We commend the following story to the notice of the National Association of Spiritualists. It may serve to revive their drooping spirits after the late disastrous exposure of the “disembodied” “Marie.”
On Thursday night, January the 10th, two policemen on duty in Fulton-street, Chicago, heard moaning and rappings inside one of the houses. They entered the premises and thoroughly explored it, but failed to find any solution of the matter.
Next day a reporter was sent from a local newspaper. He discovered the business at once. The house, it appeared, was occupied by a Mr Cardenbill, his wife, and three children, and Miss Catherine Gale, a young lady visitor from Cleveland. Miss Gale is a spiritualist medium. Ever since her advent under the Cardenbill roof the place has been filled with rappings, groans, moans, and unpleasant noises of various kinds. The noises accompanied Miss Gale from room to room. The invisible visitor kindly intimated that she was that young lady’s defunct “aunt Ellen,” and that Miss Gale had but one year to live.
Miss Gale swooned upon receiving this information, and the family sent for a clergyman, who came and prayed with her. But the louder he prayed the louder the rappings became. In the dilemma the family sent for a Roman Catholic priest, but that gentleman declined to attend. Nothing could be done, and at the despatch of the mail that disgraceful old aunt was knocking away as briskly as ever. A genuine spirit like this is quite refreshing after poor “Marie.”
The Sportsman, 30th January 1880.