Read Ebook: Do the Dead Return? A True Story of Startling Seances in San Francisco by Anonymous

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"I signified my willingness to hear from the spirit, whereupon the Doctor said, 'Old boy, I'm not quite as dead as you think.' Then he mentioned the name of Joseph Touhill. Now, this circumstance deeply impressed me, because the language was so characteristic of the dead burglar, it having been customary with him to address me as 'Old boy.' Mind-reading will have to be rejected as an explanation, because the Doctor subsequently read a name that was on a pellet that I had not opened, and knew nothing about until I subsequently read it. I picked up the pellet from the desk where I had put it with a number of others, and handed it to Mayor Ellert, who, without examining it, deposited it in his vest-pocket. Then came rappings on the table, and the medium said: 'Behind you stands the spirit of the man whose name is on that paper. He was an eminent person, and he died far away from here. He is waving a flag over your head, and on it is written the name of Victor Hugo.'

"The name was correct. Subsequently the Doctor correctly read the name of William Cullen Bryant, which I had also written. The Doctor quoted the spirit of the poet as saying that he was delighted that I was interested in demonstrating that there was a world of spirits. Dr. Schlesinger's feats are bewildering to the human mind. If he is a mere trickster he possesses in a marvelous way the skill to disguise his character, for his appearance and demeanor are those peculiar to fanaticism or strong faith in a cause.

"THEO. F. BONNET."

MR. M'CLOSKEY'S VERSION.

The following is the narrative of Mr. H. H. McCloskey, a resident of Merced at the time of the seance, but now a San Francisco lawyer:--

"I did not attend the little seance at the Mayor's office by appointment. I was on my way to finish up some business and catch the 4-o'clock boat, when District Attorney Barnes suggested that I drop in and see the fun. Intending to remain but a few moments, I accepted the invitation, and have no reason to regret having done so. As to what happened there, while I remember perfectly well what was done, and kept careful note of all that I saw, I am unable to account for it on any other hypothesis than that the Doctor was, as he claims to be, a spiritual medium. At the same time I am not prepared to admit that much.

"What I saw I saw clearly; it was real and devoid of illusion. There being no one present but the Mayor and thoroughly reputable gentlemen, collusion by which a portion of the events of that afternoon might be accounted for is, of course, out of the question; and neither collusion, mind-reading, nor anything else could account for all that occurred.

"The Doctor requested me to write on seven slips of paper, one on each slip, the names of six acquaintances, five of whom were living and the sixth dead. On the seventh my own name was to be written. I had never seen the Doctor before, and have no reason to suppose that he had ever seen me. I used my own pencil in writing the names, and wrote upon paper furnished by the city and county for the use of his Honor the Mayor. When writing the names I was twenty feet away from the Doctor, and as I wrote upon each slip I folded it up carefully, so that I myself could not see anything of the writing, nor tell one of the seven slips from the others. Five of the names were those of intimate personal friends, the sixth of a man whom I knew in a business way, but for whom, while I was not at all intimate with him, I had always a great regard. This man is dead, and has been so for a couple of years.

"In obedience to the Doctor's request, I placed the seven slips on the table. Taking the hand of Mr. Barnes, I holding the hand of the latter, the Doctor proceeded to take the slips one by one from the table. The first he held a second and dropped. The second he handed to me saying, 'This contains your name.' Upon opening it I found the Doctor to be correct, and asking him what my name was he promptly told us.

"Very truly. "H. H. MCCLOSKEY."

CHARACTER OF THE NARRATORS.

To any one who has a fair knowledge of human nature, a glance at the line pictures of the gentlemen who participated in the events with which this book deals will tell that they are men of character and keen observation. In San Francisco and throughout the West many of them are as well known as the Governor of the State.

Their names need no introduction, and since they have been representative men for many years it is not necessary to say much about them. For the benefit of persons who know nothing concerning them, however, the following information is submitted:--

PATRICK CROWLEY, Chief of Police, was born in Albany County, New York, on March 17, 1831. When quite young he went to New York and worked in different printing-offices. He came to San Francisco in 1850, and worked in the mining-camps for two or three years. He was engaged in the boating business here, when in 1854 he was elected to the office of Town Constable on the Democratic ticket. He was re-elected on the same ticket in 1855, and from 1856 he was re-elected every two years on the old People's Party ticket till 1866, when he was elected Chief of Police. He held that office by election for six years, when he quit the force and went into the brokerage business. In 1878, by an act of the Legislature, the Board of Police Commissioners received the power to appoint the Chief of Police. The office was tendered him, and after considerable pressure he reluctantly accepted it, as he was making an excellent living at his business. He held the office by election or appointment for twenty-four successive years. His wide experience with criminals, bunko-men, and all sorts of tricksters gave him excellent training and amply fitted him for a thorough inspection of all that was done during the seances. In fact, it was his boast at the beginning of his sitting with Dr. Schlesinger that he had helped to trap the Eddies and other disreputable mediums, and that he would soon expose the fraud in the case in hand.

WILLIAM S. BARNES, son of the eloquent and famous General W. H. L. Barnes , is a graduate of Harvard and a man of fine legal attainments. He is one of the most prominent Native Sons, and is famous for his shrewdness as Prosecuting Attorney for the great City and County of San Francisco. It was he who prosecuted and convicted Theodore Durrant in one of the most marvelous criminal cases of the century. He was also the star lawyer in the prosecution of the great Sydney Bell footpad case. Mr. Barnes was the organizer and president of the Association of District Attorneys of California; is an active member of California Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M., a member of the Pacific-Union Club, also of the Union League, of which he is one of a committee on political action, of the Juarez Manufacturing Company, of which he is President. Thus his mastery in the legal profession is no less equaled in his social and business associations.

Attorney CHARLES L. PATTON is Grand Master of California Masonic fraternity, and is a gentleman of the highest personal and professional character. He was a strong competitor against Mayor Phelan, and was chosen by the Republican party a few years ago as the best candidate against the present Mayor of the city. Mr. Patton is a man of much erudition and wide experience with men and books. He, like all his associates, and like the writer of this book, was and is a skeptic regarding the truth of so-called spiritual phenomena. His account speaks for itself.

Mayor L. R. ELLERT is a man of legal attainments and of wide business interests. He was a popular reform Mayor, and was in office at the time of the occurrences narrated. He is to-day one of the best-known and most highly respected lawyers and business men of San Francisco. For many years he was a skillful pharmacist, and his wide knowledge of drugs and physiology was useful in the attempted solution of the various problems presented by the medium.

Judge ROBERT FERRAL is the warhorse of Democracy, and one of the Nestors of the California bar. He made some of the most spirited races ever entered upon for Congress, and polled the largest vote ever known for an unpopular political party in the old days. As a judge and criminal lawyer of wide experience, as well as by reason of his unexcelled literary attainments and extended experience in the science of hypnotism and kindred phenomena, the Judge was an invaluable spectator and participant, especially as his native wit usually enables him to see through many things that puzzle other men. Here, however, he stood dumbfounded.

Dr. R. E. BUNKER is a regular physician of high reputation and personal standing. He was at the time of the matters recorded in charge of the City Receiving Hospital, and was considered one of the most careful and competent observers at the seance. Like all others named, Dr. Bunker's word is absolutely above reproach, and there is not a more competent man in the country.

H. H. MCCLOSKEY was a casual visitor at the seance, being the guest of District Attorney Barnes. Mr. McCloskey was at the time a resident of Merced, and was a prominent lawyer and politician. He was also a Republican State Central Committeeman and was considered one of the ablest of the party. He is to-day a well-known San Francisco attorney. His account of the seance explains just what occurred.

These facts, with some of the pictures, will give the reader an idea of the men whose narratives he has doubtless read with pleasure.

In conclusion, it should be remembered that this book is sold by the publishers only. It will be sent to any address for fifty cents. If you have enjoyed reading it, recommend it to the next friend you meet.

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