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

358 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCEplaced upon the table !The experiment was repeated several times, withthe same result; every precaution being taken to prevent collusion in thematter.1747. ^^ On a subsequent occasion a chair was placed upon the table byinvisible power, and the two children, Harry and Hannah, raised up andplaced upon it; they could neither of them tell how it was done. Thesensation was that of some personplacing a hand under them and raisingthem up. Many of these things occurred when the room was darkened,as has been the case in numerous other places, and for which explanationshave been recorded, as given by the spirits. On the evening of the 20thof October, the light being put out of the room, the bell was placed underthe table, with a request that it should be rung, and placed in the doctor'shand. He was sitting by the table with both his hands lying on hislap open, with the palms upward. The bell rung several times with someviolence, and then was placed in his left hand.five times in succession.This was repeated four orDr. P. sat beyond the reach of any one, and theroom was sufficiently light for him to have detected any movement on thepart of persons present. He requested them to let him feel the hand thatplaced the bell in his. Very soon a hand came in contact with his, tookhold of his fingers, shaking his hand, passed slowly over the back of hishand, then over the palm again, took hold of his fingers, and he felt whathe is sure to have been a human hand. He describes it as being cold andmoist, which accords with my own experience repeatedly, and that of myfriends. They then took hold of his foot, shook it with much force,loosened the string, took off the shoe, and placed it upon the table beforehim. At hi^ request the shoe was replaced, the heel adjusted, and thestrings drawn up, but not tied.1748. ^^ On a subsequent occasion a large-sized tea-bell was rung underthe table, then rose up, passed round the room, ringing violently all theway, and fell upon the table.The candle was in the closet, but the roomwas sufficiently light to make it certain that no person left the table toconvey it. It was manifest that from the time Harry returned from NewLebanon the manifestations began gradually to subside. They were lessfrequent and less marked. It was arranged that he should accompanythe family to Philadelphia, and go to a boarding-school at a town abouttwenty miles distant from the city. At different times he had been toldthat if he went there he would again be annoyed by bad spirits. Thequestion was many times put, ' Will you annoy him again if he goes tothe school V A.—' We will not, but others will.'—' What others V A.—'Those who were with him last summer.'— 'Will they disturb him if hestays here and goes to the academy in Stratford ?' ' No. Thc}^ will notdisturb him while he is with you.'—' AVhat will they do if he goes toPennsylvania ?' A.—' They will tear his clothes, destroy his books, andbreak his windows.'—' Can you not control those bad spirits, and prevent