William Rufus
Son of William the Conqueror, and tyrant of England in the eleventh century; a wicked and cruel prince. He was much disliked, particularly by the priests and monks, whom he reduced to the extremest poverty. One day when he was out hunting (in the year 1100, the forty-fourth year of his life, the thirtieth of his reign) he was killed by an arrow launched by an invisible hand. While he was drawing his last breath the comte de Comonailles, who had been separated from the hunt, saw a shaggy black goat carrying off a mangled human form, pierced by an arrow. The comte cried aloud to the goat to halt, and asked who he was, and where he was going. The goat responded that he was the devil, and was carrying off William Rufus, to present him before the great tribunal, where he would be condemned for his tyranny and forced to accompany him (the devil) to his abode.
Williams, Charles: An English medium who began to practice about 1870. In 1871 he went into partnership with the medium Herne. During the earlier years of their mediumship Mrs. Guppy, herself a well-known medium, was their patroness. The phenomena then produced were not of a very ambitous character, but consisted of lights, apports, movements of the furniture without contact, spirit voices, and the appearance of fiery letters in the air. One of the most curious feats of these early séances was the transit of Mrs. Guppy. (See Levitation.) afterwards materialisation was attempted by Messrs. Herne and Williams, in emulation of the feats of Miss Florence Cook, who had been a sitter at their early séances. In 1878 Williams's was the mediumship chosen for investigation Soon by the Research Committee of the British National Association of Spiritualists (q.v.). Notwithstanding the favourable report of the Committee, Williams's mediumship was not destined to last much longer. In company with a new partner, Rita, he had gone to Amsterdam, and there were found in their possession false beards, spirit draperies, and phosphorised oil. The exposure was entirely carried out and given to the public by indignant spiritualists.