STRONG “SPIRIT.”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20278, 21 August 1937, Page 22 (Supplement)

STRONG “SPIRIT.”

FIGHT AT SEANCE. MEDIUM ON TRIAL. (From a Correspondent.) LONDON. July 1. A fight with a “ spirit ’’ during a seance was described at Greenwich Police Court when the hearing of a charge against Clive Holmes, aged 47, described as a medium, of “ The Grove,” Blackheath. S.E., of obtaining 4s by false pretences from Mrs j Violet 'Buckthorpe Evens, a widow, of St. Albans Avenue, Bexley Heath, was 'continued. At the previous hearing it was alleged that the “ spirit ” lashed out with a luminous slate when Mrs Evens’ son flashed a torch, and that it became apparent that the “ spirit ” was Holmes, or Clive, as he was known. Holmes pleaded not guilty. Cross-examined by Mr W. H. Chltty. for Holmes, Mrs Evens said she had j attended perhaps 50 seances, and ha-dj, acted as medium among her own friends. “This woman was put forward as • a person of slight experience, who ] had been hoodwinked,” commented j Mr Chit.ty. “It makes a great differonce if you have a woman of 20 years’ i experiences who has taken part in the - , conduct of seances.” ( “ White Moose.” Describing the seem* at the seance ' Mrs Evens said; “I have eyes to see. t was looking for my husband. When | my boy put Hie light on 1 could see i that it was ULive.” 1

Mr Chitty; Were all the apparitions you saw that night dressed alike?— Yes. as near as I could see.Did you sec “White Moose”?— No. How did you recognise “ White Moose” on previous occasions?—Because he always had Red Indian’s feathers and we were told that it was “ White Moose.” All these theatrical props—l hope I am dealing with it with proper respect—would be in the cabinet for bis make-up if what you suggest is true? —l have no idea where they Do you suggest Hint the “form” deliberately attacked your son?—lt did attack him. Did the “ form,” when the light was thrown on it, make any attempt to escape?—No; immediately my son put the light on he started attacking my boy. Mrs Evens said that the “ form ” also attacked her. 41 Spirit Got Nasty.” Mr Chitty: Did you see your son and others go to the cabinet and lift Clive out still handcuffed to the chair and unconscious?—No. 1 was in great pain at the lime. Charles James Evens, an apprentice engineer, son of Mrs Evens, said he was convinced it was a fake. “I put my log out, and I felt his foot stumble against It,” lie continued. “We wore all holding hands. 1 broke awnv from | my mother and switched my ioir.li mi to the ‘ form.’ I could see quite \ clcarlv that it was Mr Clive.” “He struck me several times. As I soons ns I saw he was becoming ! rafiber nasty about I whipped out a I chair and rammed it into his reet. I i grabbed and got that piece of mus- j

lin." A large piece of muslin was produced. “ I saw the curtains of the cabinet part,” continued Mr Evens, “ and 1 could see that the chair to which he had been handcuffed was empty. Later Mrs Clive rushed to the cabinet, drew- the curtains to, and held them back while the spirit disrobed.” He heard ‘ Clive saying in broken English: “ Give people their money back and the give the meeting plenty or Tresli air,” and he got back the 4s he had paid. The hearing was adjourned until July 1, ball being allowed.