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As an English lawyer, with, I am afraid, the worst possible opiniou of human nature, to whom tlic fallibility of human testimony is ono of the first principles of judgment, sceptical by disposition, and with some experience in this investigation, I have, in this matter, trusted to nothing that I have boon told, to no observations and to uo precautions but my owu. I havo attended six oirolos at Mrs. TIuntoon’s, with tho result that the quostion of spirit materialisation is settled with me for ever. On tho ground floor aro only threo rooms—the ldtclien, dairy or larder, and tho bedroom, thirteen feet by seven, which serves as tho oabinet. Above are only the roof and rafters, without partition, of an unfinished room. Below the larder is the cellar, uot at all under the bedroom. I did uot, of course, accept the statement that there was nothing under the latter but the ground, but examined every board of the floor. These boards are continuous pieces, runuing under the partition from the kiteheu tlio lougth of both rooms. Eaoli is firmly and closely sot to its neighbour. Two of tho walls of the bedroom aro outor walls, aud I sorutinisod the boards outside, and tho plaster within, which was without scam or rent, as also tho plaster of the partitions from the larder and kitchen, and of the cciliug. The bedroom has only one window. Tbo lower part of this was uailed inside; outside 1 had nailed mosquito netting, tho tacks being driven up to tlm heads in spots selected by myself, aud uuder my own eye. I went out with a lantern and oxamined this netting throe times, (1) just beforo tho sitting eommonced, (2) immediately after tlio manifestations had fairly commenced, (3) at tho close. On the bed wore lying Mrs. Huntoon’s two younger children. I took the eldor to bo under three years old, but she tells me ho is three years and four months. We took tho bedding to pieoes, blanket by blanket, mattress by mattress. On ouly one night of the six was the eldest child, fivo years old, left in tho bedroom. The bedroom has ouly ono door, that into the kiteheu, whore wo sat. Across tho door tho сш-tain was hung.
As an English lawyer, with, I am afraid, the worst possible opiniou of human nature, to whom tlic fallibility of human testimony is ono of the first principles of judgment, sceptical by disposition, and with some experience in this investigation, I have, in this matter, trusted to nothing that I have boon told, to no observations and to uo precautions but my owu. I havo attended six oirolos at Mrs. TIuntoon’s, with tho result that the quostion of spirit materialisation is settled with me for ever. On tho ground floor aro only threo rooms—the ldtclien, dairy or larder, and tho bedroom, thirteen feet by seven, which serves as tho oabinet. Above are only the roof and rafters, without partition, of an unfinished room. Below the larder is the cellar, uot at all under the bedroom. I did uot, of course, accept the statement that there was nothing under the latter but the ground, but examined every board of the floor. These boards are continuous pieces, runuing under the partition from the kiteheu tlio lougth of both rooms. Eaoli is firmly and closely sot to its neighbour. Two of tho walls of the bedroom aro outor walls, aud I sorutinisod the boards outside, and tho plaster within, which was without scam or rent, as also tho plaster of the partitions from the larder and kitchen, and of the cciliug. The bedroom has only one window. Tbo lower part of this was uailed inside; outside 1 had nailed mosquito netting, tho tacks being driven up to tlm heads in spots selected by myself, aud uuder my own eye. I went out with a lantern and oxamined this netting throe times, (1) just beforo tho sitting eommonced, (2) immediately after tlio manifestations had fairly commenced, (3) at tho close. On the bed wore lying Mrs. Huntoon’s two younger children. I took the eldor to bo under three years old, but she tells me ho is three years and four months. We took tho bedding to pieoes, blanket by blanket, mattress by mattress. On ouly one night of the six was the eldest child, fivo years old, left in tho bedroom. The bedroom has ouly ono door, that into the kiteheu, whore wo sat. Across tho door tho сш-tain was hung.


So far, of course, I had only provided against access to the room by an accomplice. But now comes tho crucial test—the ability to stand which distinguishes Mrs. Huntoon’s mediumship from that of ever}'- other, with the exception, I am told, of Mrs. Stewart, of Terre Haute, Inch During the first part of tho ''seance'' Mrs. Huntoon sits ''outside'' the curtaiu, in the kitohon with us, no part of her person being in the bedroom. The light, though not good enough to diseern the features of the apparitions, is sufficicut to mako perfeetly observable tlie smallest movemeut of tho medium. I could seo the time by my small watch by it. Wo sat feet from tho curtain. I was quite satisfied with theso precautions. A gentleman with me, however, was not, at least for the purpose of reporting, though ho agreed with mo that they were perfectly sufficient for our о mi satisfaction. Aceordingly we tied Mrs. Huutoou’s bauds seourely to the back of her chair, and her foet to the legs of the ehair. Now, under these conditions, faces began immediately to appear, sometimes<ref>{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|Open upper leaflet for }}{{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|...}}<br>
So far, of course, I had only provided against access to the room by an accomplice. But now comes tho crucial test—the ability to stand which distinguishes Mrs. Huntoon’s mediumship from that of ever}'- other, with the exception, I am told, of Mrs. Stewart, of Terre Haute, Inch During the first part of tho ''seance'' Mrs. Huntoon sits ''outside'' the curtaiu, in the kitohon with us, no part of her person being in the bedroom. The light, though not good enough to diseern the features of the apparitions, is sufficicut to mako perfeetly observable tlie smallest movemeut of tho medium. I could seo the time by my small watch by it. Wo sat feet from tho curtain. I was quite satisfied with theso precautions. A gentleman with me, however, was not, at least for the purpose of reporting, though ho agreed with mo that they were perfectly sufficient for our о mi satisfaction. Aceordingly we tied Mrs. Huutoou’s bauds seourely to the back of her chair, and her foet to the legs of the ehair. Now, under these conditions, faces began immediately to appear, sometimes {{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|*}}
{{Style S-HPB SB. Editors note|The rest of the article is not found in HPB SB, so it is added from the original source.}}</ref>
{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|Open upper leaflet for continuation<ref>The rest of the article is not found in HPB SB, so it is added from the original source.</ref> |center}}
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two at a time, through the curtain; a fiddle in tho bedroom was played, and while Mrs. Huutoon sang “ John Brown,” a voice from behind the curtain, strouger than hers, accompanied her.' On other occasions, after-all the foregoiug precautions, with the exception that the medium was uot tied (though it must be distinctly understood, visible to all of us), the full length form of' a young mau emerged from tho side of the curtain furthest from Mrs. ILuntoon, and stood before us for several seconds. The same spirit has come several times, under conditions, however, not so rigorous. By and by, the power becoming exhausted under these trying tests, a voice from the bedroom calls Mrs. Huntoon behind the curtain. And then the manifestations becomo much stronger; but, as the tost is at an end, to recount them is not within tho scope of my present object.
{{Style P-No indent|{{Style S-HPB SB. Restored|two at a time, through the curtain; a fiddle in tho bedroom was played, and while Mrs. Huutoon sang “ John Brown,” a voice from behind the curtain, strouger than hers, accompanied her.' On other occasions, after-all the foregoiug precautions, with the exception that the medium was uot tied (though it must be distinctly understood, visible to all of us), the full length form of' a young mau emerged from tho side of the curtain furthest from Mrs. ILuntoon, and stood before us for several seconds. The same spirit has come several times, under conditions, however, not so rigorous. By and by, the power becoming exhausted under these trying tests, a voice from the bedroom calls Mrs. Huntoon behind the curtain. And then the manifestations becomo much stronger; but, as the tost is at an end, to recount them is not within tho scope of my present object.}}}}


One warning I wish to give visitors to Mrs. Huntoon and every other medium. Do not mix up the question of spirit materialisation with that of spirit 'identity. Fates aud figures purporting to he thoso of spirit friends will come to you. Your dear relatives will manifest tho utmost eagerness and impatience to be recognised, but when you come to put the simplest test question, they will, unless you have been fool enough to blab out particulars about them beforehand, cither fail to answer, or answer wrongly. That is my experience ; I do not say it is invariably the case. Unless proper precautions are taken to exclude such an explanation,people, of course, go away with the uotion that it is all fraud and personation by the medium. Much of it I am nearly sure is fraud and personation, ''not by the medium, but by spirits, possibly not even human spirits''. But I am verging on deep and difficult speculations. To return to Mrs. Huntoon. Sho has offered to come to any room in Rutland I may select for the purpose, aud there to hold a ''seance'' under any test I may impose. I am satisfied already, and have declined tho offer. Investigators will, she assures.me, and I quite believe her, experience from her a cheerful compliance with any tests not absolutely cruel, not, of course, inconsistent with the invariable conditions of spirit materialisation. You have two things only to guard against—confederacy and personation by the medium—with Mrs. Huutoou, hut with very few other mediums, it is the easiest thing iu tho world to take perfect precautions against cither.
{{Style S-HPB SB. Restored|One warning I wish to give visitors to Mrs. Huntoon and every other medium. Do not mix up the question of spirit materialisation with that of spirit 'identity. Fates aud figures purporting to he thoso of spirit friends will come to you. Your dear relatives will manifest tho utmost eagerness and impatience to be recognised, but when you come to put the simplest test question, they will, unless you have been fool enough to blab out particulars about them beforehand, cither fail to answer, or answer wrongly. That is my experience ; I do not say it is invariably the case. Unless proper precautions are taken to exclude such an explanation,people, of course, go away with the uotion that it is all fraud and personation by the medium. Much of it I am nearly sure is fraud and personation, ''not by the medium, but by spirits, possibly not even human spirits''. But I am verging on deep and difficult speculations. To return to Mrs. Huntoon. Sho has offered to come to any room in Rutland I may select for the purpose, aud there to hold a ''seance'' under any test I may impose. I am satisfied already, and have declined tho offer. Investigators will, she assures.me, and I quite believe her, experience from her a cheerful compliance with any tests not absolutely cruel, not, of course, inconsistent with the invariable conditions of spirit materialisation. You have two things only to guard against—confederacy and personation by the medium—with Mrs. Huutoou, hut with very few other mediums, it is the easiest thing iu tho world to take perfect precautions against cither.}}


Excuse, sir, this long letter—I have no interest in its publication. I write it at the request of Mrs. Iluutoon, made after I had avowed myself completely satisfied and convinced, a request whieh I thought I could not in justice refuse.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
{{Style S-HPB SB. Restored|Excuse, sir, this long letter—I have no interest in its publication. I write it at the request of Mrs. Iluutoon, made after I had avowed myself completely satisfied and convinced, a request whieh I thought I could not in justice refuse.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,}}


{{Style P-Signature in capitals|An English Barrister.}}
{{Style P-Signature in capitals|{{Style S-HPB SB. Restored|An English Barrister.}}}}
 
{{Style S-HPB SB. Restored|Postscript.—I have said tho Eddys are not test mediums, but I should qualify this statement as to Horatio, whoso light circles ought to give satisfaction to any close observer. I referred to Williams’s materialisation circles.}}


Postscript.—I have said tho Eddys are not test mediums, but I should qualify this statement as to Horatio, whoso light circles ought to give satisfaction to any close observer. I referred to Williams’s materialisation circles.


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{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|“An English Barrister” is our friend C.C. Massey. {{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|J.R.E.}}|center}}
{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|“An English Barrister” is our friend C.C. Massey. {{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|J.R.E.}}|center}}


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