Fraud
A very large part is played by fraud in spiritualistic practices, both in the physical and psychical, or automatic, phenomena, but especially in the former. The frequency with which mediums have been convicted of fraud has, indeed, induced many people to abandon the study of psychical research, judging the whole bulk of the phenomena to be fraudulently produced. Yet the question of fraud is itself an interesting and complicated one, not unworthy of the attention of the student, for we find in connection with spiritualism not only simple deception practised with a view to gaining pecuniary advantages, but also many instances of systematic and apparently deliberate trickery where there is no evident reward to be obtained, and even cases where the medium is, so far as can be judged, entirely innocent and ignorant of the fraud he obviously practises. And it may be added that after all precautions have been taken which science and commonsense can suggest, there remains a portion of the phenomena which still continues to be inexplicable, and which justifies the interest now so widely shown in psychic science.
In considering the important factor of fraud, we must distinguish between conscious and unconscious fraud, though, as will be shown hereafter, it is at times possible for the one to shade imperceptibly into the other. Conscious fraud most often appears in connection with the physical phenomena. Almost at the outset of the spiritualistic movement, i.e., in 1851, three doctors, professors of the University of Buffalo, N.Y., demonstrated that the rappings which attended the Sisters Fox were produced by the manipulation of the knee and toe joints, a fact which was shortly afterwards corroborated by Mrs. Cluver, a relative of the Fox family. Since that time many mediums have at one time or another been convicted of fraud, and every phase of physical mediumship been discredited. Slate-writing, spirit photography, materialisation, have all in turn been exposed, though the latter, at least, seems able to survive any number of exposures. Time and again, sitters have beheld the form and features of the medium in the materialised spirit; shadowy figures in filmy draperies, have been shown to be mannikins wrapped in muslin, and false beards and white draperies have been found about the person of the medium. Apports have been smuggled into the séance-room-jewels, flowers, perfumes, objets d'art in order to be showered upon the sitters by generously-disposed "spirits." Threads and human hairs have been used to move furniture and other objects. Sometimes more elaborate and complicated machinery is provided, but more often the medium depends upon sleight of hand and skilful suggestion to accomplish his ends. Conjurers have frequently been admitted to séances, and have failed to discover the modus operandi of the various feats, but this fact, though a great deal has been made of it by spiritualists, cannot be taken to have any significance, since conjurers are often quite mystified by each other's performances.
Another phase of fraud is that illustrated by many instances of soi-disant clairvoyance, where the medium acquires her information by muscle-reading, or by judicious enquiry previous to the séance. Fraud of this kind may be either conscious or unconscious.
Under the heading of unconscious fraud must be classed a large group of automatic phenomena. In many of the more pronounced cases af automatism, the normal consciousness of the agent is not responsible for his acts, while, on the other hand, there is a slighter degree of automatism, 18 10 6 20 Nouvelle Lune.
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M. SPR. C..18 28 b 1 A M P E X 0 M Γ 0 b U P S N LEUNAM 2 33A) A h P r Mystical diagram of Solomon's Temple, as prophesied by Ezekiel and planned in the building scheme of the Knights Templar [ face p. 172 where the agent may be partly conscious of, and responsible for, his productions. This latter state, if it be frequently induced, and if the will power of the automatist be somewhat relaxed, may pass into the more profound stage; so that fraud which is at first conscious and voluntary may in time become unconscious and spontaneous. And thus it is extremely difficult to know just when an accusation of fraud may with justice be brought against a medium. There is evidence that many trance mediums reproduce in their discourses information subconsciously acquired at some more or less remote period; the trance utterances of Mrs. Piper, Mrs. Thomson, and others, reveal this peculiarity. It is true that extensive and apparently fraudulent arrangements are sometimes made before a séance, but may it not be possible that, previous to a physical" or psychical séance, such preparations may be made automatically in a state approximating to the mediumistic trance? If the hypnotic subject is not responsible or is only partly so-for the fulfilment of a post-hypnotic promise, would it not be within reason to suppose that the medium, in gaining information concerning possible sitters, in secreting apports about the person, is the victim of a similar dissociation of consciousness? There are facts not a few which would support such a conclusion. 66 دو 66
Spiritualists themselves are, from time to time, called upon to face exposures of undoubted fraud, and on these occasions various apologies of a more or less ingenious nature, are offered for the erring medium. Sometimes it is said that the medium is controlled by mischievous spirits (diakka), who make use of his physical organism to perform tricks and deceptions. Again, it is stated that the medium feels an irresistible impulse to perform the action which he knows is in the mind of the control. Thus Eusapia Palladino would extend her hand involuntarily in the direction in which movement of furniture was to take place, though without actual contact that is, perceiving that the spirits desired to move the object, she herself was impelled to attempt a physical (and fraudulent) forestalling of the action. Certain of the investigators who examined the phenomena in connection with the latter medium have also declared that their production costs Eusapia a great deal of pain and fatigue, and that she therefore seizes readily upon an opportunity of producing them easily and without trouble. Such an opportunity, they held, only presented itself when their rigorous precautions were relaxed. The same has also been stated in connection with other mediums. In the case of a materialisation séance, when the spirit form is grasped and found to be the medium herself, these apologists offer an explanation, as follows: A certain amount of the medium's physical energy is imparted to the spirit. If the latter be roughly handled, spirit and medium will unite for their joint benefit, either within or without the cabinet-if the medium possesses most energy, she will draw the spirit to her, if the most of the energy is with the materialised spirit, it is the medium who will instantly be attracted to the spirit. That it is the latter alternative which invariably takes place is a fact which has no significance for good spiritualists. Or they may insist, as did Sergeant Cox, on one occasion, that the medium is controlled to impersonate a spirit. But whatever be the reason for fraud, it is clear that not the most ingenuous medium is to be trusted for a moment, though his character in normal life be blameless, and no object in committing fraud be apparent; and that investigators must rely only on the strictest vigilance and the most up-to-date scientific methods and apparatus.