The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism

. Fox, in Hydesville (Town of Arcadia), near New

them; after which they were carefully read, and signed by them. They comprise but a small number of those who heard these noises, o

T FOX, WIFE OF JOHN D. FOX,

night ago. It sounded like some one knocking in the east bedroom, on the floor; we could hardly tell where to locate the sounds, as sometimes it sounded as if the furniture was moved, but o

than a sudden jar. We could feel the jar when standing on the floor. It continued on this night until we slept. I did not sleep until about twelve o'clock. On March 30th we were disturbed all night. The noises were heard in all parts of the house. My husband stationed himself outside of the door while I stood inside, a

elped search. It was very early when we went to bed on this night; hardly dark. I had been so broken of my rest I was almost sick. My husband had not gone to bed when we first heard the noise on this evening. I had just l

ly consisted of a wife and five children, two sons and three daughters, all living at the time of his death, but that his wife had since died. I asked: 'Will you continue to rap if I call in my neighbors that they may hear it too?' The raps were loud in the affirmative. My husband went and called in Mrs. Redfield (our nearest neighbor). She is a very candid woman. The girls were sitting up in bed clinging to each other and trembling with terror. I think I was as calm as I am now. Mrs. Redfield came immediately (this was about half past seven), thinking she would have a laugh at the children; but when she saw them pale with fright and nearly speechless, she was amazed, and believed there was something more serious than she had supposed. I asked a few questions for her, and was answered as before. He told her age exactly. She then called her husband, and the same questions were asked and answered. Then Mr. Redfield called in Mr. Duesler and wife, and several others. Mr. Duesler then called in Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, also Mr. and Mrs. Jewell. Mr. Duesler asked many questions, and received answers. I then named all the neighbors I could think of, and asked if any of them had injured him, and received no answer. Mr. Duesler then asked questions and received answers. He asked, 'Were you murdered?' Raps affirmative. 'Can your murderer be brought to justice?' No sound. 'Can he be punished by the law?' No answer. He then said: 'If your murderer cannot be punished by the law, manifest it by raps,' and the raps were made clearly and distinctly. In the same way Mr. Duesler ascertained that he was murdered in the east be

am willing and anxious that the truth should be known, and that a true statement should be made. I cannot account for these noises; all that I know is, that they have been heard repeatedly, as I have stated. I have heard this rappi

) "Marg

l 11,

T OF JOH

pings which she has spoken of, in answer to the questions, as stated by her. There have been a great many questions besides those asked, and answered i

and about the house, at different times, to ascertain if possible whether anything or anybody was secreted there that could make the no

ernatural means, it will be ascertained soon. The digging in the cellar will be resumed as soon as the water settles; and then it can be ascertained wh

) "John

l 11,

OF WILLI

e were some twelve or fourteen persons present when I left them. Some were so frightened that they did not want to go into the room. I went into the room and sat down on the bed. Mr. Fox asked a question, and I heard the rapping, which they had spoken of, distinctly. I felt the bedstead jar when the sounds were produced. Mr. Fox then asked if it would answer my questions if I asked any; and it rapped three times. I then asked if it was an injured spirit, and it rapped. I asked if it had come to hurt any one who was then present. It did not rap. I then reversed the question, and it rapped. I asked if my father or I had injured it (as we had formerly lived in that house), and there was no noise. 'If we have not injured you, man

but was awakened when the knife entered its throat; that it struggled and made some noise and resistance. Then I asked if there was any one in the house at the time but him, and it did not rap. I then asked if they two were alone, and the rapping was heard. I then asked if Lucretia Pulver was there at the time, and there was no rapping. If she had gone away that night, and if Mrs. -- was gone away also, and the rapping was heard each time. There was no rapping heard, only when we asked questions. I then asked if any one in Hydesville knew of the murder at the time except --, and it rapped. Then I asked about a number of persons, if they knew it, and there was no rapping until I came to Mrs. --, and when I came to her name the rapping was heard. Then if any one but -- and wife knew of it, and I got no rap. Then if they were all

ot vary from that of my mother and others, and, for w

F MISS LUCR

en the two. Miss Amelia Losey stayed with me that night. She also heard the noise, and we were both much frightened, and got up and fastened down the windows, and fastened the door. It sounded as if a person walked through the buttery, down cellar, and part way across the cellar bottom, and then the noise ceased. There was no one else in the house at the time except my little brother, who was asleep in the same room with us. This was about twelve o'clock I should think. We did not go to bed until after eleven, but had no

to the cellar, just at night, and was at work there some

after this they sent for me to come and board with them, and go to school. I accordingly came, and went to school about one week, when she wanted I should stay out of school and do house-work, as she had a couple of coats to make over for her husband. She said they were too large for her husband, and out of fashion, and she must alter them. They were ripped to pieces when I first saw them. I should think the pedlar was about thirty years old. I heard him conversing with Mrs. -- about his family. He told her how many children he had, in answer to her inquiry. I do not recollect

he dog would sit under the bedroom window and howl all night long. Mr. and M

I think, with vials of essence in it. He

ar to the above stat

etia

l 11,

ANNA

elt very badly; that she had not slept much, if any, the night before. When I asked her what the matter was, she said she didn't know but it was the fidgets; but she thought she heard something walking

a Pu

l 11,

quoting a few more extracts from the numerous certificates contained in

several occasions they sought diligently to discover the cause. He stood with his hand on the latch, and when the knockings we

myself, and our hired girl, all went to the room to see what was the matter with her. The child sat up in bed, crying and screaming, and it was some time before we could quiet her enough to get answers to our questions. She said 'something had been moving around her and over her head and face: that it was cold, and that she felt it all over her.' This was between twelve and one o'clock. We took her into bed

at room. The man stood facing me when I saw him. He did not speak, nor did I hear any noise at any time. He had on light pants, black frock-coat, and cloth cap. He was of medium size. I knew of no person in that vicinity who would answer that description. Mrs. Weekman was in another part of the house at that time. I l

LL OFF

hn D. Fox; that it was then occupied by -- --; and that, during the summer, the water in that well was very offens

d) Norm

n I

, April

is, Esq.) was given a correct account of the digging

T OF DAV

advised them to make a thorough search, and I thought they would find a cause for it. I heard no noise, and after remaining a short time, returned home. The next morning, April 1, 1848, they se

id's statement, as the entire substance of it

After some of the crowd had left, we commenced digging in the cellar. Before digging I asked the question: 'In what part of the cellar was your body buried?' naming the different corners of the cellar. No response was made. 'Was it in the centre?' The rapping answered affirmatively. Mr. Carlos Hyde went down in the cellar, walked over the bottom, asking at every point if he was over the right pla

wering gradually. I thought, from there being so many respectable people present, and they having heard the same sounds that I did, that there must be something in it. I never believed in haunted houses or anything of that kind. I have heard of such things, but never

d) Davi

, April