GRABBING A SPIRIT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3299, 29 October 1883, Page 2

GRABBING A SPIRIT.

The San Francisco Police Court is about to solve the genuineness of the spiritualistic manifestations as produced by Mrs L. F. Reynolds, who peeps into the deep beyond with the aid of mediumistic gifts, A certain searcher after truth, who although still searching, yet has full faith in spiritualism, went to the medium’s place about six weeks ago for the purpose of convincing himself whether the spirits which attended her were the real Simon pure article, or whether they were only cbalk-and-sheet imitations. He was permitted to sit among the elect in the front rank, where also sat Mr Reynolds, the medium explaining that this was absolutely necessary, as the spirits which have control over her had commanded the arrangement to be made, in order to give her sufficient strength to effect materializations.

The investigator charges that Mr Reynolds sitting near him, also became a spirit, and assisted in making noises. This he did by producing a tube from his vest and connecting it with a large horn in the cabinet, from which soon after ( were heard to issue sounds. Becoming more and more spiritualised, he finally began to talk as the spirit of “Gordon.” He ceased whenever the investigator looked at him, and finally a special spirit appeared in the cabinet to divert the latter’s attention. Not satisfied with one trial, the firm believer in spiritualism attended four more stances and found his suspicions of jugglery confirmed. He then rrnde up his mind to expose it and for this pur pose he attended another stance. As fortune would have it, Mr Reynolds and the tube was unavoidably absent on that occasion. Spirits in great numbers were nevertheless produced. The first to appear was a little child, styled “ the medium on her knees.” This spirit revelled in the name of Effie. Next two forms appeared, one of whom called up a lady from the far end of the room, who obediently came up to receive a spiritual kiss. The spirits having tasted of the sweets of an earthly kiss then became quite bold and ordered the lights to be raised. The two forms came out again, and the investigator then saw that one of them was composed of a bundle of white mosquito cloth, with a mask where the face ought to be. Seeing his opportunity, he seized the mannikin by the head and neck and then attempted to drag it out. He met with very strong resistance from the entranced' Mrs Reynolds, who did not propose having her favorite spirit thus rudely dragged down from the seventh heaven, where it presumably sleeps during the daytime, A struggle began, and for some moments it was doubtful whether the man or the spirit had the better muscle. But before the contest could be decided half a dozen men and women came to the aid of the spirit by throwing themselves upon the zealous investigator The desecration of the cabinet filled them with rage, for they began choking the captor of the rag body and would have finished him had he not possessed extraordinary powers. They were strong enough, however, to rush him towards the door, despite the protests of a gentleman in the rear who shouted, “ Give him a chance.” They gave him a chance for fresh air, for he was most unceremoniously cast out of the companionship of the spirits and into the outer air, carrying with him the greater part of the mosquito-bar manufactured spirit. Learning subsequently that one 8. H. Lewis had been one of the assaulters, ho hied himself to Prosecuting Attorney Graves, before whom he laid his case and his cloth. That gentleman decided that the Penal Code does not excuse an assault in defence of manufactured spirits, and accordingly issued a warrant of arrest. Lewis was compelled to deposit £8 of most unspiritual money, and was committed for trial.