Published in 1922 | 129 pages | PDF reader required
INTRODUCTION
This manuscript was compiled primarily for the benefit of uninformed magicians, enabling them to adopt the various tricks and effects for their own amusement, or to detect fraudulent mediums in the presentation of alleged spiritualistic communications, etc., etc.
Should it fall into the hands of ones that have been duped by the trickster, who plays upon their superstition, making use of facts secured in regard to past history, family connections and similar information, for pecuniary profit, I trust it will in the future save them from these vultures whose only creed is "Get The Money," regardless of methods employed or resultant consequences to their victims.
A word as to spiritism or spiritualism-supposedly a communication by divers ways and means between the living and the dead—a creed or religion that has grown by leaps and bounds since the world's war, due largely no doubt to the receptive mood of widows, bereaved mothers and sisters when the merest opportunity presents itself for a possible communion with their beloved ones. I do not make bold to state that all mediums are frauds; no doubt there are a few really sin-cere, endeavoring to the best of their ability (but without results) to pierce the veil separating us from that unknown beyond. However, any worker who receives messages, answer questions through a "control" and otherwise, or causes seemingly supernatural occurrences to take place, emphatically does resort to fraud or trickery.
You may say that Spiritism does and must exist: that brilliant scholars such as Sir Conan Doyle and Sir Oliver Lodge, whose expressions of belief refute the testimony of magicians and other investigators who are equally positive it does not exist. How intelligent, clear thinking men as the above can be converted to the doctrine of spiritism is a problem for someone besides myself to solve. if sincere, a plausible solution would be that they have either allowed their sensitive, highly trained minds to receive impressions which have no foundation or actual existence; or are the pawns of some clever deceptionists, having keen convinced of the genuineness of seances undertaken and further, that they themselves actually receive messages from the dead.
As this is being written the author-spiritist, Conan Doyle has started a campaign in our country, preaching the gospel of spiritualism and annexing American dollars in large amounts, which action classifies him in my mind as on the doubtful list. A future paragraph dwells upon attendant finances in connection with this religion or "fad." Once again it appears a case of belief and coin going hand in hand.
Ask any well informed magician whether or not he believes in spiritism. He will laugh at you. The majority of fraudulent mediums are crude in their demonstrations as compared to the modern magician or entertainer, who produces the same and more impressive results upon the open, lighted stage, while the "spook" worker is in most instances protected by a curtain of darkness. I myself have never witnessed anything but trickery in seances; I have yet to meet the magician who could not explain the methods of trickery or articles of apparatus, etc., employed at seances where he sat in attendance. Mr. Harry Houdini, at a banquet recently given in his honour by the Chicago Assembly, Society of American Magicians, in a most wonderful and highly interesting speech told those present of having witnessed over one hundred seances while in Europe, and in each instance had detected trickery or fraud being employed, although a few workers were exceptionally clever. He has investigated every medium of note in this country with similar results and, in addition, to satisfy himself beyond peradventure of doubt in regard to communication with this world after death, made compacts between his most devoted friends that each would endeavor to get in touch with the other in the event of their decease. Two comrades have departed on the great unknown journey, one his life-long friend and late secretary, John Sargent, whose last words to Mr. Houdini were: "Harry, remember the sign." The agreed sign has not been received, nor a message of any character, to establish the fact of active or communicative life beyond the grave.
These many visits of Mr. Houdini were not made as a skeptic; neither was the thought of expose uppermost, but in full faith to determine to his own satisfaction if amongst the mediums one was actually capable of proving beyond doubt that those in this life are able to get in touch with our dead.
Mr. David P. Abbott of Omaha, Nebraska, is a well known student of psychology and an ardent investigator in matters pertaining to spiritism. His investigations covered a large territory, for when publicity was awarded mediums or clairvoyants, these individuals were visited and methods of operation studied. The above gentleman is also author of an interesting book wherein he exposes the routines employed by mediums, which, however, have since been superseded by others more intricate and clever, as will be the case after those explained herein become more universally familiar to the public.
The best arguments to advance against the theory of spiritism are these: Why are the converts thereto so exceedingly small in number compared with any other religion? Why are such a chosen few capable of satisfactorily or convincingly conducting a seance? Why is there always a subscription, donation, or whatever you desire to term it, collected or in some manner extracted from the purse? There is always a source of revenue connected with the work regardless of the place or manner exhibited.
Women are more susceptible to the wiles of the faker than are males, though many of the latter, especially among the foreign element, are believers in spiritism, fortune telling, etc. The fortune teller, in most sections of the country, due to police activity, is almost extinct, but in former years conducted a prosperous business. Their methods of procedure were almost identical with those of the magician or Spiritualist. I have interrogated many women who visited these fortune tellers and to demonstrate how easily the mind forgets errors and small details, remembering only truths or pertinent facts, can state that over ninety per cent could give no coherent detail of a visit or conversation until lead over it step by step. When relating their experiences the major portion would say they called on "so and so" and when ushered into the presence of the seer he called out the correct name and make known what was on their mind. My first query was: "Didn't you write your name and a question, or sign your name to some paper before being ushered into the presence of the fortune teller?" Invariably the answer was "no" and in a few instances this was correct, the information having been pumped by an apparently prospective caller like themselves, who in reality was an assistant of the faker and to whom it was conveyed before being ushered into the interior sanctum. After leading a party over the journey, step by step, from time of starting up the stairs, or in some instances from the instant of departing from home, recalling every move possible, it was generally remembered that they had written their name and asked a question but had put it in a pocketbook, a glove, etc., "where there was absolutely no chance of the man seeing it." After reading this volume you will realise that such a procedure was all the prognosticator required, but this really had been a mere matter of detail and was entirely forgotten or covered up when unexpectedly called by name and some truths or near truths conveyed. Such a visitor is subject to nervousness, due to the unfamiliar surroundings; wondering what information will be gleaned; whether the fortune teller can read minds; the appearance he will present and fleeting thoughts of what possibly others have related regarding his prowess—a condition of mind known to and relied upon by the faker-his two chief assets being nerve and an understanding of human nature.
Next time a visit to a fortune teller or to a spiritualistic seance is contemplated, if by chance you number a magician amongst your acquaintances, request his company; if versed in the art of magic, as he should be, the solution of various demonstrations can easily be secured. Perchance there is a magicians' fraternity in your community; if so, the members thereof will be glad to aid and enlighten you along these lines. One of the paramount duties of the Society of American Magicians, which is proud to be under the leadership of Mr. Harry Houdini, President of the New York Parent Assembly, is to expose fraudulent mediums and fake fortune tellers; this body or one of its branch assemblies in the United States is always willing to extend every courtesy possible, perhaps saving yourself or friends from the clutches of the faker, a personage often very fluent and convincing in conversation, quick witted and ever on the alert to make capital of each arising situation.
All statements to the contrary, nearly everyone loves the mysterious and enjoys being deceived, to a certain extent; if such were not the case a majority of spiritualists, clairvoyants, fortune tellers, etc., would be out of business, but, strange as it may seem, it is extremely difficult to convince the average person that he has been duped or tricked; many conclusive arguments will be advanced that it was an utter impossibility; that the person visited had never seen him before, nevertheless he was the recipient of numerous truthful statements pertaining to intimate family history, individual self and absolute possible prophesies affecting the future.
Here is where another hidden angle of the case enters: A hustling, up-to-date spiritualist does not work alone, but has several accomplices or "cappers"-these lead in the victims and you may be sure that having lured a prospect to the "chief" the personal history of this party has been pretty well "booked." A record, termed "The Blue Book," contains a history of valuable information in regard to those having been lined up by Spiritualists, which data is available to the fraternity throughout the country. Perhaps some innocent looking, elderly lady met you several times at the grave of your soldier son, we will say, for example, and in time told of her own loss and how she communicated with this deceased person through the aid of a certain spiritualist, whose great achievements are extolled. At once curiosity is aroused and the chances are almost 100 per cent of a visit being paid in company with your acquaintance of the cemetery, or through her introduction, in which event you will be told a lot of facts about yourself and family, secured from the day you were first "spotted" as a prospective customer by the "capper." Not realising that the woman could possibly be in league with the faker, and when confronted with so much truth about herself, it is small wonder that the mind is easily swayed. Further calls will undoubtedly be made, various information imparted and perhaps the privilege of witnessing your deceased son "materialised" and the carrying on of a conversation with him, through the medium. During this time you will incidentally be making donations, perhaps large ones, for what mother, after being convinced of the genuinesness of the medium, would not give almost any earthly possession to hold communication with her departed daughtei, son or husband. This is only one of multitudinous artifices adopted, and if not led into the folds as a believer in this manner, you will be landed in another, as the methods of procedure vary according to the most vulnerable approach offered by different individuals, such as playing on the sympathy, vanity, knowledge, etc.—any course that offers the least resistance to advances of the wily faker.
The cappers mentioned above also greatly assist at seances, aiding in working up enthusiasm and partial hysteria, likewise preventing interference with the worker from those who might become imbued with curiosity as to various actions or details of some presented phenomena.
Probably a volume could be written on this phase of the situation alone, but we will advance to the actual inside workings of the professional and allow the reader to learn what a very simple matter it is to get possession of desired information in various ways "even when you carry the slip of paper in your glove." Manifestations that appear supernatural to the uninitiated, when witnessed with the clarity of vision obtained through true and definite knowledge, stripped of the glamour of heavily perfumed, costly draped and semi-darkened rooms, stand forth as mere human deceptions or cleverly constructed pieces of apparatus.
The history of slate writing, as used by fortune tellers, etc., has been well covered in previous works, therefore, in this respect, will confine myself merely to the more later and convincing methods-ones causing even an intelligent person to cast aside the thought of trickery. In other psychic effects the field has not been entirely covered; only the more essential and commonly used tricks or effects have been explained; some possess certain special devices which are capitalised and every year sees the introduction of new or the arrangement of old ones; when a system of fraud or article of use is exposed it is supplanted by another and better.
In conclusion: Should you at some time have frequented a seance, either through idle curiosity, or in good faith, remember if you can the demonstrations enacted, then after reading this volume visualise again the occurrences: How simple it all was and how easily to be accomplished through the methods explained in the following pages.
DR. X.
April 14, 1922.
