ANOTHER SPIRITUALISTIC LITTLE DODGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 919, 11 October 1879, Page 2

ANOTHER SPIRITUALISTIC LITTLE DODGE.

"Db," Hbwry Sladb, who passed through Auckland some months ago on his' way to California, has been astonishing the worthy people of San Franciaco by accounts of his instantaneous cure from paralysis by a beneficient attendant spirit operating through a certain Dr. MoLennan. When Dr. Slade left Auckland, fie was in good health, but when the steamer had made about half a voyage he states he was prostrated by a paralytic stroke) which deprived him of the use of his right side and rendered him almost helpless. After reaching San Francisco, he had a consultation with. Dr. McLennan, who treated him with such success that he was able to limp about with the aid of a crutch or thick cane. In this condition, he began business as a medium, creating quite a furore in spiritualistic circles. His final cure was effected in a way which many consider little short of miraculous. The principal perfomer and soi-disant healing medium thus describes the mysterious occurrence : — "Dr. Slade and myself were in the room alone, and I felt a curious sensation as if something peculiarly interesting was going to happen. It seemed to me that I was suspended, in space, and as soon as I took Dr. Slade's hands in mine, he also said his feelings were strange to him and he wanted to sleep. Just then, his muscles became rigid, and I heard spoken in an unknown voice, saying in an impressive way — " I have come to fulfil the promise made ■ to' this man three weeks ago. This is his natal hour, and the planetary influences are such that at this very moment he shall be made whole." I asked who was speaking, and I distinctly heard in the same voice. "My name is an ancient one. I am Criposio Mogagnus, once inhabitant of ■ the .planet Jupiter. In your language, my name means the Healing Angel." I held Dr w Slade's hand in mine, and felt a strong exchange of magnetism' Above his head, there appeared a form as of a materialized spirit, with his right hand extended. Dr. Slade was lying back in his couch as if in a natural sleep, but no sooner did the voice cease than . he jumped to his feet, his muscles relaxed, and his hip and knee joints ' began to straighten and bend until they became straight. As he jumped to his feet, the materialized spirit disappeared, and the doctor danced about the room for ten minutes, and then took a footrace upstairs." It is extraordinary that in educated or intelligent communities

like those of the United States and Great Britain should be found persons credulous enough to give a moment's attention to such transparent dodges. " Dr" Slade ran a roaring trade in London in the spirit- writing line, and it vf&a only when Dr Lancaster, the Middlesex coroner's son, took the trouble to expose the trickery in a Court of law, that his little game was stopped. On the hear-* img of the case before the Magistrate, it was proved conclusively that the socalled spirit-writing was the work of "Dr" Slade himself, and that the medium, who professed to be able to summon spirits from the vasty deep whenever he. chose, was nothing more nor less than a vulgar and ignorant imposter, who traded on the credulity of his dupes. Writing on locked slates, and other feats by which he astonished the credulous, were performed in open Court by persons of no spiritulistic pretensions, and shown to be easily capable of being performed by Bleight of hand. The " Doctor" was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for attempted imposition, and on appeal the sentence was confirmed by a higher Court, butthe " Doctor" suddenly found a change of air necessary for his health, and his sudden departure for the Continent prevented the sentence < being carried into effect. Strange to say, he has not returned to the British Isles since, and, as the sentence is still hanging over his head, it is hardly likely he will visit London for some time. The trickery of spiritualistic mediums has been exposed thousands, of times, and it is surprising that such . a gross imposture should receive the slightest countenance from educated and otherwise intelligent persons. The success of Buch men as Dr Slade is a sad comment on our boasted civilization.