MEDIUM V. CONJURER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 6

MEDIUM V. CONJURER.

A CHALLENCE.ACCEPTED. . THE APPORTS AND HOW THEY ARE OBTAINED. Some interesting developments may be expected in conneotion with the visit of Mr. Charles Bailey, the Melbourne Spiritualist, as a challenge issued by Mr. T. W. Driver, a conjurer, regarding the phenomena of Spiritualism has been accepted by Mr. William M'Lean, who is a prominent figure in Wellington Spiritualist circles. The challenge is as follows:— £100 CHALLENGE TO MEDIUMS. "I claim, unequivocally and without reservation, . that the so-called phenomena of Spiritualism are produced entirely by human agency and denounce mediums, one. and all, as tricksters. The above sum will be wagered that I can fully, completely, and satisfactorily perform any manifestation of socalled spirit power which I am permitted to witness' three times.. I challenge Mr.' William M'Lean to allow mo to tost Charles Bailey under rigid test conditions. A few days ago Mr. M'Lean told me Bailey was 'no conjurer.' Let me prove to Wellington and himself that a conjurer knows move than he does about a spirit medium. Wo have had . quite enough theory from the Spiritualists;, let us now have something practical. "THOS. W, DRIVER, "Professional Conjurer." THE TERMS OF ACCEPTANCE. In reforenoe to the above Mr. M'Lean writes-as follows:— "Sir,—Thos. W. Driver, professional • conjurer,' claims unequivocally and without reservation that the so-called phenomena of Spiritualism are produced entirely by human agency, and lie is kind enough to denounce mediums one and all as tricksters. ' He states that the sum of £100 will-be wagered that'lie can fully, completely, and satisfactorily perform any manifestations of socalled spirit power'which lie might be permitted to witness throe times; and lie is kind enough to'challenge me to allow him to test ■ Charles Bailey under rigid test conditions ; and he undertakes to prove to. Wellington and myself that a conjurer knows more than I do about a spirit medium. Mr. Driver adds tliat wo have had quite enough

theory from Spiritualists, and we now want something practical. "I accept Mr. Driver's challenge in so far as the sum of £100. is concerned —to testnot only the genuineness, of the 'apports', obtained by Mr. Bailey, hut also the means bv which they are obtained—but not that tfie deposit of the money shall be regarded as I have deposited a sum of £100 with you (the editor of The Dominion),

to be hold' subject to conditions which 1 shall lay' down in the course of- a few days.

in the event of Mr. Driver covering his challenge with a similar sum of £100 and tho tost taking place. I am not a betting man and havo no dosiro to encourage, or be a party to, what the law has set its face against, aud 1 would remind Mr. Driver that, even if I accepted.his' challenge as a wager,,and won, I would have no right legally to claim the money from him, nor could I recover it

in a Court of law, and, further, I .have no ■desire to bring my spirit friends down to the level of anyone who desires, to endeavour to" win money by the gambling methods proposed by Mr. Driver. If Mr. Driver is honest and sincere, and is really deairous of proving his assertions, let him also deposit with the Editor of The Dominion, a sum of £100, and -I. will then disclose the terms upon which I accept; his challenge, both as to the disposal of tho money and also regarding the conditions to bo imposed. This will give him tho opportunity he requires to disprove, ,if possible, tho genuineness of the phenomena produced by Mr.. Bailey. The test. conditions t-o bo observed will certainly bp very stringent, ' ; as I desire to take every means to ■ eliminato oven the slightest suspicion of ( trickery (i and leserdeman in ''so"' far as it might possibly affect Mr. Bailey. These conditions will he made public immediately Mr. Driver shows his kma fides, by depositing, the..£loo in the way described above I take .it that Mr. Driver is issuing his challenge, not for tho purpose of. making money, but in an endeavour to throw a clearer light upon the truth, and lie can, therefore, havo no possible objection to prove his bona fides., as I suggest. I have the honour to vindicate the truth against the world of professional conjurers.

, * ..." "WILLIAM.M'LEAN. "21 Homo Street, August 18, 1909." [The receipt signed by the Editor of The Dominion for the sum of £100, lodged with him by Mr. M'Leaa, states that , the sum of £100 is to be held on behalf of Mr. M'Leau pending the receipt of a further sum of £100 from Mr. T. W. Driver. These sums are to be held and disposed of in terms of conditions to bo mutually agreed upon by both the above-named. If no deposit is forthcoming from' Mr. Driver, or if satisfactory conditions are not mutually agreed upon, Mr. 'M'Lean is to receive back the above-men-tioned sum.] ;