Stead’s Spooks.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 26 January 1910, Page 60

Stead’s Spooks.

ITALIAN’ JOURNAL'S ATTACK. The “Corriere della Sera” publishes a A rec-column exposure of the working of Julia's Bureau. Signor Guglielmo Emmanuel, its London representative, received a joint-invitation from Miss Julia and M? Stead to Mowbray House for a noonday interview with the recently deceased Professor Lombroso. who had already honoured the bureau witn glowing encomiums in messages roinuiunicated on October 20 and November iS Mr Stead took away the correspondent's breath by appearing in the full garb of an English convict. He explained that he was wearing the stripes and arrows because of the anniversary of his committal to prison a quarter of a century ago in defence of social purity. LOMBROSO ANNOYED. ’’ • King, the medium impressed the Italian very unfavourably. He stated at ••'*t that there was an astral tempest I ■-•v;iT:ng which would make communication difficult. Then Julia announced that she was not yet able to buttonhole LornL.oso, because he at that moment was talk-

Ing with Milan. Shortly after Lombroso turned up ejaculating, “Will you leave off annoying me?” But when Mr Stead reminded the illustrious criminologist that be had himself fixed the appointment with the Italian journalist, Lombroso became calmer, and said, “Well, I am taken up with important questions, but I will give you a few mln tec.” Signor Emmanuel began in the Italian language, asking Lombroso, as a guarantee of identity to mention his favourite little nephew’s Christian name. “Don’t bother me with personal questions.” retorted Lombroso, newly irritated. “I have urgent work on band. Now, quick.” The next question was. “Have you left a volume of studies in crime among your unedited papers?” Whereto Lombroso, or King, returned th« nonsensical answer, “I am still interested in that subject, and shall still work at it, but not at present. It is a project dear to my heart, but it is necessary to wait.” The third question was, “What was the last book yon wrote upon a criminal trial?” Signor Emmanuel, of course, had in mind the famous Olivo case, but the reply was, “Unable to say at this moment, but later on light will come—not now. I’m off.” before Mr Stead could get a word in edgeways.

A MISERABLE FIASCO. Julia came to apologise for Lombroso’.s abrupt retreat, he was due at a very important reunion convoked in the astral spheres that day, which appears to have been a belated mass meeting of protest by spooks against the execution of Ferrer. Mr Stead did not conceal his disgust at the fiasco, and ordered Julia to bring along an Italian spook at all costs, so that bilingual experiments might be renewed before Signor Emmanuel left. Garibaldi sent a message of admiration for his fellow-countryman present, begging that he would devote himself to spiritualistic study, so that the great liberator of Italy could avail himself of his splendid psychic qualities and literary gifts. Among other personages who dropped in towards the close of the seance was a mysterious lady who forgot to give her name, imploring that King Alfonso of Spain might be forthwith warned that he was on the eve of a terrible danger. lombroso also requested that a telegram of greetings be immediately dispatched to his family, but in the hurry he appears to have forgotten that they reside in Turin, for he gave the address as Milan.