Mediums Mr & Mrs Jonson, of Toledo U.S.A.
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Mr & Mrs Jonson Mediums of Toledo U.S.A
Mr. J. Ben. Jonson 1854
The Celebrated American Mediums of Toledo, Ohio, who
later moved to Altadena, California. Jonson was a painter and decorator who,
with his wife, sat for materialization and direct voice phenomena. He was
born October 16, 1854, in Akron, Ohio. His father was said to be a lineal
descendant of the British poet Ben Jonson and his great-grandmother a
descendant of Thomas Paine. Both his parents were Spiritualists and held a
seance on the evening before his birth. His own psychic talents developed at
age seven, when, while playing with his sister, he ran right through a burly
black-whiskered man on the steps of the house. His sister also saw the
phantom. She died soon after the incident, but manifested at a seance with
Jonson when he was only 18.
Beginning in 1876 Jonson sat regularly in a Home Circle
with friends, and physical manifestations occurred, including
materializations. He also became a trumpet medium. He married in 1901, and
his wife was usually present at seances. Both usually sat outside the
cabinet, and Jonson went into trance. His wife was reputed to be a good
direct voice Medium.
Homer Taylor Yaryan, chief of the secret police under
the Grant government, watched the Mediums carefully for years and assured
Admiral Usborne Moore that they were genuine. The admiral himself, in his
book Glimpses of the Next State (1911), reached the same conclusion. He saw
15 to 16 phantoms---in circumstances that apparently excluded
confederacy---emerge from the cabinet in a single sitting. Some of them
dematerialized into the floor and it was possible to follow their heads with
the eye until the shoulders were level with the carpet; some came too far
out into the light, doubled up and collapsed; some dissipated after falling
over on one side.
Each phantom had a distinctive movement of the limbs
and carriage by which, in successive seances, they were identified. They
were mostly etherealizations; the faces and heads alone were tangible. The
admiral put his arms around the waist of a phantom relative and found
nothing.
A white-robed figure with a bright silver band on her
forehead and bracelets and jewels on her arm gave her name as "Cleopatra,
Queen of Egypt"; another form claimed to be "Josephine."
In 1923 the Jonsons were visited in California by Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle, who was greatly impressed by their materialization
phenomena, which he believed genuine. He describes the seance in his book
Our Second American Adventure (1923).
Is this when their energy levels drop down? The
Jonsons, however, did not live up to the favorable reputation that the
experiments of Yaryan and Moore established for them. Considering the
experiences of J. Hewat McKenzie in Toledo in 1917, those who accused them
of fraud apparently had grounds for doing so. Writing in Psychic Science in
April 1927, McKenzie notes: "I proved on this visit, that the daughter of
the Jonsons' masqueraded as a Spirit, and would appear from the back room to
dance as a materialised form in highly illuminated garments, the
illumination for these being produced in an adjoining room with the help of
magnesium wire used on clothing impregnated with phosphorescent paint. The
smoke from the magnesium wire was seen by me in clouds in the room where she
danced, and my sense of smell also recognized the well-known odour. Here we
have a striking instance of what the abuse of Spirit intercourse may lead
to."
Taken from with slight
alterations Yaryan, Homer T. An Investigator's Experience of Materialization
Phenomena. Psychic Science October 1926.
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the cabinet occasionally gathers sufficient power to
glide down the stairs and bring up a lady’s muff or some other material
article from the front sitting-room---a feat that could not be achieved in
the form through a locked door. It is, however, practically impossible for
confederates to come this way, for they would have to pass the sitters to
enter the cabinet. As we shall see later on, confederates, and plenty of
them, are the only explanation that the most rabid sceptic can put forward
for what goes on in this room.Mr. and Mrs. Jonson offer every facility for
the sitters to search the seance room, the cabinet, and the rooms
underneath. They are dependent upon each other for the necessary psychic
power, and a successful materialisation seance cannot take place unless both
husband and wife are in good health. Mrs. Jonson sits in the cabinet
occasionally without her husband, for one or two visitors. During these
seances Etherialisations often takes place, and voices are heard through a
trumpet. Vibrations are maintained during the materialisation seances by a
rather inferior musical-box of the disc type ; at Mrs. Jonson’s cabinet
séances, by a small music-box of the barrel kind.
Mr. J. B. Jonson is a powerful-looking man of
fifty-five years of age, five feet eleven inches in height, well educated,
and of sober habits ; he has a hearty laugh and a genial manner. He wears
boots at the seances, and sometimes a light coat or dressing-gown that
enables him to be clearly seen ; this, however, if meant as a precaution, is
unnecessary, as the amount of light is always sufficient to admit of his
being visible to all the Circle during the first part of a seance when he
sits outside the cabinet. His wife is a stout, comely woman, rather younger.
She walks about the room, generally in a white blouse, and is always in
view. The light is regulated from within the cabinet, and is sufficient to
allow a person with average sight to read a watch with a white face ; at
times it is possible for a sitter with keen sight to read large print.
Before undertaking the investigation of the Jonsons,
I conferred with my friend Mr. Homer Taylor Yaryan, who was chief of the
secret police under the Grant Government. Those who are old enough to
remember the scandal of the whisky frauds, traced by the secret police up to
the very gates of the White House, will not fail to recognise the ability
which contrived to defeat a well planned robbery of Federal funds. Mr.
Yaryan is a detective of great skill, and the last man in America to allow
himself to be bamboozled. The Jonson’s have given seances in his house, one
of which (I possess a copy of the record) was as successful as those I am
about to describe. He has watched these Mediums carefully for years, and
assured me they were genuine. After sitting with them several times, always
in the afternoon, I am certain he is right.
The first seance I had with the Jonsons was on
January 4,1909. There were three other sitters---a Mr. and Mrs. Z. and a
relative of theirs---who kindly allowed me to join their Private Circle. Mr.
Z. and I carefully examined the cabinet, and found nothing in it to arouse
suspicion. The atmospheric conditions were bad ; it was raining. The light
was regulated from the cabinet, and was sufficient for us to see one
another’s features at a distance of six feet, and to read a watch with a
white face. The lower part of the curtains of the cabinet were drawn back to
the side, and a cloth was secured across the lower half of the cabinet. In
front of this, on three chairs, sat, from left to right, Mr. Z., the
relative (whom I will here call Mrs. M.), and Jonson, holding hands.
When they had settled themselves, a sheet was tied
over them up to their necks, so that their faces only were in view. Opposite
to the three persons thus sitting on chairs, outside the cabinet, and at a
distance of three feet from them, were three chairs occupied by Mrs. Z.,
myself, and Mrs. Jonson. Thus, Mrs. Z. was sitting directly opposite to Mr.
Z., I was sitting opposite to Mrs. M., and Mrs. Jonson was facing her
husband.
First a pair of hands of delicate shape appeared over
the heads of Mr. Z. and Mrs. M. ; then, at various times, single hands
appeared, one small and delicate, the other larger, and no less delicate ;
the latter had a ring on one of the fingers. A hand manifested twenty times
or more, several times over Mr. Z., and at least four times stroking the
right side of his face (that is, the furthest possible point from the medium
whose right hand was held by Mrs. M.).
I rose from my chair, and took both Jonson’s hands in
my right hand ; stretching out my left hand, I was touched by a visible
spirit hand that showed over the head of Mrs. M., Two notes were thrown out
of the cabinet, one from a Spirit Guide of Mrs. Z. and one from a Spirit
Child of Mrs. M. The two hands appeared simultaneously four or five times. A
graphophone, the mouth
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of which showed beyond the right side of the cabinet,
played several times ; the starting-lever could not have been reached by the
disengaged hand of the Medium.I threw my handkerchief into the cabinet,
between Mr. Z. and Mrs. M. In a few seconds it was thrown out to me, with
hard knots in three of the corners. This also happened to Mrs. Z. Mrs.
Jonson was sitting by my side all the time, and had no part in the
performance ; Jonson was in partial trance.
About an hour after we had sat down, this part of the
seance came to an end ; the lights were lit, and the windows opened for ten
minutes to let in some air to revive Jonson, who was somewhat distressed. We
then formed a Circle in the middle of the room, with a trumpet in the
centre. Jonson became fully controlled by "Greyfeather," an Indian, who
spoke in a different voice from that of the Medium. Vibrations were
maintained by a small musical-box under the control of Mrs. Jonson. During
the sitting this box was carried round over the heads of all the sitters,
playing meanwhile a definite tune. We sat now in darkness ; we did not touch
hands.
Whispers were heard talking through the trumpet to
the different sitters. One Spirit came to me, but I was not sure of the
identity. After a conversation had been going on for a minute or a minute
and a-half with a sitter, the trumpet would be dropped on the floor ; by the
sound, I should judge it fell several times four or five feet. One spirit
known as "Kitty" spoke in the direct voice, without the assistance of the
trumpet.
The last manifestation was that of a spirit who had
been in life a locomotive engineer, and who was drowned in Lake Superior. He
spoke clearly through the trumpet, and announced his arrival and departure
by making noises through it indicative of the first starting of an engine :
Puff, puff---puff, puff, puff---and so on. When he left, the spirit
imitated, not only the starting, but the sounds of an engine gathering speed
and eventually disappearing in the distance. It was very effective.
Considering the atmospheric conditions, and that
there was one perfect stranger in the Circle (myself), I thought the display
of Spirit power on this evening was very successful. I will now proceed to
describe other seances at which I attended when the Jonsons were the
Mediums. They were all held in the room described above.
January 6,1909. Atmospheric conditions very good. The
temperature of the air was about 10°, and it was dry and clear ; time, 2 to
4pm. The sitters were the same as on the previous occasion, with another
relative of Mr. Z. added (whom I will here call Mrs. J.), making a Circle of
three ladies and two men, all experienced investigators.
Mr. Z. and I examined the cabinet ; then we took our
seats about four feet in front of it. The room was darkened for four or five
minutes, during which time a Spirit Form within the cabinet called out :
"How are you, Uncle Z., Ande Z., Ande M., Ande J., and uncle William Usborne
Moore?" (The mediums knew my name was Moore, and may possibly have known it
was William ; but they certainly had no means of finding out my second
Christian name. In the hotel book I had signed W. Moore. I may here remark
that W. Moore is a very common name in the United States, something like
John Smith in this country.)
Jonson sat in a chair, one foot outside and in front
of the left end of the cabinet. He was immediately controlled by
"Greyfeather," the Indian. There was a shade over the small oil-lamp behind
us ; this was drawn up a little, and the sEance commenced, the light in the
room being sufficient for anyone with good sight to read the time by a white
faced watch.
(57) Within two minutes the figure of a woman, below
medium height, dressed in a white robe with girdle round the waist, sprang
up from the floor very close to the Medium, holding out her hands in my
direction. I got up and went up close to the Medium. From the building and
proportions I was able to guess who this was. She tried to speak, but all I
could catch was "Al" or "All"; but, unfortunately (owing to our mutual
anxiety, I presume), she dematerialised into the carpet before I could
clearly distinguish the features. This same materialisation and
dematerialization occurred a second time with no more success. After a third
abortive attempt she did not dematerialise into the floor, but simply faded
away.
Not long after this two strong forms emerged from the
opening of the cabinet on my right. I was almost touching the entranced
Medium with my left arm ; within two feet of me, on my right,
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was a woman as tall as Jonson, wearing a white robe,
a bright silver or steel band on her forehead, and what appeared to be
bracelets and jewels on her arms. After a few words of conversation she let
me understand that she was Cleopatra, once Queen of Egypt. Standing a little
behind her was a smaller form who gave the name of Josephine. In appearance
neither of these was human in complexion or lines, but swarthy and dimpling,
Josephine’s face rather red ; the general effect was not unpleasing, though
it never occurred to me that either face was mortal. I asked Josephine who
was the Spirit that first appeared, and she corroborated my first
impression. It was Iola.Grayfeather suddenly exclaimed : "I like that
squaw." I said : "How flattered Cleopatra would have been, in earth life, to
hear that !
The Indian took this innocent remark in bad part, and
called out angrily : "I say she nice squaw, I say it to her face,
Grayfeather not got four tongues. No ! no !" Cleopatra then went up to
Jonson and waved her arms over him, when peace was restored.
Once Grayfeather caused Jonson to stand up close
alongside of two big Spirits. The three forms all close together, and in
full sight of us all, were impressive. On another occasion Grayfeather
(controlling Jonson) walked over to my chair, a distance of eight feet, and,
put his Medium’s left hand into my two hands. He then proceeded to give me a
little advice in a loud voice, being apparently under the impression that I
had never attended a seance before. "When Spirit squaw come you no say, ‘Who
are you?’ ‘What your name?’ You say, ‘How are you? Very glad to see you.’
Next time squaw come p'haps she give you her name." While he was thus
talking the cabinet curtain opened, and a man went straight across to Mr.
Z., who recognised him as his deceased brother and returned to the cabinet
with him.
Including some repetitions, fifteen or sixteen
materialised forms emerged from the cabinet and conversed with their friends
while Jonson was out of it ; six or eight came after Grayfeather had taken
him inside---all these in addition to the Familiar Spirits, the habitués of
the cabinet. One of the visitors was a nun, who had a very spirituelle
countenance and wore a bright silver cross about four inches long. She came
specially for Mr. Z.: But, at the request of the latter lady, she walked
well out into the light in order that I should be able to see her plainly.
The effort was too much for her, and she doubled up, instead of gradually
descending into the floor, which is the usual method of disappearance. Each
member of the Circle was visited by at least two friends who were
recognised. Two or three men came to me whom I was not able to identify
properly, one making semaphore signs with his arms.
One curious incident occurred while Jonson was still
in view. Grayfeather shouted out, "Go away, go back in box" (cabinet).
Q: "What is the matter Grayfeather?"
Grayfeather : " me tell him, No ! Go back to box and
come out there. He want to come into Medium and turn me out."
Q: "Who is it?"
Grayfeather : "He come for Mr. Moore. He say his name
John Nic-hol-son." I know one John Nicholson living and one who passed over
some years ago. The former is a busy professional man who, I am sure, was
not asleep in England at 9pm.; the latter was a gentle, courteous, old canon
of a cathedral in the West of England, and the last person in this world or
the next to try and dispossess the Indian of the organism of Jonson. The
only surmise I could make was that this was the intrepid leader of the
attack on Delhi, whose memory I, in common with thousands of Englishmen,
have held in veneration since the days of the Mutiny. Our knowledge of his
character does not exclude the idea that, if he wanted to communicate with
one of his countrymen, he would not hesitate to turn anyone out of a body
that appeared to him to suit his purpose. He had very often, though not
recently, been in my thoughts.
After Jonson had been in the cabinet half-an-hour
Grayfeather brought him out, and squatted him on the carpet tailor-fashion.
While he was sitting thus a phantom slowly arose behind him, but soon faded
away before it could be recognised.
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January 14,1909. With the Jonsons 2:30 to 4pm. This
seance was a failure, but some interesting incidents occurred. Atmospheric
conditions not of the best ; it was thawing. Mrs. Jonson not at all well,
Jonson in good form.About half-an-hour after the light was put out Jonson,
who at first had been possessed by Grayfeather, came partly out of trance ;
Grayfeather left, and an English bluejacket controlled the Medium. He used
shocking language, I regret to say, and when asked to depart by Mrs. Jonson
in a very civil way, refused, saying, "He had as much right to be there as
we had." By-and-by, however, he was persuaded to get out of Jonson ;
Grayfeather resumed control, and took the Medium inside the cabinet. From
there he called to me, "the chief from across the big pond," to come and sit
with him in the cabinet, saying : "I want to draw from him. I no draw from
squaw Jonson, she is not well tonight." I accordingly took my chair inside,
and the following dialogue took place :
(58) Grayfeather : "I see you yesterday in another
wigwam. You not get much there." Admiral Moore : "Oh yes, we did,
Grayfeather ! We had a good time ; and Viola, Kitty, and Tim came to speak
to us from here."
Grayfeather : "Ugh ! Ugh ! I see you with two other
chiefs."
Q: "Well who were they?"
A: "I think one was Hyslop. (Wrong.) I no want
mention names. Chief Yaryan there. (Correct) You think I no see you. I see
you in morning go into a wigwam---yes, big stone building---and get book,
scratch paper."
Q: "Do you mean I wrote in a book?"
A: "Ugh ! No, you read book (Correct) Young Squaw
come to you and ask for wampum (money). You say : ‘Wo ! Wo ! Wo ! ‘"
Admiral Moore : "That is a libel, Grayfeather. I made
no difficult6y with the young woman."
Now, what happened was this. The previous morning I
had occasion to go to the public library in Toledo to return a book, and at
the same time borrowed another, from which I copied an extract (scratch
paper). The clerk returned me two dollars paid as deposit the day before.
The young woman said later, "I must ask you for twenty-five cents." "What
for?" I enquired. Answer : "We always charge twenty-five cents in addition
to the deposit, in case of the book sustaining any injury." I put down the
"quarter" without demur ; but I felt mildly indignant, as I considered the
two dollars deposit ought to cover all risks.
The seance with the other psychic the previous
afternoon will be alluded to later in this chapter. Soon after the above
conversation I was dismissed from the cabinet, and Grayfeather said "I came
out." He tried sitting outside, with me beside him, but it was no good. He
left Jonson with a violent jerk (always a bad sign), and the Medium came
slowly to himself. Grayfeather remarked, before leaving Jonson : "I sick ;
no power" (beating the Medium’s breast with heavy thumps) ; "no wampum for
my Medium ; but no good talk any more, like a squaw." On my offering the
usual fee, Jonson declined taking it saying, "We never accept anything when
no forms appear."
The above incident is worthy of a few minutes’
consideration. Mr. Yaryan was with me on the previous day at the house of
Mrs. Alexander, a new Medium ; but he had no intention of going ten minutes
before we started. It was quite an afterthought ; he suddenly put off a
business engagement to accompany me. He and I were unknown to the Medium we
sat with, and that same Medium is unknown to Jonson. The name of my friend
Dr. Hyslop had been mentioned before the Jonson seance commenced ; but, if
Grayfeather knew anything at all about my thoughts of that gentleman, he
would have known that, if no other investigator were available in the United
States, I would not sit in his company at a seance (for reasons wholly
impersonal). In all essentials the story of what happened in the public
library is quite true ; not only did Grayfeather, apparently, see what took
place, but could read my thoughts when the quarter-dollar was demanded. The
following explanations may occur to those who read this :
(a)The Medium of the previous afternoon and the clerk
at the library told the Jonsons of the various incidents. (b) Jonson dogged
me all day.
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(c) Grayfeather read my sub-conscious mind. (d) My
guide was with me throughout, and told Grayfeather the facts, as a test, no
other phenomena being available. (e) Grayfeather followed me about, and was
aware of every action and thought.Replies : (a)This is so intrinsically
improbable as to need no denial. (b) Had this been so surely I should have
seen him in the room of the library ! In his normal state he could not read
my thoughts. (c)If this were so, Grayfeather would have been more accurate
in his statement about my companions. (d) I cannot be sure, but I think this
is the most reasonable explanation. (e) Here, again is a striking
improbability ; Grayfeather is well acquainted with the second gentleman,
who did accompany me on the previous afternoon, and whom, in his talk, he
misnamed Dr. Hyslop. The controls of Jonson’s cabinet do follow the sitters
about the country and meet them at other seances, making themselves known by
speech ; but we were not aware of Grayfeather’s presence at the other
Medium’s house on the previous day. Had he been present, he would not have
made the mistake in the names.
My guide, Iola, saw and heard everything at the
seance of the previous afternoon ; she was much in evidence. She was most
probably in the library with me in the morning, and, when she came to the
Jonson’s, told Grayfeather all about it, to assist him to give a test, not
having sufficient strength herself to use the direct voice. This particular
materialisation seance at Jonson’s was a complete failure.
January 16,1909. With the Jonsons. 2:15 to 4:15pm.
Circle composed of the same sitters as on the 14th. Atmospheric conditions
not good ; it was snowing heavily most of the time, and there were six
inches of snow on the pavements before we got to the house.
In some respects this seance was better than that of
January 6, for more forms appeared ; but I did not like it so much, as the
light allowed by the Spirits in the cabinet was much less (no doubt on
account of the inferior conditions). About twenty-five separate
personalities manifested ; counting the repetitions, there were over forty
materialisation’s or Etherialisations. For my part, I only saw the faces of
two clearly enough for recognition. These were Viola and Edna, the nun.
Viola is a very lively girl of eighteen or nineteen, with long streaming
hair ; she touched my hand with hers. Edna came out four or five times, and
gave me opportunities to see her face, dress, and cross quite plainly ; Iola
brought my father and mother. On one occasion I went to the entrance of the
cabinet, and saw two forms together, which I soon discovered were my
parents, and the small form of Iola behind them.
Cleopatra manifested. This afternoon she was about
5ft 9in in height, and not so big as on the first occasion. She clearly said
that she was the Egyptian Queen, and was glad to come to me, and that she
intended to accompany me "West." Around her forehead was the same silver
band or crown, and she had the same majestic mein.
One word of explanation here. I consulted with my
friends in this small private circle as to their interpretation of the term
"identification." "Do you mean," I asked, "that you recognise your friends
every time by their features?" The reply, in effect, was "No, we identify
them by their general appearance ; we cannot always see the face distinctly
enough to be able to say that it is our friend. We sometimes see the
features, but not every time. Each spirit form has its own individual
actions of arms and hands. Some put their hands above their heads ; some
cross their arms ; others have a particular dress. Once assumed, those
idiosyncrasies are exhibited on every occasion that they appear ; but the
forms vary in height according to conditions." Mr. Yaryan, upon whose
experience I place great value, though I never sat with him at the Jonsons,
attached large importance to this. He said : "The forms that manifest to a
sitter each have a particular gait and movement of the limbs. If the
conditions are not good, you may not see features plainly enough to identify
your friend by looking on his or her face ; but you know them by their
distinctive movements, dress, and carriage. Is it conceivable that Jonson
can produce enough
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confederates to imitate these features at every
seance? Hundreds of people sit with him in a year. Think what an
organisation this would mean, even if he were cognisant of what is going on,
which he is not ; he is in trance. Could he produce the appropriate dress or
the appropriate action when neither he nor his wife know who are coming or
where they may seat themselves? Putting on one side for the moment the
precautions we take by searching the cabinet and the premises, how can we
account for the unerring certainty with which the proper form, dress, and
movements are manifested to each member of the Circle? To me, this is one of
the chief proofs of the genuineness of the Jonsons. The expense, and the
difficulty of finding the histrionic capacity in the neighbourhood, forbid
such an explanation of the supernormal phenomena that take place at these
seances. The expense alone would prohibit such an idea ; for it could be of
no interest to the mediums if three-quarters of their takings were swallowed
up in the payments of confederates and properties."I am entirely in
agreement with what Mr. Yaryan says. Such deception would not pay. If an
average of the whole year is taken, the Jonsons cannot be making more than
ten dollars a week ; a confederate would expect at least half a dollar for a
séance, and the dresses could not be obtained for any trifling sum. I have,
below, given reasons for my belief that there are no confederates. (59) But
to return to this particular séance. Jonson was outside the cabinet for at
least half the time that the materialisation’s appeared. The gait and
movement of the arms of Cleopatra were the same as on the previous occasion.
"Jeanie," a Scotch girl, came out on both occasions, dressed in plaid. One
of the most interesting incidents in the seance was the re-appearance, after
many months, of "Martha," an old maid of the Yaryans’, in proper servants
dress, apron, bib, and so forth. Mrs. Yaryan had told me about her the day
before ; the girl admitted that this was what enabled her to manifest. One
of the prettiest sights was to see a little Indian girl called "Oviola,"
below medium height, skip out into the Circle. Of course, I did not know her
or Martha ; but they were both clearly recognised by the other members of
the Circle. During this seance I saw several forms dematerialise, two or
three outside the cabinet : one male form did it deliberately, to show me
how it was accomplished, and Cleopatra dematerialised from feet upwards.
The next morning, Sunday, January 17, I went to
Chicago, and returned to Toledo on January 24. On Monday January 25,1909. I
sat with Mrs. Jonson alone in the cabinet, 2 to 2:45pm.. She was not well,
having been up all night nursing a grandson who was dangerously ill. (60)
There was one attempt at etherialisation by my father. Viola came first to
talk to "Uncle Moore." All the Spirits used the trumpet, except "Crotcho"
(or Crooked Stick), an Indian girl, who spoke through Mrs. Jonson. My Father
and Mother spoke, and Iola. My Father said : "W., don’t worry about that
question of identity. Proofs will come when you are least thinking of them."
(This was an allusion to my attempting to identify Iola, at the Bangs
sisters’, a few days before, by a series of twenty-three written questions,
only some of which were answered. I was not thinking of this at the time.)
Iola Said : "We shall get on better now that you have lost your doubts."
(After seeing a certain picture precipitated at the Bangs. I had given up
all doubt as to her identity.) When I asked Iola if my picture had started
from Chicago, she said : "It is all right ; when you get it you will be
pleased. I have prepared a surprise for you." (It had been settled at
Chicago that one of my pictures should be sent to me at Toledo. It arrived
on the Wednesday, January 27. When I examined it, I found an inscription in
one corner. There was no writing on it when I left Chicago. This is a
remarkable incident. Remember, I only left Chicago on Sunday, the day
previous to the sitting with Mrs. Jonson.) Iola, who spoke without trumpet,
also said : "Next Seance I will come first, when the power is strongest."
It was during this cabinet sitting that Hypatia first
manifested to me. She had come to my friend Mr. H. C. Hodges, at Detroit,
several times, and given her history, every detail of which was found to be
correct. I presume that our conversation about her a fortnight before was
the means of her making herself known to me.
Crotcho controlled Mrs. Jonson at the end of the
sitting, and spoke for quite five minutes through her mouth. Edna the nun,
spoke to me in the direct voice without using the trumpet. Viola, when she
came a second time, said : Iola says that when the picture comes to you,
watch the eye;
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it will follow you about." (This is curious. It does
happen in one full-face picture precipitated in the presence of the Bangs
Sisters ; both eyes follow the observer all over the room. But the picture
then expected to arrive at Toledo was a profile, and nothing of the sort
takes place.) Mrs. Jonson held my hands most of the time (obviously to show
she was not touching the trumpet), and sometimes put my hand to her mouth
while spirits were talking (to show she had no part in the production of the
voices).(61) The next time I visited the Jonsons was on January 29, 1:50 to
3:10pm. when I had a materialisation seance with them alone. It was an
interesting experiment, and I was much surprised that it was so successful.
Jonson passed into the trance state in about ten minutes. In less than five
minutes later Iola rose slowly out of the floor in front of me, outside the
cabinet, and passed in between the curtains, thus keeping her promise of
January 25. I went to the opening with Mrs. Jonson, who invariably
accompanies a sitter (to lend additional power to the manifestations), and
asked the spirit, "Did you make that inscription on the picture?" A whisper
came, "With the help of others." My guide then sank into the floor.
Viola appeared three times. She came close up to me,
four feet outside the cabinet, twice, and I was able to see her fairly well,
better than I did Iola. Towards the end of the seance, while Mrs. Jonson was
trying to discover the name of a man who had appeared at the opening of the
cabinet, Viola sprang out of the floor four feet behind her, and, gliding up
to her silently, passed between her and the curtain into the cabinet.
Then came an etherialisation of a man in silver
robes. (The room was darkened for this, the cover of the lamp being drawn
down from within the cabinet, and the curtains drawn back.) Grayfeather, who
had not previously not spoken much, said that this spirit had met me before
on the other side of the "great pond." And that his name was Abdullah. I
presume that this was the Abdullah of Craddock’s band. He salaamed several
times, but did not speak.
The next materialisation was that of Cleopatra, who
emerged from the cabinet with her accustomed crown and gestures, but only 5
ft. 3 in. or 5 ft. 4. In height. (I account for this by want of power, owing
to my being the only sitter.) She said she would guard her picture (see
Chapter VII.), and reappeared twice.
Cleopatra was followed by Hypatia, who came three
times. She gave her name, and walked (or glided) up and down the room two
feet outside the cabinet. Her face was that of a handsome woman, with much
hair, and the movements of the figure were graceful. She could not talk
much. I said: If I go to Chicago again, will you help to precipitate your
portrait?" The answer was, "With great pleasure." There was nothing in the
face (nor that of Cloepatra) that suggested a mortal being. I do not know
why, but Mrs. Jonson was delighted at the appearance of Hypatia. Hypatia
brought an old friend of mine on her third appearance. I thought I knew who
it was by his general appearance (possibly telepathy was at work), and
asked, "Are you an English naval officer?" The head was bowed, and he twice
put his hand to his forehead, indicating the disease from which he passed
out. (This brother officer died insane some six years before.) I asked, "Are
you happy?" The head was bowed vehemently. Both figures were clearly seen
together.
My father and mother materialised. In these there was
no possibility of error. My father had a nose like the Iron Duke, and I saw
him in good light three feet outside the cabinet ; his prominent feature was
clearly distinguishable. Three men came out whom I did not know ; one was
said to be Mr. Marshall Fields, A wealthy merchant of Chicago ; but, as I
never knew him, nor heard of him before this evening, I cannot answer for
his identity.
The poor little waif, "Kitty," who died some years
ago in New York of cold and starvation, and who is often heard, but seldom
seen, at Jonson’s séances, manifested on this occasion. She was more
substantial-looking than any other figure, and came out twice to me where I
sat in my chair, four feet from the cabinet. Once she went round behind Mrs.
Jonson, who was sitting on my right, and stood behind the chairs, patting me
on the hand several times. This girl had been known to Jonson’s sitters for
some six years ; she always appears in the same dress and the same size, and
invariably manifests the same characteristics. Flashlight photographs have
been taken of her. I have one in my possession taken three years before, and
I can affirm that it is the
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same child I saw on this evening. So natural and
human is this picture that I must confess I thought, when first it was lent
to me in England, it was a fraud. Having seen the materialised form, I no
longer have any doubt as to its genuineness. Kitty must now be, speaking in
earthly terms, twenty or twenty-one years of age ; but she appears as a
little girl of, say, thirteen, with short frock, stockings down at heel, and
no shoes. Is it possible that she is allowed to manifest constantly at the
age at which she died to prove the fidelity of these Mediums?Grayfeather
took the Medium into the cabinet after Cleopatra had shown herself. While I
was talking to Iola, Jonson stood up. I touched him with my left arm while I
was facing the Spirit. The light was sufficient to read a white-faced watch,
except during the appearance of Abdulle. The weather conditions were bad.
Snow was falling, and melted as it fell ; it was damp and miserable. I was
much impressed with the evidence of spirit power shown on this afternoon.
The atmospheric conditions were detestable ; there was only one sitter ;
only three human beings in the room ; and yet evidence was produced of such
a kind that its genuineness was indisputable. It corroborated the evidence
of the first materialisation seance, when there were five sitters, and it
was not far inferior to that sitting in richness of phenomena.
(62) On January 30,1909, 2 to 3pm., I sat with Mrs.
Jonson in the cabinet. Jonson asked me if he might also sit. He has never
seen one of his wife’s séances, and would like to do so ; but if I had the
slightest objection to investigating under such conditions he would rather
not be there. I assented willingly. Directly we sat down he was entranced by
Grayfeather, and remained in trance all the sitting, so the object of his
coming was frustrated ; but his presence probably gave additional strength
to the manifestations.
Viola came first, and talked without the aid of the
trumpet. After this a brilliantly illuminated robe or shawl rose slowly from
the floor. Grayfeather made Jonson put both his hands into mine while this
manifestation was in progress ; Mrs. Jonson also joined her hands with ours.
It was evident that neither Jonson nor his wife had anything to do with it.
The robe, or shawl, was covered with flowers worked into it---roses, lilies,
and I think lotuses and narcissi. It was over two feet from me, and I was
unable to make out the design accurately. After remaining suspended in the
air a minute or two it descended into the floor. I do not know what was the
significance of this phenomenon. Tim, one of the habitues of the cabinet,
who came to speak later, said he thought it was an effort on the part of
Cleopatra to show part of a dress she had worn in earth-life.
Iola came strong, using the trumpet. We had a chat
about the pictures precipitated at the Bangs Sisters, Chicago (see Chapter
VII.). She said the head is represented in the pictures as it is now, but
the dress is only to assist in identification. Before leaving she told me
"we shall get on much better now your doubt is gone."
Both Iola and Cleopatra assured me two or three times
that the pictures would be all right. It seemed to me extremely improbable
that they would arrive at their destination in England unhurt. As a matter
of fact, however, they did ; the frames of two were damaged and three
glasses were broken, but not one of the six pictures sustained the smallest
injury. During this sitting Iola assured me that she had put an inscription
on one of the pictures then on its way to England. This also was true, as I
found when I arrived at Southsea two months later. There was not a sign of
writing on this portrait when I left it at Chicago.
Cleopatra spoke with the assistance of the trumpet,
and Hypatia without it. The latter asked me to tell Mr. Hodges that I had
seen her materialise. Viola came a second time, and said : "There were two
people here trying to speak at the same time. I told them it was rude."
Kitty spoke strongly and plainly. I said : "How do you like it over there
Kitty?"
A: "I am as happy as the day is long."
Q: "Do you go to school?"
A: "Yes."
Q: "Who is your teacher?"
A: "Her name is Angelina. She is very, very pretty.
We learn all that is learnt here and a lot besides."
Q: "Have you your father and mother with you?"
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A: "I live with my mother. I don’t want my father ; I
don’t know if he is over this side. He was bad to mother. When she was doing
the washing he come home and take it away from her and he go and get
drunk."Mrs. Jonson : "Now, Kitty, you must try and forget all that and reach
out and help your father."
A: "Well I know nothing about my father, and don’t
want to see him."
Kitty then went on talking like Viola, without the
assistance of the trumpet, in the most natural way for some minutes ; when
she used a slang expression Mrs. Jonson pulled her up. Once she quite aptly
used the word "exclusive," for which she was duly praised. She said : "Uncle
Moore, my age when I came here was thirteen fifty (thirteen and a half) : I
am now over twenty ; and do you know when I come here I feel just as I was,
thirteen fifty? Can you explain that. Admiral Moore : "No, I cannot, Kitty ;
but why don’t you pull your stockings up?"
A: "Because I ain’t got no garters."
Q: "Don’t you wear shoes?"
A: "No, I don’t want to wear shoes ; but I must go
now, as others want to come."
My mother spoke a little, and then came McBlin, the
engineer, who announced himself by the snorts of the locomotive, admirably
done through the trumpet. As soon as the engine had, so to speak, arrived,
he said he was glad to see me, that he was an engineer who was drowned in
Lake Superior some years ago.
Q: "What are you doing now?"
A: "Oh ! We have shops over there ; I am doing much
the same sort of work."
Q: "But what shall I do when my time comes to pass
over? I am a sailor. You have got no sea."
A: "Have you ever been over here?" I answered "No."
McBlin : "Well how do you know? I tell you, there is
a replica (sic) of everything on earth." After a few more words, the engine
started again, "Puff, puff……puff, puff, puff !" The snorts became fainter
and fainter, conveying an excellent idea of increasing distance, and he was
gone.
Before she finally left, Viola said : "Uncle Moore,
when you come back on Monday you see I startle Ande Z." I said : "You must
not do anything to frighten her."
A: "No I won’t hurt her ; but I make her jump." (I
hope Mrs. Z. will forgive me for not telling her of this amiable project,
but the temptation was too great to see what was going to happen.)
The musical-box was suspended in the air, and moved
round over our heads playing a tune.
The Farewell Seance Monday, February 1, 1909. 2:40 to
4:20pm. Atmospheric conditions good. It was freezing ; dry, frozen
underfoot. Sky very black to the west-ward, where it was probably snowing,
but no snow at Toledo.
(63) The light was regulated as before by drawing up
and down the shutter of the lamp in a corner of the room by strings which
led into the cabinet. Jonson sat outside till after four materialised forms
had appeared, when Grayfeather took him inside. It was given out in the
course of the afternoon that this was my "Good-bye," and that the band were
making exertions for me. The Circle was composed of the same kind friends as
attended my first materialisation seance with the Jonsons.
Nineteen separate Spirits manifested. Some of them reappeared twice or three times, one four times. I estimated that over forty forms actually appeared during the seance. Including the repetitions, ten were for me. Iola came first. I saw her profile plainly ; the right eye was closed. She talked a little in whispers, saying she was "going with me." It was a good representation, the face a good likeness, and the height and dimensions of the figure were correct. She stopped at the
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entrance of the cabinet rather too long, and dematerialised in an unnatural manner. During this seance I saw several Spirits dematerialise ; some descended in to the floor slowly and, so to speak, naturally ; it was possible to follow their heads with the eye until the shoulders were level with the carpet. Others doubled up before they dissipated, and a few fell over on one side.