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

OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 359their doing liiin :niy injury?'— 'No.'— 'Will you do all you can?'—^ Yes.'At another timo Dr. Phelps inquired if they -would not loav(; him, as hismother was so much opposed to the whole thing. 'Will you not, to obligeher, leave him, that he maybe a medium no longer?* said the doctor.The reply was, ' If we leave him, evil spirits will get possession of himagain.' These communications were made by what purported to be theboy's father. For two weeks previous to going to Philadelphia themanifestations had almost wholly subsided ',perhaps only occurred whenrequested ;and notwithstanding the repeated declarations that when heshould leave for the school in Pennsylvania, the bad spirits would come inand make him trouble, it was determined to try the experiment, and onthe 11 til of November the family set out for Philadelphia, where theywere to spend the winter, while Harry was to go to school. He remainedwith the family in Philadelphia about a week, where a few communicationswere given to Dr. Phelps in private. The spirits said they would beginto annoy the boy on the cars, on his way to the school, would pinch himand tear his clothes, so that, when he got there, they would be found torn,and that the troubles would follow him inthe school as long as he stayedthere. Dr. Phelps, under all the circumstances, thought it best not tosend him : but on consultation it was decided to have him go, and on the19th of November he started for the school. Dr. P. went a mile or twowith him, put him under the care of the conductor, and told him to reporton his return if any thing worthy of notice occurred on the way. In twodays the doctor was sent for to come and take him away. He said thatsoon after his father left him on the cars, he was pinched, pricked withpins, and annoyed in various other ways, until he reached his destination; that, on his arrival there, he found that his pantaloons were torn infront, between the waistband and the knees, in two places, several inchesin length. He changed them for another pair which were new and madeof very substantial material, and these were torn down in front at leasthalf a yard in length, before the doctor arrived there.attended him in school and other places ;The knockings hadhis books were torn and damagedto the amount of two dollars, which the doctor paid. The family wherehe was had become alarmed, and would not keep him, and he was takenaway. The boy stated that on one of the evenings, while he was there,he was walking in the street, when his cap was mysteriously taken fromhis head and thrown upon the sidewalk. As he stooped to pick it up hesaw the flash of a gun at some distance, and a bullet passed over his backand struck a board fence near him. He was afterward informed by therapping that, had he not stooped down, he would have been killed, andthat his friendly spirit took this means to preserve him.1749. '' Dr. P. now concluded to return with Harry to Stratford, andwas told that the bad spirits would have no control over him there. Thefamily in which they resided in Philadelphia had become alarmed at the