Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/251

 224

The Green Bag

sions, " Daniel " commenced, " My darling mother," and ended, " Your loving son." On ist November, 1866, Home returned to town; and the plaintiff stated to him that his " spiritual father, Charles Lyon," had di rected her to make out a will in his favor. A solicitor named Wilkinson, an intimate friend of Home's, prepared the will, which was duly signed by the plaintiff and attested. On the 3d of December, 1866, the defend ant executed a deed poll whereby he de clared that he had taken the surname of Lyon in lieu of Home. Further transfers of stock, and assignments, all of which were in Home's favor, followed; and at last he was made " independent," by having become the owner of practically the whole of the wealthy widow's property. On the 26th of January, 1867, however, he left town for Hastings. On February 13 he returned, but on the roth of March he went to Tor quay, and afterwards to Plymouth. During these absences Mrs. Lyon's love towards him underwent a sensible alteration; she still corresponded with him, but no longer signed herself, "your affectionate mother." The explanation was soon forthcoming.' While Home was away, Mrs. Lyon had met another medium, by whom " Charles ' was once more summoned back to earth. But, alas! the deceased was no longer "happy, happy, happy! " He denounced Daniel as an impostor, and " in a mundane spirit unworthy of Paradise," recommended immediate proceedings at law. Faithful as ever to her spiritual monitor, the widow placed herself in the hands of " the gentle men of the robe," and after a protracted suit her successive gifts to "Daniel" were set aside. In pronouncing judgment, ViceChancellor Gifford said: "I know nothing of what is called Spiritualism, otherwise than from the evidence before me, nor would it be right that I should advert to it except as portrayed by that evidence. It is not for me to conjecture what may or may not be the effect of a peculiar nervous organization,

or how far that effect may be communicated to others, or how far some things may ap pear to some minds as supernatural realities which to ordinary minds and senses are not real. But'as regards the manifestations and communications referred to in this cause, I have to observe in the first place, that they were brought about by some means or other after, and in consequence of, the defendant's presence; how, there is no proof to show; in the next, that they tended to give the de fendant influence over the plaintiff, as well as pecuniary benefit; in the next, that the system, as presented by the evidence, is mis chievous nonsense, well calculated on the one hand to delude the vain, the weak, the foolish, and, the superstitious; and on the other, to assist the profits of the needy and of the adventurer; and lastly, that beyond all doubt there is plain law enough and plain sense enough to forbid and pre vent the retention of acquisitions such as these by any medium, whether with or without a strange gift; and that this should be so is of public concern, and to use the words of Lord Hardwick, 'of the highest public utility.'" "This judgment," says Mr. Hume Wil liams in his essays on " Unsoundness of Mind " (p. 59), which well describes a transAtlantic reputation, proved social death to such exhibitions. They ceased to be fash ionable, and were accordingly denounced. Home became the guest of foreign courts, where he continued to find favor in the eyes of many. This is but one instance in which the veil of imposition was rent, and frauds of no mean character exposed; and yet " the great spiritualist had and con tinued to have, numerous influential patrons and friends, who lent willing aid to that they wished to believe, accepting as truths the subtle outpourings of self-constituted spec ulators in mysterious revelations for the better trading on the superstitious weakness of mankind and the deceiving of many." Lex.