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

346 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE1G95. ^' The family concluded that, alter these important disclosureswore made, the disturbances would cease ; but they were doomed to bedisappointed. The following night no communications were made, butthe throwing of articles and breaking of windows, crockery, etc., wererenewed with greater violence than before. Four or live panes of glasswere broken in one room in the space of half an hour.While the familywere together in the cast chamber, a small sauce-dish, with an iron handle,rose from the floor, under the washstand, and beat against the bedsteadwith sucli violence as to break the handle oif, and was then thrown backfrom whence it started. It beat seven or eight times against the bedstead,producing a noise that could easily be heard twenty rods. A round of achair was beaten against the bedstead in the same manner, when there wasno person within seven or eight feet of it. A lamp that was on themantel leaped into the middle of the floor, and was extinguished. Beingleft thus suddenly in the dark produced no little agitation, and Mrs.Phelps proposed that they should take the children and go into the street,rather than stay in the house that night. In a few minutes two gentlemen,who had appointed to spend the night with them, arrived, and themore violent of the manifestations ceased.1696. '^ About this time, Dr. P.^s attention was called to the fiict thatthe demonstrations were much more violent in the presence of some personsthan of others. While some were present they would cease entirely,and commence as soon as they left, with great vehemence.1697. On ^' the 17th the communications were renewed, and from thattime they had frequent communications, mainly respecting the propertyaffair. At one time they asked how they should know that this wasreally from the spirit it purported to be, and requested his signaturewhen in less than four minutes a small piece of paper, having on it anexact fac-simile of his handwriting, was seen sticking to the wall—thewriting apparently done with a pencil. Dr. Phelps still preserves theoriginal paper, with the name inked over. It was stuck to the wall bybeing made damp.1698. '' It was now discovered that, in order to get the rapping, thepresence of Henry was necessary. At one time a request was made bythe rapping to send him to New York, and a threat that all the windowsin the house would be broken, if they did not, was made ; but in a fewminutes after, a small piece of paper was seen to flill,apparently from theceiling, and on it written, ^ Send him not to New York—evil will befallhim.' It was evident that there were two or more contending agenciesengaged in the manifestations. It was not easy to define or imaginewhat their objects were. At times, when one was making a communication,the other would rap, seemingly to make confusion. At othertimes, when a communication was being made by alphabet, a paperwould be dropped down, and on it written, * It is all a lie jdon't believe