Telepathy—Or What ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 398, 5 July 1928, Page 1

Telepathy—Or What ?

THE ARGUS CONTROVERSY A Committee-Man’s Views THE Argus controversy continues apace. Following the I tests given last evening by Argus and Mr. Copeland, THE SUN has received a letter from Mr. K. W. Liddle, one of the “committee-men,” recording his impressions. Strangely enough Mr. Liddle, a well-known amateur conjurer, and his friend, a professional reporter, were two of the men whom Professor Segar had intended to bring forward had Mr. Copeland agreed to his nominating a committee of investigation. The letter from Mr. Liddle is published below, together with other letters received by THE SUN on the same subject.

’ Sir, — As a member of the committee invited upon the stage during the tests given by Argus last evening, I feel it my duty to make public my discoveries. I might state first that at the prosecution of Mr. Copeland some years ago, and during the course of the demonstration given by him and by Argus before the late Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., I had shorthand notes taken of Mr. Copeland’s questions to Argus, clearly indicating that a code was used. Last night’s tests positively confirm the evidence I obtained. The tests were arranged in four parts. In the first test Mr. Copeland walked through the audience and had several cards selected. Argus successfully named the majority of them. Mr. Copeland then requested me to sit in the chair previously occupied by Argus while the latter took up a position in the dress circle. I selected a card and Argus again successfully named it. Mr. Copeland then blindfolded himself and, standing close to me, requested mo to select another. 1 was aware that he could see down his nose beneath the blindfold, so I deliberately concealed the card from his view. Needless to say, Argus failed in the test, and I was summarily dismissed. Mr. Copeland was unfortunate in selecting me for this test, as it is one that all conjurors are conversant with. H© uses the silent code. The second test was most unsatisfactory. Pieces of card were taken from a bag by a member of the committee and handed to Mr. Copeland. Argus attempted to divine the numbers written on the cards, but of 12 numbers submitted only two were successful. The third t€?st, in which Argus read out numbers written on a blackboard, was, however, successful, being accomplished by a concealed assistant operating a mechanical device which I will have pleasure in disclosing should the occasion arise. As far as the fourth test is concerned —the reading of articles submitted by members of the audience—l have no hesitation in saying it was nothing more nor less than a clever exhibition of spurious mind-reading. It is but necessary for Mr. Copeland to see the articles and then code them to Argus. Here is my evidence:—

By taking shorthand notes of what was said I found that when the question began “Please say what this is?” the article referred to was a purse; when the next question was prefaced by the word “Argus,” the numeral 2 was indicated; when it was followed by the phrase “without it being opened” the number referred to was 10, and so on. As these words and phrases were repeated at least three times and each time indicated the same article or numbers, the proof of my assertion is irrefutable. I wish to state that I have been acquainted with stage mind-reading systems for some years, and on many occasions have performed similar tests to those submitted last evening. In exposing Mr. Copeland’s act I am doing so because I have a distinct antipathy to the fortune-telling element he introduces. 0 K. W. LIDDLE. TELEPATHY Sir, The public of Auckland owes a debt of gratitude to Professor Segar for his efforts to persuade “Argus,” the boy prophet, to submit to a reasonable test. The efforts of the “prophet’s” manager to avoid coming to conclusions with the professor are worthy of a pantomime. Either Argus is a genuine telepathist or he is not. If he is, one could only imagine the alacrity with which ho would accept any genuine test to demonstrate his powers. If he is not what he claims, we expect the digressions, refusals and obtuse procrastination exhibited by his manager. C. E. Major, President, Auckland Rationalist Association. ARGUS Sir, — The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If a code can be manufactured, it can be deciphered—in time. And it would not take long to decipher the main features of the code used between Mr. Copeland and ‘Argus.” I attended a performance given by “Argus” on Saturday evening, and before the “turn” was ended was able to tell what at least two common articles were, before “Argus” himself spoke. Thus, whenever an article of jewellery was handed up, Mr. Copeland always mentioned the words, “Come on, Argus,’ ” when questioning the latter. Whenever a watch was shown, Mr. Copeland mentioned “All right.” When the watch was engraved Mr. Copeland said nothing for a while. “Argus” would then add that there was an engraving. If there were no engraving, Mr. Copeland would immediately go on speaking. I had a book with me, bearing a namo for which “Argus” could not possibly have a code-sign. I wished to ask “Argus” through Mr. Copeland what was tli© name of the book, but as the latter gentleman confined himself to the front two or three rows in the dress-circle, I was unable to do so. Now, here is an opportunity for “Argus” to prove himself. I will go to the building with a book in my pocket. I will show it to Mr. Copeland, who will concentrate on it and ask “Argus” the name of the book. Mr. Copeland is to ask the question simply, shortly, and once. “Argus” may have three guesses or a dozen. I writ© this letter, but I know beforehand that Mr. Copeland will not accept th© challenge. A code is easy with numbers or common trumpery articles, but impossible under the conditions I suggest. And yet if “Argus can really read his father’s mind, the

latter will be as easy as the former. R. G. BRENNAN. “This is absurd,” said Mr. Copeland, manager for Argus, when the letter was shown to him. “Argus has never intentionally refused a test from any member of his audience. Every day tests similar to this, giving the name of an author, are proposed and he accurately describes coins and their dates, and details the contents of sealed packages. This letter is not worth replying to. I received the book and Argus not only named it correctly but said that the owner was a seafaring man. Some people are never satisfied. I am too busy* to waste time in replying to letters of this nature.”—Ed. The Sun. “THE BOY WONDER” Sir, — It would be a merciful relief to see a speedy end to this futile controversy between Argus (or rather his manager) and Professor Segar. No doubt, it is ; vastly entertaining to the two principals, and splendid publicity for the “boy wonder,” but so long as Mr. Copeland tacks and veers to every shifting wind of controversy, it is hopeless to expect finality. Let Mr. Copeland accept the professorial challenge without further palaver or get on with the business which Jeff Peters aptly described as “the gentle art of extracting the superfluous currency of his fellow men.” H ARDFAX. AN OFFICAL REPORT The following information was warded this morning to The Sun from Argus’s publicity manager: ARGUS PROVES HIS POWERS AND SUCCEEDS IN HIS CHALLENGE Tests by Argus which more than dumbfounded an overflowing house were successful last evenin’? at the Prince Edward Theatre. Argus was placed in the dress circle and a committee was on the stage. With back turned to the audience, and his father blindfolded, Argus successfully responded to the tests imposed upon him. In addition, a diversion from the ordinary procedure was made inasmuch as Mr. Copeland left the theatre while members of the committee wrote numbers on a blackboard. Argus successfully met these tests correctly. Members of the committee were in no way associated with Argus and the public was in a position to see that there was no collusion. For Argus thus to succeed in a test while Mr. Copeland was out of the theatre means that he did more than any challenger wished him to do. In view of the many thousands who have visited Argus during his 36 performances in one theatre, he has decided to present on Friday a beautiful autographed photograph of himself to every patron entering the theatre.