Evening star., 1926-05-22

hearing, when she stated that she had
been despoiled Of 100000 through a
Washington medium. Mrs. ]. c. War
necke. He asked that DR.. Julius b.
Hubbell, whom she accused of get
ting the money. should be called In
refutation.
DR.. Hubbell testified in reply to a
series OF questions that he had had
$50 900, that 1t was taken from him
by that woman posing as medium,
pointing dramatically at Mrs. Nc
Dowell but that on the advice OF
real medium. Mrs. Warnecke. he con-
suited an attorney and got his money
back through the courts.
When Houdini cried out that mil
lions Of dollars are taken annually
from gullibles,' DR.. Strack said
| That's not confined to mediums"
This sally was vigorously applauded.
Says Law Got Back Money.
Mrs. J. M. warnecke. 3427 Thir-
teenth street. told the committee she
| has been a medium for more than 30
years She said that when DR.. Hub
bell came to her for advice she told
him to Consult an honest lawyer,
which he did and got his money back
through due process or law. She
did not charge him anything and he
never paid her a cent for this service
W. III. Sears, an attorney, testified
he was the principal witness in this
| famous case and drew the deed for
DIR. Hubbell to Mrs. Mcdowell, who,
acting as medium, pretended to
carry a message from Clara Barton
that DR.. Hubbell should contribute
his fortune for the building of great
| Clara Barton Red Cross memorial in
| Rockville. In reply to question
from Representative Rathbone. Mr.
Sears said that Mrs. Mcdowell never
lost anything through what was right
| fully hers through this case.
| Representative Blanton by ques-
| tions showed that in another case
about the same time, Stepnen ~
Barton. a nephew of Clara Barton,
was represented by Frederick A.
Fenning.
Rev. Mr. Stack put into the record
| a statement showing that Houdint
had claimed before the Senate hear
| ing that ne had a spirituaiisttc
| church in Worcester, Mass, but that
since then the Massachusetts courts
have rendered a decision that he OBJ
| tained 1t through fraud and he, has
been dispossessed.
Layman Fights Bill.
f. c. Palmer 5Sos Fourteenth
street, who described himself as "a
despised Government clerk" in the
Pension Bureau, and 80 years IN
service. objected to the bill as TAX
payer and layman, and he put into
the record list of noted persons
who have been converted to spirit
ism. He was asked by Representa-.
tive Rathbone to supply him with a
| LIST of standard works in spiritualism
! which he may study.
Miss C. Larimore Kelley, an at
torney. appeared for the palmists.
She discussed the bill and it's ef-
fects and said that the police authori-
ties should be called in to testify.
Mr.. Reid promised that the major
and superintendent of police would
be consulted. Mr.. Rathbone con-
tended that the bill does not Inter
fere with palmistry. and Miss Kelley
thought palmistry would be con-
strued under fortune telling.
Nine. Grace Marcia, 1446 u street
northwest. who claims to have pre-
dicted the election and death of Presi-
dent Harding, testified she has been an
astrologer for "a years, and has been
practicing in Washington for 20 years.
| In reply to questions by Representa-.
tive Hammer, she said her husband
| was a cousin of the famous French
philosopher Flammarion, frequently
mentioned and quoted during these
hearings, and that she herself Is a
great eat-granddaughter of Lord Besw1ck.
| In a formal statement she said the bill
| is aimed at fakes" She said that
she feels that as q scientist she can
defend herself against unjust accusa-
| ton.
Guards Against Framing.
She told the committee that her
horoscope tells her that she must al
! ways be on her guard against being
| framed - In reply to questions by
Mr.. Rathbone. Nine. Marcia said she
| tells the possibilities" in the lives of
| her clients. When Houdini called at
tention that she was /early life as
sociated with Mrs. Pepper. and told
the committee that Mrs. Pepper WAS
one of the worst frauds In the bust
| ness, she countered by telling Hou-
dini, You work with crooks every
day."
Nine. Marcia spoke vigorously In de-
fense of President Harding and Mrs.
Harding, in reply to statements by
Houdini that such practitioners prey
upon the weak-minded. She said Mrs.
Harding was known all over the world
as a very clever woman, and that none
could defamo MRS. harOlnS IN her
presence.
Rev. Rose Meckenberg. described as
an investigator" for Houdini, testi-
| fed that she had been ordained six
times as a spiritualistic medium. owns
two churches in Worcester. Mass,
and Hartford, Conn.,, and has made
more than 900 Investigations.
In reply to questions by Represent
ative Gilbert, Miss Meckenberg said
she paid IS for one ordination and got
| a. church thrown in, and in another
case paid SIS for a church. Miss
Meckenberg testified that a number Of
so-called spiritualistic practitioners
| had made improper proposals to her
| in "the dark room," by direction OF
the spirits"
| Houdini's Niece Heard.
| Houdini next presented as a witness
his niece, Julia Sawyer, % years old,
| ,x,ho he enid had trjcked coroo ~ the