DETECTION OF THE AMERICAN SUPERNATURALISTS. [From the "Watchman, June 18.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 586, 26 November 1851, Page 4

DETECTION OF THE AMERICAN SUPERNATURALISTS. [From the " Watchman, June 18.]

Within a few dnvs pist we hove had a final exposure -of the Rochester Rappeis or Knockers. The following statement is from a f«nmlo who id a connection of the Fox Rappers, and assisted as a medium. She is known to he very tiustworthy and res-pertable, and her deposition settles the whole question. The clique of humbuggers is exposed, and the folly of the followeis of Greely is as well established as those of the rabbit women were in England The London Spectator at one time seemed very much inclined to patronise the new revelation : — Deposition of Mrs. Norman Culver, taken at Aroadia, N.Y.,Apn117, 1851. I am, by roainage, a connection of the Fox girls ; their brother roamed my husband's sister. The girls Lave been a great deal at my house, and for about two years I was a very sinceiebelierer in the rappings j but come things which I saw when 1 was visiting the girls at Rochester roademe suspect that they were deceiving. I resolved to satisfy myself in some war ; and some time afterwards I made a proposition to Cathenne to assist lipr in producing the manifestations. I had a cousin visiting me from Michigan, who was goiug to consult the spirits, and 3 told Catherine that if they intended to .go to Detroit it would be a gre<it thing for them to convince him. I also told her that if I could do anything to help her, I would do it cheerfully ; that 1 should probably be able to nuswer all the questions he would ask, and I would do it if she would .show me Low lo make the raps. She said that, as Mnr&aretta was absent, she wanted somebody to help her, and that if I would become a medium she would expl.iin it all to inc. She said that when my cousin consulted thespnits I must sit next to her, and touch her arm whpn the light letter was called. 1 did so, and wui able to answer nearly all the questions conecily. Aiicr I had helped her in this wav a few times, iov< aled to me the secret. The laps are pioduced with the toes. All the toes are used. After nearly a week's practice, uith Catherine showing me how, I could produce them per- j fectly myself. At first it wns very haid work to do it. Catherine told me> to wvmri my feet, or put them in warm water, and it would then be easier work to tap; she said that t-be had sometimes to warm her feet three or four times in the course of an evening. I found that hentmg ray feet did enable me to rap a great d«al easier. I have sometimes produced a hundred and fifty raps in succession. I can rap with all the toes on both feet ; it is most difficult to rap with the great toe. Catherine told me how to manage to answer the questions. She said it was generally easy enough to answer right if the one who asked the questions called the alphabet. She said the reason why they a&ked people to write down several names on paper, and then point to them till the spirit rapped at the right one, was to give them a chance to watch the countenance and motions of the person, and that in that way they could nearly always guess right. She also explained how they held down and moved tables. (Mis. Culver gave us some illustrations of the tricks.) She told me that all I should have to do to make the raps heard oti the table would be to put my foot against the bottom of the table when I rapped, and that when I wibhed to make the raps sound distant on the vrall, I musl make them louder, and direct my own eyes earnestly to the spot where 1 wished them to be heard. She baid if I coulci put my foot against the bottom of the door, the raps would be heaid on the top of the door. Catherine told me that w hen the committee held their ankles in Rochester, the Dutch servant girl rapped with her knuckles, under the flooi from the cellar. The girl was instructed to rap whenever she heard their voices calling the spirits. Catherine also showed me how thpy made the sounds of sawing and planing boards. (The whole trick was explained to us.) When I was at Rochester last January, Margaretta told me that when people insisted on seeing Ler feet and toes, she could produce a few raps with her knee and ankle. Elizabeth Fish (Mrs. Fish's daughter) who now lives w ith her father, waR the first one who produced these raps. She accidentally discovered the way to make them by playing with her toes against the foot board whila in bed. Catheiine told me th it the reason why Elizabeth went away west to live with her father, was because she was too conscientious to become a medium. The whole tecret was revealed to me, with the understanding that I should practise as a medium when the girls were away. Catherine said that whenever I practised I had better have my little girl at the table with mp, and make folks believe that she was the medium, for she said they would not suspect so young a child of any trick. After I had obtained the whole secret, I plainly told Catherine that my only object was to find out how these tiicks were done, and that 1 should never go any faither in this imposition. She was very much frightened, and said she believed that 1 meant to tell of it, and expose them ; and if 1 did, she would swear it was a lie. She was so nervous and excited thnt I had to sleep with her that night. When she wns instructing me how to be a medium, she told me how frightened they used to get in New York for fear somebody would detect them, and gave me the TvhoJe history of all the tricks they played upon the people there. She said that once Margaretta spoke aloud, and the whole party believed it was a spirit. Mrs. Norman Culver. We hereby certify that Mrs. Culver is one of the most reputuble and intelligent ladies in the town of Arcadia. We were present when she made the disclosures contained in the above papei ; we had heard the same from her before, and we cheerfully bear testimony that there cannot be the slightest doubt of the truth o£ the whole statement. C. G. Pomeiioy, M.D. Rlv. 1). S. Chase. I have in my possession other depositions from persons residing in Rochester, who have been confedeiutes ■of the Fox girls in the rapping business, which, in due time nnd form, will be made public. The reign of these impostors is nearly at an end, and the few editors ■who hare been the means of deceiving the public in relation to their real character, will, I trust, have their reward in the deep indignution and soorn of those whose credulity has been abused. 11. Bunn. Pittsburg, May 20. 185t.

New Hippodrome at Kensington.— The Roya Commissioners Lave received innumerable applications from theatrical and equestrian managers, &c, for permission to erect in Hyde Park temporary theatres, circuses, shows, and booths, but the Executive Committee Lave positively refused all such requests. Among otber managers who petitioned tlip board was Mr. .Batty, the lessee of .Astley's, for a site in tbe park for tbe erection of n hippodrome, after the style of the celebrated one in the Champs Elysees at Paris, but on a more extended scale, and for which privilege he would contribute to the funds of the Commissioners five hundred guineas, but the offer was declined. Mr. Batty has since become lessee of an extensive plot of ground at Kensington, within a few minutes' walk of the Crystal Palace, where a large cumber ot workmen are now actively employed on the works. Mr. Batty, however, will not be without rivals, as several well-known equestrian managers are also in search of sites for Jiippodromes. Offers have been made to Mr. Wardell, the director of Vauxhall Gardens, by a French troupe of riders, for the use of the Waterloo Ground for a day entertainment. The vacant plot of ground in tbe Yorkroad, Waterloo-road, with the railway in the rear, has also been eagerly sought after, but it is understood thtit the proprietors havo declined to negotiate for any such purpose. The hippodrome at Kensington was opened on the Ist May.

Prosecutions ron the Adultfratiov of Pepper. — Heavy Penaltils. — In the Court of Inland Revenue, on the 17th January lost, Thomas Christie, grocer and tea dealer, of Bishopsgate-strpet, Commercial-road East, and Whitechnpel, was charged with adulterating pepper with rice. — Mr. 11. H. Pearce proved the purchase of a small quantity of pepper at defendant's respective establishments. — Mr. G. Phillips stated that he examined' the pepper given to him by the last witness. He found that the rice was in proportion of onethird of the whole. He separated the rice from the pepper by washing. — Another chemist stated that he had arrived at the same result by an independent analysis. — Defendant declared the pepper was sold just as it came from the docks, and called three of his assistants, who swore that they knew nothing of adulteration being practised on the premises.— Mr. Stephenson remarked that tho pepper must have heen received pure from the docks, as it was ungrouiul. — Defendant repeated his asseveration. — Mr. Commissioner Stephenson thon delivered the judgment of the court, that the defendant be fined in the full penalty, on three counts of the mformtaions, of £300. — Mr. T. Shilston, of 39, Little Pulteney-street, Soho ; Mr. E. Shallis, of 20, Jsedford-placp, Commerwnl road ; and H. Palmer. 11, Seymour-place, Camden Town ; were each fined £100 for similar offences. — London Paper,