The Death-Blow to Spiritualism Part 14

"Mr. Fullerton states that he heard the raps.

"MR. SELLERS. I heard a sound then, but it seemed as if it was around there. (Indicating the wall immediately in the rear of the 'medium.')

"The tumblers are here moved further away from the wall, and the 'medium'

resumes her position upon them.

"MR. SELLERS. Will the 'Spirit' rap again? (No response.)

"The 'MEDIUM.' Were any of you gentlemen acquainted with Mr. Seybert in his lifetime?

"MR. FULLERTON. I saw him several times before his death. If he can give an intimation now of anything he said at that time, it will indicate that he remembers it.

"A very faint rap is heard.

"The 'MEDIUM.' There is a rap. It seems to be there again. (Indicating the spot to which attention was previously called by Mr. Sellers.)

"The 'medium' again importunes, first, 'Mr. Seybert,' and next the 'spirits,' to rap; and the importunities are repeated. Three raps are distinctly, but faintly heard.

"MR. SELLERS. I heard them. They sounded somewhat like the others, not exactly.

"The 'MEDIUM.' I heard one rap, but it is nothing for me to hear them; I want you gentlemen to hear them.

"MR. SELLERS. Probably we will hear them again.

"While Mr. Sellers and Mr. Furness are conversing, several raps are heard, though less distinct than the preceding ones.

"The 'MEDIUM.' There they are, as though right under the gla.s.s. (After a silence of forty seconds) Now I hear them again, very light--oh, very light.

"Mr. Furness, with the permission of the 'medium,' _places his hand upon one of her feet_.

"The 'MEDIUM.' There are raps now, strong--yes, I hear them.

"MR. FURNESS (to the 'medium'). This is the most wonderful thing of all, Mrs. Kane; _I distinctly feel them in your foot_. There is not a particle of motion in your foot, but there is an unusual pulsation.

"Mr. Sellers here made some inquiries of the 'medium,' concerning the shoes now worn by her. The replies, which were not direct, are here given.

"MR. SELLERS. Are those the shoes which you usually wear?

"The 'MEDIUM.' I wear all kinds of shoes.

"MR. SELLERS. Are the sounds produced in your room when you have no shoes on?

"The 'MEDIUM.' More or less. They are produced under all circ.u.mstances.

"Following the suggestion of the 'medium,' all present proceed through an intervening apartment to the library, where the 'medium' selects various positions--standing upon a lounge, then upon a cus.h.i.+oned chair, next upon a step-ladder, and finally upon the side of a book-case--but all with a like unsuccessful result, no response by 'rappings' being heard.

"In the midst of the experiments at the table Mrs. Kane exclaimed to Mr.

Sellers: Well, my hand does feel like writing. Will you give me a piece of paper? and, maybe they will give me some directions.

"MR. FULLERTON (to the 'medium'). How does your hand feel when affected in that way?

"The 'MEDIUM.' It is a peculiar feeling, like that from taking hold of electrical instruments. I do not know but that you might possibly feel it in my hand.

"The lady here extended her right hand upon the table toward Mr.

Fullerton. The latter placed his left hand upon the extended hand of the 'medium,' and subsequently remarked that the pulsation of her wrist was a little above the ordinary rate.

"The 'medium,' ostensibly under 'spirit' influence, with lead-pencil in hand, proceeded to write two communications from the 'spirit' of the late Henry Seybert. The first of these covered two pages of paper of the size of ordinary foolscap. The 'medium' wrote in large characters, with remarkable rapidity, and in a direction from the right to the left, or the reverse of ordinary handwriting. The writing, consequently, could be read only from the reverse side of the paper, and by being held up so as to permit the gaslight to s.h.i.+ne through it.

"The communications, as deciphered by Mr. Sellers, with the aid of Mr.

Fullerton and the 'medium,' were as follows:

"You must not expect that I can satisfy you beyond all doubt in so short a time as you have yet had. I want to give you all in my power, and will do so if you will give me a chance. You must commence right in the first place or you shall all be disappointed for a much longer time. _Princiipis Obsta Sereo Medicina Paratum._

"HENRY SEYBERT.

"Mend the fault in time or we will all be puzzled.

"HENRY SEYBERT."

The fault in the Latin of the above quotation attracted the attention of the Commission.

Mr. George S. Pepper, who had been well acquainted with Mr. Seybert in his lifetime, declared that he had never known any Latin at all!

The investigations of the "Seybert Commission" in other directions than that of the "rappings," were far more fascinating and productive of results. It would be impossible to give an adequate idea of them here. The Commission employed the most celebrated "mediums" within their reach, and paid them liberally to place them in communication with the "Spirit world." They saw (and they show in their report that they did see) the secret of every "wonderful" thing done by the "mediums," and found it in most instances exceedingly simple, and generally rather clumsily performed. Professional jugglers constantly outdo professional "mediums."

This, the latter cannot deny, and they seek--oh, monumental impudence!--to make people believe that jugglers are nothing more nor less than "mediums," and that "mediums" are never in any sense jugglers!

Thus the notorious Slade:

"MR. SELLERS. Do you know a man named Kellar, who is exhibiting in this city?

"DR. SLADE. I do not. I never knew him.

"MR. SELLERS. You may, however, be able to explain to me a very remarkable slate writing experiment which Kellar has performed. (Mr. Sellers here describes at length Mr. Kellar's trick with the fastened slates.) How did Mr. Kellar do that?

"DR. SLADE. He is a 'medium.' _He does that work precisely as I do it._

"MR. SELLERS. But can he not do it by trickery?

"DR. SLADE. No, it is impossible. He is a 'medium' and a powerful 'medium.'"

This is from a memorandum of Mr. Sellers. He says further:

"The inquiry was then addressed to Mr. Slade: Do you know a man named Guernilla, who, with his wife, gave seances?

"MR. SLADE. Yes, I know him very well.

"MR. SELLERS. Well, how does he perform his wonderful exploits in 'rappings,' etc.?