-in-law. who sat next &c
Lady Doyle. covered in her chair. In
the dimly lighted room the faces o.
tho people there were mere Whit
blcbs In the dark
Tambourine l. Hurled.
Silence for a moment. Then the
tam BOURNE played and suddenly 81 |
was thrown out or the slit in the
curtain and clattered on the outer