HPB-SB-10-449: Difference between revisions

  | title =Sir,-I fear you must be almost tired of the Fletcher-Slade controversy...

  | source details = No. 425, October 15, 1880, pp. 189-91

The arrest of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Fletcher, the spiritual mediums, for obtaining as is alleged, by false pretences, a large lot of valuable laces and diamonds from Mrs. Hart Davies, is still fresh in the minds of ''The Globe'' readers, and on Saturday a new development occurred that bids fair to bring it again before the general public. In an interview Saturday afternoon with Major John W. Mahan, counsel for the Fletchers in this affair, that gentleman stated that the defence will claim that the property in question belongs to Mrs. Susie W. Fletcher, and became hers by a deed of gift from Mrs. Davies, who gave her besides some articles of value that were left in London when the Fletchers came back to this country. It is also alleged that Mrs. Davies, to make the matter more binding, at the time the deed was executed, sent a letter to Mrs. Fletcher, stating that she personally made the conveyance, in order that her heirs might not interfere with the execution of her wishes, or the incumbrance of trustees be incurred, as would be the case, perhaps, if the expression of her kindness was made through her last will and testament; she offered also to give a bill of sale, if necessary. Major Mahan says that the Fletchers have paid large bills contracted by Mrs. Davies, aggregating over $500, and, also, while living in London, provided her with board, rooms, medical attendance, and incurred other expenses on her account, so much so as to give them a legal right to a lien or claim upon her baggage and personal effects as security for unpaid bills. The defence will further set forth, and expect to prove, that in August last Mrs. Davies met with Dr. James McGeary, or “Dr. Mack,” as he is better known in some circles, who obtained such a powerful control over her by the agency of alleged “Spiritual Manifestations” as to be able to induce her to give him a power of attorney to take all of this property which it is alleged by the defence she had given Mrs. Fletcher. It is further claimed that in August last, the Fletchers, who were then stopping at the Lake Pleasant House in Montague, Franklin county, the well-known Spiritualist camp-meeting rendezvous, were called upon by Mr. Geary who demanded this property and was denied. He returned on the 20th of August with an unknown man, whom he represented to be an officer, and exhibiting a warrant, called upon Mr. Fletcher, “in the name of the law,” to surrender the goods, or this officer should arrest him. Mr. Fletcher said he would deliver the property, but under protest, and did so, giving up a trunk, with jewellery, wearing apparel, etc., of the Davies bequest to Mrs. Fletcher. Major Mahan has found that such a search-warrant was properly issued by the trial justice at Montague, but no return has been made upon it. He says McGeary is reported to have openly exhibited some of this jewellery, and boasted how he succeeded in frightening it out of Fletcher. By direction of his client Major Mahan procured the issue of two writs, in each of which Susan W. Fletcher is the plaintiff. One charges James {{Style S-HPB SB. Continues on|10-450}}