DEATH ON A PLATFORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1162, 7 March 1874, Page 22

DEATH ON A PLATFORM.

(Liverpool Albion.)

A terrible tragedy occurred in Birmingham, on Sunday. A seance, or spiritualistic service, was being held in the Athenaeum Assembly Rooms, Temple Roy, and most of the prominent believers in "Spiritualism" of the town were present. In the course of the service a medium, Mr Benjamin Hawkes, toydealer, of New street, addressed the audience. He averred that at one stance he and Peter the Apostle had clasped hands, and that he had felt the firm grasp of Peter's hand in his own. From this manifestation he went on to argue that it was quite possible to understand how "Thomas called Didymus " thrust his hand into the side of " the personification of the Divine Lord." The instant these words were uttered, the speaker fell back on a chair behind him dead. The meeting broke up amid the wildest excitement.

On Tuesday afternoon an inquiry was held.

The Rev. Llwellyn Howard Parsons, Edwardes street, Balsall Heath, son-in-law of the deceased, said that deceased left his (witness's) house at six o'clock on Sunday evening, apparently in the enjoyment of his usual good health.

Aaron Franklin, 100 Suffolk street, taxidermist, said ho saw the deceased at a meeting on Sunday night, at the Athenaeum Hall. There were about 150 persons of both sexes present, and the object of the meeting was that those able and willing were to relate their individual experience of Spiritualism. After witness had spoken, at about half-past seven, deceased, rose to speak. Ho continued speaking until about twenty minutes to eight, but with leas enthusiasm than he usually exhibited. He was relating his experiences in London, at a recent date, when he believed himself to have seen the face of Peter. The Coroner : Do you mean St. Peter ? Witness : No, sir ; a spirit calling himself Peter.

The Coroner : Is ho well-known in spiritualistic circles ?

Witness : Yes, sir. Examination continued : Decoased hold up his hand before his face in a manner that Peter had done to him, asking him, "Do you know mo ?" He (deceased) replied, "Indeed, I do;" and said, "It was impossible to describe the thrill that ran through me. " Deceased's face, which was unusually white, then had a natural appearance, and his breathing was regu-

lar. He then spoke two aentences more, and his last words were, " More we shall know ; Jesus, the embodiment of love," when he suddenly fell back into his seat, and witness caught him in his arms. Witness raised his head up, but found that the muscles of his neck were powerless. He then sighed heavily, and afterwards exhibited no signs of life. Mr Hadley, surgeon, was then sent for, and he was soon in attendance.

The Coroner : No person did anything to injure deceased '?

Witness : No, sir. A Juror : It was stated in the papers that deceased said he grasped Peter's hand and Peter grasped his hand. Did he say so ? Witness : Yes ; but I did not think it necessary to mention it. Mr Hadley, surgeon, of Colmore-row, said he had made a post mortem examination of deceased's body. He was of opinion thst tho deceased died from syncopal asphyxia, resulting from congestion of the lungs. The Coroner, in summing up, showed deceased's death was clearly attributable to natural causes, and the Jury returned a verdict that "Deceased died by the visitation of God."