The Testimony of W. C. PUGH, ESQ., OF MIDDLESBROUGH
(A straight statement by an investigator who has secured many recognised psychic photographic results, through the Crewe Circle, in his own home.)
It is a number of years since I first sat with the Crewe Circle, and I have sat with them quite a dozen times since, and on each occasion I have received convincing proof of the genuineness of their phenomena. I have beside me quite a collection of photographs taken by them, and each photo has a message of its own; some contain extras of friends who have passed on, and others contain messages from interested friends beyond the grave. The extras on practically all my photos have been recognised by relatives and friends.
I enclose copy of one of these with two extras which have been readily recognised by all my friends as my father and mother, both of whom had passed on before I met the Crewe Circle. I also enclose copies of original photos for comparison. [Not reproduced.—Ed.]
My opportunities for testing the genuineness of the Crewe Circle’s work have been unique because they have taken over a hundred photos in my house in Middlesbrough. When they have spent a few days here they have lived with us. My wife and I made all the arrangements for their visit, and entertained them during their stay. Applications for sittings were made to us and we fixed them up. In the vast majority of cases the Crew Circle had never seen the sitters till they arrived at their appointed times. In many cases they never saw them again. Yet their success has been phenomenal. Many have received photos with extras which they recognised at sight. Others have taken them home and had them recognised by friends or other members of their families.
The Circle brought no plates with them. Each sitter provided his or her own. My sitting-room was the studio. My bath-room was the developing room. Unused plates were left behind when the Circle went away, and my lad, who has a camera, has been supplied with a stock of plates for use amongst his friends.
To those of us who know the members of the circle so well, some of the statements appearing in the Press have been very amusing. The idea of Mr. Hope beating the conjurers at their own game is too ridiculous for words. Expert photographers who have had experience of Mr. Hope’s methods must also have been greatly amused.
Fig. 24.—Photograph of Mrs. R. Foulds, of Sheffield, with psychic photograph of her mother, obtained under good test conditions. Compare with [Fig. 25]. (See p. [125].)
Fig. 25.—Photograph of Mrs. Foulds’ mother for comparison with psychic effect on [Fig. 24].
Fig. 26.—Photograph of Mrs. A. E. Griere with psychic likeness of husband and father. The sitter was a total stranger to the Crewe Circle. Compare the lower face with [Fig. 27]. (See p. [127].)
Fig. 27.—Photograph of Mrs. Griere’s husband for comparison with his psychic likeness on [Fig. 26].
Then there is the question of motive. Let me state that the Crewe Circle have never had one penny piece out of their various visits to Middlesboro’. We charged sufficient from each sitter to pay railway expenses only, nothing more. We paid for the railway tickets, that was all. Where on earth was the incentive for these people to leave their homes to come here to deceive us? One’s sense of humour must have been neglected if they cannot see that the whole of the charges are too funny for words.
That the phenomena are genuine I am convinced. What is behind the phenomena is another matter, and does not enter into the present question.
If the scientists care to continue to drag on behind plain common-sense people let them do so. I have scores of good friends who have had that experience which no scientist can take from them, and I prefer to accept their opinions, along with my own experience, rather than listen to those people whose one desire seems to be to bolster up preconceived ideas.
The world would be better for some more people as honest as are the members of the Crewe Circle.
(Signed) William Cowell Pugh.
61, St. Paul’s Road, Middlesbrough.