The Spiritualist newspaper > No.318, September 27th 1878

Sept. 27, 1878.
THE SPIRITUALIST.
153
MESSES. WILLIAMS AND EITA AT AMSTEEDAM.
We have received the following letters:—
To the Editor ofu The Spiritualist.”
Sir,—Having seen the report in The Spiritualist of Thursday last,
entitled “ An Exposure of Imposture,” I request that you will publish
the following statement, so that I may have an opportunity of
refuting the charges made against me in that article. As you are
aware, I went to Holland on the 28th of last month, making my
seventh visit to that country. This year I was accompanied by Mr.
Eita. We gave several seances at The Hague, which received a
glowing report from Mr. Eiko. Afterwards, on going to Amsterdam,
we gave three stances at that place, the last of which was the one
where the feigned exposure of imposture was made. It is evident
from subsequent circumstances that a plan was made out whereby
the members of that seance endeavoured to lay a trap for our
destruction.
I will now give you my version of the occurrence. I may state that
I felt very unwell on entering the room, and Mr. Eita remarked that
he did also. We sat under ordinary test conditions during the first
part of the seance. We then retired behind a threefold screen, which,
placed before a couch, formed the cabinet. After we had been sitting
a few minutes, I was aroused from a semi-entranced state by a loud
outcry, and by the screen falling in upon us. Then I felt myself
roughly handled. A light was struck, and a general tumult ensued.
I was then dragged into the midst of at least a dozen apparently
infuriated men, and, as near as I could judge from their imperfect
ejaculations (one or two of them only speaking English, and
that very imperfectly), we were accused of cheating. I was
in a state of the greatest amazement, and naturally very indignant,
for it was Mr. Eita who had been engaged to give the seances.
For some reason the room door was opened, and I made my way
to the hall, followed by half-a-dozen men. I found the street
door locked, and was told I should not leave until I was searched. I
was seized by several men, one of whom searched my dress and all my
pockets; at length, putting his hand behind me, he produced what
appeared to be a roll of white stuff, apparently taken from my tail¬
coat pocket. This I was not allowed to examine. After some little
delay we left the house, two or three of the men offering to show us
the way. The next morning we proceeded to The Hague, and went to
Mr. Eiko, who advised us to return to England, which we did
accordingly.
I must admit that appearances assume a strange aspect, but that I
am innocent of the charges brought against me. I declare most
solemnly that the people at Amsterdam have misstated in a great
measure what took place on that occasion. The hand-bag they spoke
of remained at my hotel, and was interfered with, as the hotelkeeper
can prove.
I do not consider it worth my while to reply to the personal abuse of
Mr. Eiko and others, as it would cause another phase of the matter to
come to light.
In conclusion, I beg of all those who know me whether it is at all
feasible that I, who have stood the test of public mediumship, in¬
cluding stringent tests of scientific men, for the space of at least eight
years, should have occasion to play the part of a trickster. I am sure
that did I find it necessary I should retire from the immediate position
of a public medium.
Trusting that you will insert the whole of this letter, I am, sir,
yours, &c., Charles E. Williams.
To the Editor of “ The Spiritualist."
Sir,—Permit me to make a few remarks about Mr. Eiko’s and others’
statements concerning the affair at Amsterdam. In the first place the
ordinary manifestations at the table took place under test conditions.
Mr. Williams and I then took seats on a couch, which, with a screen in
front, formed the cabinet. After sitting for a few minutes we heard a
great noise, and felt some individuals “ on ” us, and a light being struck
we found ourselves sat upon by people evidently excited, one shouting
out, “ We got hold of the medium,” as far as we could gather from one
who spoke indifferent English.
I offered to give another sitting on the spot, which they refused.
There was no disposition on our part to run away. As to the state¬
ments about fighting, foaming, and broken furniture, we simply contra¬
dict them; the darkness, however, excuses mistakes in personal identity.
With some reluctance we, therefore, refuse the compliment about our
pugilistic gifts. Concerning things being found on our persons, I have
not the remotest idea how they came there, but believe there was a con¬
spiracy. The returning to me of two pocket handkerchiefs is a mistake,
as none were returned to me. They took my bag to be searched in the
presence (so they said) of four policemen. About the rest of this search
I know nothing, not having been present.
At Mr. Kiko’s the next day, at The Hague, Mr. Williams asked,
“ What do you think of this affair?” (alluding to roughs is incorrect),
to which Mr. Riko replied, “ I don’t know until I hear more.” Mr.
Williams asked whether we ought to go or stay, to which he
gave the advice to leave Holland at once, for what reasons I don’t
know. The priestly advice about becoming an honest workman is
superfluous. A. Eita.
To the Editor of “ The Spiritualist."
Amsterdam, September 18th, 1878.
Sir,—We feel compelled to communicate to you the following facts,
for we are convinced that it is in the interest of all investigators to know
the truth, and the genuineness of those who claim to be mediums.
Messrs. A. Rita and Ch. E. Williams, both from London, who have
enjoyed till now a reputation beyond all doubt, and were renowned as
genuine and honest mediums, came to our place to give a series of
six stances on the 8th instant and following days.
The first sitting took place on the evening of Sunday, the 8 th
September, the circle consisting of eight sitters. The usual dark seance
manifestations at the table occurred, and after a pause of a quarter of an
hour, we proceeded to see the cabinet manifestations, viz., materialisa¬
tions. The so-called spirits of John King and Charlie presented them¬
selves, and showed their faces with the spirit lamps. After that the
so-called spirit Peter, at the request of one of the gentlemen, brought in
from an adjoining room an object which was laid down there for that
purpose. After the close of the sitting, the landlady, who did not join
the circle, but was busy in the room below the seance room, made the
observation that she had heard footsteps distinctly, and the creaking
noise of boots in the room from which the object had been brought, and
assured us that nobody else but one of the mediums could have
entered the above-mentioned room. These circumstances, added to the
fact that the mediums had not been bound in the cabinet, and that the
cabinet itself (which fitted in the opening of the door between the two
rooms) could be removed, raised the suspicions of some of us, who
resolved to try to detect any possible fraud at the next sitting at which
they would be present.
On the 10th September a seance took place at the house of one of the
undersigned. After the usual table manifestations, the cabinet was
made, and Messrs. Rita and Williams placed in it. Some minutes elapsed,
and all sat waiting patiently. The musical box played very loudly, and
made it impossible to hear any noise in the cabinet.
The spirit form of John King showed himself, lighted by his lamp;
then came the form of Charlie, also with his light. The gentleman next to
the cabinet, Mr. C. Ferpstra, jumped up and made a grasp at the spirit (?)
and .... seized the medium, A. Rita, by the collar of his coat. A
struggle in the dark ensued; blows were given and received; some
pieces of furniture were broken, a lady fainted, and the musical box
continued to play its merry tunes; it was a scene of indescribable
confusion. At length a light was struck, and we saw Mr. Ferpstra
rising from the ground, and the mediums (who in the struggle had
found time to hide their apparatus) sitting on the sofa with faces deadly
pale, and much disturbed. They pretended not to know at all what
was the matter, and refused to give any explanation; neither did they
accept the offer of Mr. Ferpstra to give a new sitting after being
searched. On the contrary, they tried to escape through the front
door, but were brought back into the room by some of the gentlemen.
In short, after some fruitless defence on their part, their persons and
clothes were searched (ad forcem majorurn), and the following objects
found hidden between their dresses and in their pockets.
On Mr. Rita : A reddish grey postiche beard ; a large cotton hand¬
kerchief; a ditto of muslin; a smaller ditto; a flat round bottle of
phosphoric oil (he kept two ordinary handkerchiefs for his private use
with him). In his hand-bag: A large bottle of phosphoric oil; a bottle
of scent; and a tube containing small pieces of slate pencil (for the pur¬
pose of procuring direct writing between two sealed slates).
On Mr. Williams: A very dirty worn-out (?) black postiche beard ;
about six or seven yards of very thin and worn-out, dirty, and soiled
muslin, in three pieces; and a round flat bottle of phosphoric oil. All
these objects to be seen and examined at the house of the first under¬
signed.
We only give facts, and our opinion that genuine mediums do not
carry such apparatus with them. Every sane man will conceive the
fraudulent purpose of the described objects, and no longer believe that
Mr. Williams and Mr. Rita are mediums, but come to the conclusion
that a lot of people have been already too long the victims of their
imposture.
C. Ferpstra, Amsterdam, Damrak 49.
M. KrabbE, Amsterdam, Rapenberg 31.
Justus van Maurik, Amsterdam, Damrak 49.
A. J. Daniels, Amsterdam, Droogbak 5.
C. Admiraal, Amsterdam, Plant. Badlaam 12.
T. F. Roosfinck, Amsterdam, Droogbak 5.
H. Drawer, Amsterdam, H. Houttuinen 23.
J. J. Zaalberg v. Zelst, Opticus, Amsterdam, Singel 189.
Mr. Williams having borne a good name for eight years, and com¬
monly obtained very powerful manifestations while he was held hand
and foot in strange houses, which he visited alone, the investigation of
this matter, and what should be done in relation to it, had better be
decided by the National Association of Spiritualists, as a representative
body. The writers at Amsterdam say:—“ The usual dark seance mani¬
festations at the table occurred,’’ which to the English means that they
witnessed strong manifestations while they held the medium’s hand and
foot all the time. If so, it proves that those mediums were under
some strong control outside their own bodies on the night of the eventful
siance at Amsterdam, consequently what do the writers mean by after¬
wards saying that they “ no longer believe that Mr. Williams and Mr.
Rita are mediums ?” The two statements contradict each other, yet are
both signed as accurate.
The whole matter forms a strong argument in favour of abolishing
cabinet seances, and publishing only those materialisation phenomena
which are obtained while mediums are held hand and foot.
M. Leon Favre-Clavairoz, late Consul at Trieste, has returned to
France, and will spend some time with Monsieur Pierart in his retreat
at St. Maur. M. Favre-Clavairoz is brother to M, Jules Favre, the
celebrated French jurist and statesman,