A Spiritualist Exposed.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Spiritualist Exposed.

One of the most prominent materialising itaeditrnis"in" Boston for a long-time has been Mrs Herman B. Pay, who has given public dances regularly in that city. On the afternoon of November 19th the '■ Record " sent a party of ten young men and two yoflng w'bmen to one of her seances to test thel genuineness of her spiritualistic: manifestations. The visitors found. 1$ others .present, most of them "men. Daylight was 'shut put of the room" where the stance was given by" heayy draperies. In one corner was the "cabinet, "and opposite it were about 30 chairs 'for visitors, arranged in a semicircle. Apale, dreamy-looking woman flayed on a cabinet organ. Mrs Fay is of medium height, and is a 'strong, atnleticappiearjng woman. After announcing her rules and collecting a dollar a head from; each person present, the seance was begun. A'figure in white emerged from the cabinet at' three different times arid beckoned to ■ persons in the room to come into the cabinet, where'they were greeted by alleged spirits d£ dead" relatives or friends. The figure appeared a fourth time, and, evidently being convinced that it had a sympathetic /audience, ventured far down the room. It appeared as a .gipsy . girl with long hair flowing down her back. Advancing boldly, it paused in front of ,the investigators, and confidingly stretched ; forth both hands. Like a flash the man clinched, them in a strong grasp, and ejaculated "Now." Instantly a man ignited a bunch of matches, and the chandelier was a blaze of light. Other, ready hands stripped away the curtains,* and the sun's rays flooded the room. In the centre of the room, directly, under the blaze of the chandelier, 'struggling, fighting, biting, and scratching like a tigress in the grip of four strong men," who bad all they could do to hold .her, was Herman Fay. 'She had said that the form wnuld not be hers, but sho got there . just the same. Her Cowing hair,. a switch, about 2ft long, had been tk>rn ; from -her head in the melee, as was also her '^spirit robe," a piece of cheap cotton .gauze about four yards long and two and. a half yards wide. Captain Dixon,. • the .-master of ceremonies, who attempted to rescue Mrs Fay, was grabbed around the. neck- by another athletic young man. He struggled vigorously, and shouted, "D—— you, let me go," but ho was held in a firm clasp. A pair of shoes found in the cabinet were composed of three ■pieces of cork, nailed together, one on top of'the other, and having a strap to fasten .them.to.Mrs Fay's feet. When she repre- : sen ted . tall figures she put these on her ifee.t. Loud demands for their money were made by. the unbelievers, and Captain Dixon was compelled tp pay a dollar to all who demanded it. • The exposure was complete. ~,,.„,