Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

334 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE1668. " The first disturbances took place on tlie tenth day of March,1850, at the house of Rev. Eliakim Phelps, D.D. The house had beenoccupied by him from the 22d of February, 1848.It is a large and genteelcountry mansion, separated from the street by a fence forty-five feetin front of the house; which is thirty-two feet in front, and, including thepiazza, seventy feet deep, with a hall thirteen feet wide, mnning throughthe whole depth of the building.Adjoining, and opening from this hall,are two parlours and a dining-room. On the second floor are five sleepingrooms,and on the third floor tw^o. The kitchen is in the basement. The housewas built about the year 1829 or '30 by a Captain Dondall, who for severalyears commanded a vessel in the China trade, and who died in the Bay ofCanton within two or three years after hisfamily had taken up their residencein the house. The property then passed into the hands of anothersea-captain, by the name of Purcell, who, with his family, occupied it forseveral years. Captain Purcell dying suddenly in New York, the familyremoved, and the house was occupied by an Episcopal clergyman for aschool a year or more, and afterward by a Mr ,also as a school forboys.1669. ^^JNTone of the families who had thus far occupied the house hadever been disturbed, or witnessed any thing aside from ordinary events.At the death of Captain Purcell it became the property of the two daughters,of whom Dr. Phelps purchased it during the month of November,1847. For two years previous to this it had been unoccupied. Dr. Phelpsand family commenced their residence therein on the 22d of February,1848. Nothing occurred to excite the attention of the family out of theordinary course of events until the 10th of March, 1850 ; and, as beforestated, nothing can be learned of any strange orunusual events occurringthere previous to that time. It will be observed by the dates given thatDr. Phelps had occupied the house more than two years, had found it anagreeable and quiet place of residence—having never himself or any memberof the family been disturbed or alarmed by unusual occurrences.the10th of March, as above stated, it being the Sabbath, Dr. Phelps andfamily, consisting of Mrs. Phelps, two daughters, and two sons, the eldesta daughter aged sixteen, a son of twelve years, and a second daughter ofsix years, children of Mrs. Phelps by a former marriage, and another son ofDr. Phelps by the present marriage, not then three years old, allOnattendedchurch; and an Irish servant girl, who had been employed in the fiimilysome six months, and had shown herself to be honest and trustworthy, hadgone on that day to Bridgeport, to attend the Catholic church.On leavingthe house in the morning, it appears that the doctor had secured thechamber doors, and put the keys in his pocket; those which could be werelocked inside and the keys left in them. The only door by which the chamberscould be entered was locked, and the key taken by Dr. Phelps. Healso locked the front door inside, left the key in the lock, and, passing out at