A Spiritualist Bowled Out.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 32, 12 January 1884, Page 7

A Spiritualist Bowled Out.

An alarming incident occurred last month at Dover, Eng., in a public hall, at which a professor of legerdemain named Duprez was giving an entertainment before a large audience, The professor was proceeding with the dark seatfce portion of his entertainment, when an accident occurred which brought his proceedings to an abtupt conclusion. Mr Duprez had produced several of his so-called spiritualistic manifestations, and while the hall wa« in darkness disengaged himself from 'the cords with which he was bound on the Btage> and as events proved, found his way among the audience, where he was to fire a pistol as a climax to the feat. Just before the pistol was discharged, however, the audience became somewhat alarmed by a scuttle and altercation, and as soon as the lights were turned up the professor was seen struggling to free himself from a gentleman, a tradasman belonging to the town, named Wood, It appears that just before the pistol was to be discharged Mr j Wood's wife communicated to him the fact that one of the spirits was sitting on her knee, and before the supposed ethereal spirit had time to escape he was in the clutches of the indignant husband, who held on to him until the lights were turned up, and the unfortunate Mr Duprez discovered. An exciting struggle then ensued. Mr Duprex, who was evidently greatly annoyed at his awkward dilemma, levelled his pistol at Mr Wood, and afterwards dealt him several blows with the butt end. Some gentlemen present succeeded as quickly as possible in separating the disputants, out considerable excitement prevailed in the hall, especially amongst the female portion of the audience, who made a speedy exit from the building.