Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14
MATCH IS LIGHTED,
SPIRITS FLEE AND
MEDIUM IS HELD
Policeman Flashes Bit of
Blaze and Breaks Up
Meeting.
CHARGES ALSO PLACED
AGAINST HOUSE OWNER
Case Against Pair Is Postponed in
Police Court Until
February 90.

The flash of lighted match in the
hand of policeman broke up spirit
ual meeting at 210 E street northeast
last night and sent the frightened
spirits" scurrying away into the dark
ness as the man who had summoned
them back to earth was placed under
arrest.
The meeting had been in progress for
more than an hour, when Policeman
L. G. Wise struck the match-at the
very moment when one Of the deep
voiced spirits" was delivering mes
sage to woman from her father, who
died several years ago.
The untoward action of the officer
threw the meeting into the utmost con-
fusion, and 1t was only after some diff
fficulty that Wise and Policewoman
Caroline Alexander succeeded in calm
ing the 10 woman guests who were
concerned for the safety of the medium.
The latter, John Joseph Carroll, was
greatly affected by the interruption of
his trance, gasping for breath and
evincing every indication of being in
serious physical distress, according to
witnesses. AS the lighted match sud-
denly Illuminated the darkness of the
Spirit-filled room, one woman screamed,
That's terrible thing to do. 1t might
kill the professor while he's in his
trance"
At the ninth precinct police station
Carroll deposited $50 collateral on the
charge of being an unlicensed medium.
A similar charge was made out against
Mrs. Lily Grant, so years old, owner
of the house in which the meeting was
being held. Their case was postponed
until February 20 when the two were
brought into Police Court this morning.
Word had been passed around that
the meeting was to be held, and that
Carroll had come all the way from
Buffalo, N. Y, to conduct it. He was
described as one of only two genuine
trumpet blowers" in the United States.
BY O'Clock 10 women, including Miss
Alexander, and Policeman Wise had
'.SSembled in the waiting room.
Beliefs Are Sounded.
After a rigorous examination to make
1ure all visitors believed" and were
not there in the role of Skeptics, the
quests were instructed to fill out cards
with the names of two members of the
spirit world, question and their own
full name. These were placed face down
in bowl, which was taken in to the
medium.
In the presence of Carroll the 20
quests were instructed to sit around in
circle, keeping contact with their
hands. If the contac: was not kept.
they were told. the trance would be
broken and the spirits leave.
Finally all was ready. and the lights
extinguished. The room was absolutely
dark, mirrors being covered with dark
cloth and the windows with heavy oil
cloth to prevent any stray ray of light
from entering.
AS the tense guests sat waiting, soft
strains of musice welled into the room.
The music appeared to come from a
phonograph which fioated through the
air above their heads.
The medium, who was sitting in the
middle OF the circle, holding the hands
of a woman guest, announced that he
was ready to summon the spirits. The
Lords Prayer was repeated and sew
eral folk songs were sung by the guests
This was described as being necessary
20 secure the proper frame of mind.
Finally the spirits" arrived, but all
that could be seen were the trumpets
painted with some luminous substance
The trumpets drifted slowly back and
forth across the room, occasionally
brushing across the face of a guest. or
touching one OF them on the hand.
Little Pansy," described as the spirit
OF an Indian girl who died five wears
ago, also was present. She went among
the guests, consoling this one and en-
couraging another.
Spirits Began to Talk.
At last the spirits began to talk. One
thrust his trumpet close to Miss Alex
ander's face and, much to her surprise.
said: The squaw with the big glasses
IS newspaper women" The trumpet
then floated over to Policeman wise
and identified him as the big Chief"
AT CAROLS command, the spirits had
answered three of four of the questions
asked on the cards, their replies being
punctuated by the music which still
came from the instrument moving
through the air.
Finally the woman who had inquired
Tor her father was reached, and the
spirit, speaking in a deep and solemn
voice, had just commenced to deliver
his answer when Wise struck the
match.
When the lights were turned on it
was found that the cards bearing the
questions which had been answered
had been removed from the others and
were lying on the side of the table.
The manner in which they were sepa-
rated IN the intense darkness remains
mystery to police
Neither could the latter account for
the manner in which the trumpets
moved across the room, a subsequent
examination revealing no way in which
they might have been attached to
something else or moved.
According to police, Carroll. who is
40 years old, protested his arrest, as
sorting that he was acting in good
faith and in accordance with his re-
ligious beliefs. The admission fee was
81 per person.