[83] I have it on the positive word of Stuart Cumberland, who was at one of the seances of the “Masked Medium” and he gave me definite specifications and positive facts of the reading of the initials in the ring submitted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the “Masked Medium” whom he said possessed remarkable powers. Stuart Cumberland told me a number of ways this feat could be done. Among them, the black boxes were exchanged surreptitiously in the dark, and then brought back. It is an easy thing to present a box for inspection and yet have false compartments in it so that the contents will fall out. It was only after the methods were told innumerable times to Sir Arthur that he condemned it as a fraud.
[84] According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, March 9, 1923, Clarence Thomson, self-styled missionary, President and member of the Board of Directors of the International Psychical Association, was fined $25 and sentenced to serve 30 days in jail. He admitted he had been arrested in Chicago and Kansas City for conducting seances, but said he had been honorably discharged.
[85] Other performers are doing this feat. I have performed it regularly for thirty years without any supernatural power whatever.
[86] See [Davenport] chapter.
[87] These articles were syndicated, New York American, Sept. 3rd, 1922.
[88] Morning Post, July 16, 1920.
[89] See [Appendix G].
[90] This was not known to Lady Doyle. If it had been my Dear Mother’s Spirit communicating a message, she, knowing her birthday was my most holy holiday, surely would have commented on it.
[91] So far, all of the several seances of investigation held under the auspices of the Scientific American, have failed in proving the existence of supernatural power or force, such as might with logical consistency be conceded as psychic.
Valentine, the Wilkesbarre medium, proved to be a failure. Rev. (?) Jessie K. Stewart the same. Mrs. Elizabeth Allen Tomson of Chicago, a complete fiasco, not possessing sufficient courage to attempt a sitting other than under conditions and in a place prescribed by herself. And lastly the Italian lad, Nino Pecoraro, has accomplished nothing beyond the possibility of human exertion, and failed utterly in so doing when securely fettered, as proved to be the case, when I personally did the tying. See also [Appendix H].