"DEVOTION" At The People's League
An account of police-court proceedings related to a disturbance during
a meeting of the People's League.
Reynolds's Newspaper (London, England), Sunday, April 21, 1895
"DEVOTION" AT THE PEOPLE'S LEAGUE
Lambeth Police Court was crowded on Thursday by
a number of persons interested in some summonses
arising out of a recent disturbance at a gathering of
the People's League at Peckham. Many of the spectators
were ladies. The defendants were Messrs. E.
Briaris, george Bitten, O. Springthorpe, Henry
Hyde, H. P. beaumont, G. F. Morgan, Frederick
Polkinghorne, and George Maxted, and they were
summoned by Messs. Robert James Lees and John
Nisbet for having at the Central Hall, High-street,
Peckham, a building licensed for public worship,
unlawfully distured a certain meeting and congregation
of persons there assembled for religious worship.
Mr. Grain and Mr. Ritchie Maconn appeared in
support of the summonses, and Mr. W. M. Thompson
represented most of the defendants.
Mr. Grain explained how Mr. Lees formed "The
People's League," one of the objects of which was to
undertake the holding of Sunday evening services.
On Sunday night, March 31, said Mr. Nisbet, the
secretary, four notices were exhibited pointing out that
the hall was licensed for public worship. Mr. Lees had
been speaking about a quarter of an hour, and was
quoting extensively from the minute-book of the
League, when Mr. Polkinghorne rose to his feet, and
exclaimed, "I protest against my name being mentioned,
and shall claim the right to reply upon the
whole question." This brought about twenty others
to their feet. They began gesticulating and shouting,
and Mr. Lees flow of speech was stopped by
"THIS MOB."
Mr. De Rutzen: Were each of these eight gentlemen
taking part in what you call the disturbance?
Witness: I am not able to swear to all of them.
Mr. De Rutzen: Which of them can you identify?
Witness: Morgan, Bitten, Polkinghorne, and
Maxted. Continuing, the Witness said he called in
two police-constables, and shortly afterwards Mr. Lees
declared the meeting at an end.
Cross-examined by Mr. W. M. Thompsn: He
believed that hand bills were issued stating that upon
this occasion Mr. Lees would answer "certain malicious
and unfounded charges made during his absence."
The defendants were members of the League at the
time. but they had not all paid their subscriptions.
He never heard of any dissatisfaction at the finacial
management of the League until a meeting was held at
Winchester Hall. A balance sheet was made out for
the half-year ending June, 1894. The members of the
League could have seen it if they had demanded to do
so. (Laughter.)
Mr. De Rutzen: Was there anything religious about
the president's address?
Witness: He took a text.
Apart from the text?--Well, you Worship, I don't
think the president had an opportunity of getting to
the end of his address.
As far as he went?--No, possibly there was not.
The notices stating that the place was licensed for
public worship were prepared
IN ANTICIPATION OF A DISTURBANCE,
Robert James Lees, the president of the League, said
he was upon this particular occasion justifying his
conduct upon precisely the same lines that Christ would
have adopted had He been there. He took a text. The
League was a philanthropic movemnet started at his
own expense.
Cross-examined: A clergyman lent him £10,000 to
found the League. He had to pay interest on the
money. Twenty years ago he was a compositor. He
lived now by his work as a magnetic masseur.
Mr. W. M. Thompson: You are a spiritualist in
addition?
Mr. Lees: Oh, I dare say I am. I am a lot of things.
The gentleman who had advanced the money had not
attended his séances. He had no séances. he was
the autocrat and the democrat of the League.
(Laughter.) He knew nothing of the handbills that
were issued until late on the Saturday night, and he
did not cause advertisements to be issued in the
newspapers.
By his Worship: He originally intended to reply to
the statements that had been made against him on the
Tuesday, but allowed himself to be influenced by
others,
Mr. De Rutzen said he was sorry Mr. Lees
allowed his better judgment to be turned away from
the original intention to deliver his address on the
Tuesday. Up to a certain point, so far as it was a
religious meeting, everybody behaved with that decorum
which every Englishman would adopt at any religious
service, and it was only when it came to an address by
Mr. Lees which had very little religion in it (except
the text) that there was any disturbance. When people
though proper to mix up purely secular matters with
a quasi-religious meeting this was the sort of thing
that was likely to occur. The summonses would be
dismissed with £5 5s. costs.
The result was received with applause in court.
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Leave a comment:
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Norman Lees Mentioned in Stead Chicago Book
W. T. Stead's book about his stay in Chicago contains an appendix with a list of properties "used for immoral purposes" compiled by Norman Lees.
If Christ Came to Chicago: A Plea for the Union of All who Love in the Service of All Who Suffer (Chicago: Laird & Lee, 1894), Google Books, Archive.org
by William Thomas Stead
Page 452
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Chicago, County Of Cook,} as
Norman A. Lees, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that the annexed sheets attached to and forming part of this affidavit, have been compiled by him, and that the description of the property duly numbered and tabulated thereon, is to the best of his belief true.
Norman A. Lees.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Justice of the Peace, for the Town of South Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, this 3d day of January, A. D. 1894.
D. J. Lyon, Justice of the Peace.Leave a comment:
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Nutriola in London
Excerpt from Norman Lees' Guenther trial testimony concerning Nurtiola's relocation to London:
Pages 483-487
[October 26, 1914]
Defendant's Witness, Norman A. Lees, Cross
Q. When did the Nutriola Company go into business? A. When did it go into business?
Q. Yes. A. It was in business when I became connected with it in 1904. That is all I know.
Q. Don't you know how long it had been doing business prior to that? A. I have heard that it had been in Chicago for two years before, but to my absolute knowledge I don't know. I believe that is about right, and before that time, some years before it had done some business in Belfast, Maine, and there had been an interval—I am only stating this from hearsay and their documents—
Q. If you do not know, I do not care about it. How long did it continue in business after you became connected with it? A. It was in business in December, 1906, when I went to England. I returned in the fall of 1906, and it was in business then in Chicago, as I was at the office of the company.
Q. Wasn't there a fraud order issued against it by the United States Government? A. I believe so, sir.
Q. You say you believe so. Don't you know so? A. Well, I have seen the letter, statement for the order. I have never seen the order myself. There was a fraud order. There is no doubt about that.
Q. And when was that issued? A. I believe that was sometime in August.
Q. Of what year? A. 1905.
Q. August of what year, Mr. Lees? A. 1905.
Q. And that fraud order prevented misuse of the United States mails, did it not? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Don't you know that preceding the issuance of the fraud order there had been an inquiry conducted by the United States Government? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And how long did that continue, if you know? A. Oh, for some time in March, I think, as far as I know.
Q. And that inquiry was in progress, was it not, during the time that you had these conversations with Mr. Guenther that you claim to have had that you told us about the other day? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who instituted that fraud order proceeding on the part of the United States Government, if you know? A. Mr. Guenther told me he did.
Q. And what was the subject-matter of the inquiry, if you know? A. I do not know, sir. I didn't take the slightest part in it.
Q. Don't you know that the Government claimed that your concern—which, by the way, was a medical concern, was it not? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Issuing some sort of patent or proprietory [sic] medicines? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And the Government claimed that you were making extravagant claims through the mails as to what would be effected in the way of cures, and so on, by your medicines? A. I have read that in a book the Nutriola Company published, which is supposed to contain the fraud order. That is all I know about it.
Q. The Government, you were told, were you not, had chemists test your medicines and put them through chemical analysis, to determine whether or not they came up to what you said about them? A. I don't know, sir.
Q. What was your connection with the Nutriola Company? Just what did you do? A. Advertising manager only.
Q. Did you have anything to do with the financial end? A. No, sir.
Q. Did you have anything to do with getting out the literature descriptive of the financial part of the business? A. No, sir.
Q. That is, you do know, however, do you not, that the company, in addition to vending its patent medicines also sold its stock or tried to sell it to the public at large? A. Yes, sir.
O. And in connection with the sale of the stock to the public at large, they made certain assertions as to what the profits would be in the business? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Let me see if I cannot refresh your recollection on that. I show you a paper entitled, "A Guide to Full Pockets," and with the doggerel rhyme on it, "Dimes and Dollars; Dollars and Dimes; an Empty Pocket the Worst of Crimes," and ask you if the Nutriola Company did not issue that pamphlet (handing paper to witness)? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Won't you take a look at it, please, and see if it does not refresh your recollection as to some of the assertions that the Nutriola Company made with respect to its business and what profits investors in the business would get? A. I think, Mr. Crowley, there in only one part that refers to that which you are talking about.
Q. And on looking at it, is your recollection refreshed? A. Oh, I knew this was in it.
Q. And won't you tell me what part you now have in mind? A. Well, it says here that if this company should attain the success of another company Mr. Hanson had, the one dollar invested in it would bring in two hundred and twenty.
Q. Two hundred and twenty? A. Yes; referring to another company. You can read the wording there (pointing).
Q. Were there not, in addition to that, some statements issued in substance to the effect that fifteen hundred per cent would be earned to people who invested their money in this concern? A. No, sir; not on any of the advertising I ever put out or saw go out. Q. I am not asking you now about what you personally put out but about what anyone else connected with the company put out? A. Not that I ever saw, sir.
Mr. Sheehan: Now, if your Honor please, I think we have gone far enough into this.
The Court: Yes.
Mr. Sheehan: I object to it on the ground that it is immaterial.
The Court: We are not trying the Nutriola Company.
Mr. Sheehan: Yes; we are not trying the Nutriola Company. I think we have allowed sufficient to show the character of the company.
By the Court:
0. Did it go out of business? A. It went out as far as the American company was incorporated into an English company.
By Mr. Crowley:
Q. You went over to London with the business? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And the "London Truth" or paper in London 1458 called "Truth" drove you out of England, did it not? A. No, sir.
Q. But you did leave England, did you? A. Myself, personally?
Q. No. the business of the company? A. No, sir.
Q. Still conducting business over there? A. It was there—well, the last time that I saw anything about it a year ago, I was over there. Well, no, not a year ago. It would be in January of this year, I was talking to one of the gentlemen who was connected with it. He told me they were doing business there. I have had nothing to do with it since that time.
O. Didn't you encounter some difficulties over there with the authorities? A. No, sir.
Q. None at all? A. No, sir. I was managing director at the time, and I had no trouble whatever at all with any authorities. The London Truth did attack us and one other paper, as the result of a letter sent to them by Mr. Guenther, a copy of which—the original is not in existence, but a copy of it is in one of the books published by the Nutriola Company, but it is not the original letter.
Q. The American company did go out of business at one time, then, did it?
The Court: What is the American company? A. The Nutriola Company.
Mr. Crowley: This company that he was connected with in Chicago, as I understand it; the Nutriola Company, that is the American end of it. I understood the witness to say a moment ago that they incorporated another company in England.
The Witness: The American company.
The Court: The American Nutriola?
The Witness: The American Nutriola Company. There are two companies now, your Honor. The American company was incorporated with the English company, January 1st, 1907. It would then cease to be an American company.
---end
Pharmaceutical Journal, Volume 78, January 19, 1907, Page 71
Nutriola Company, Limited.—Capital £125,000, in 5s. shares. Objects: To acquire the business of the Nutriola Company (incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine, U.S.A.), and its branches in England and elsewhere, to adopt an agreement with the American company to manufacture and sell the preparations, medicines, and appliances now manufactured and sold by the American company, and to carry on the business of chemists, druggists, chemical manufacturers and dealers, drysalters, manufacturers of and dealers in mineral waters, liqueurs, soups, cordials, broths, restoratives, invalid foods, etc.
--end
Some items from the volume for the first half of 1906 of Truth. 1905, the rest of 1906, and 1907 are not available in Google Books.
Truth, Volume 59, January 18, 1906, Page 129
Some of my readers may remember the Nutriola Company of Chicago, and the “Guide t-o Full Pockets” issued in connection with it by the presiding genius of the concern, E. F. Hanson. ex-Mayor of Belfast, Maine, U.S.A. A full account of this swindle was given in TRUTH of August 31. For months past Hanson has flooded the British press with advertisements under the title “Making Money,” bragging of his own achievements in that direction, and offering to inform anybody how to imitate them. The public were to do this by taking shares in his Nutriola Company, which is an ordinary quack cure~all business, and the trap was baited with the most extravagant statements of the profits made by such means. I now learn from Chicago that the United States Postmaster-General has put a stop to Hanson's operations by means of one of those fraud orders which are such an excellent feature in the American postal system, the efiect being that all communications relating to the business found in the mails are branded as “fraudulent” and returned to their author.
===============
In this instance Hanson appealed against the fraud order to the Circuit Court Judge at Chicago, who a few weeks ago gave judgment against him, and made the order permanent.In giving his decision the judge made the following remarks :-—
It appears that this company built up a business with other people's‘a money, its promoter himself being bankrupt. I 1look upon that act with suspicion, as no doubt did the pmtal authorities. If a man has a good business he does not take everybody in the United States into his confidence and make them partners in it. In other words, it has been sought to build up a business out of nothing at the expense of the public.
The fact thus disclosed that Hanson is actually a bankrupt is a pretty satire upon the advertisements that have been appearing in British newspapers. This was the account of his own financial exploits given in the principal advertisement-:-—
Making Money
1 was born on a Maine farm. I have made some great successes in business. My greatest through Co-operation.
I took $1.500 (£306 2s. 6d.) capital, supplied by Farmers, Women, Physicians, Clerks, Clergymen, etc., in Belfast, Maine, and in an honest but-very profitable business earned and paid them through Belfast National Bank $5,000 (£1,020 85. 2d.) in cash dividends in the first six months, $25,000 (£5,102 Os. 10d.) within the next year, and in eighteen months I paid them in round numbers $330,000 (£67,346 19s. 2d.) in cash.
EVERY 4s. EARNED £44 17s. 0d.
This is History. Reads like a fairy tale; but it is TRUE.
It was shown in the recent proceedings in- America that up to that date Hanson had obtained about $500,000 from the American public, and goodness knows how much more he picked up in England.
February 16, 1906, Page 372
In consequence of recent references in TRUTH to the Nutriola Company, of Chicago, I have received one or two communications from people interested in this business, and I have also had, by deputy, an interview with a representative of the firm in this country. I am asked to believe a great many imposing statements about the vastness of the business, and the gratifying results received by people who have invested their cash in it. I am quite ready to take these statements on trust, but they do not in the least afiect my opinion. The two statements made in TRUTH the other day on the authority of a Chicago correspondent are not contradicted; that is to say, a “fraud order ” against the Nutriola. business has been issued by the United States Post Ofiice, and Mr. Hanson, the presiding genius of the concern, was a bankrupt at the time stated by the Chicago Court. I am told that the “fraud order” is the result of the evil machinations of some rival of Hanson. Very possibly, but the fraud order is a fact, and a good enough fact for me. I am told that proceedings are on foot to contest that same order. When they are successful it will be time enough to infer that the fraud order did an injustice to Hanson.
=========
It may be remembered that Hanson’s scheme is to induce large numbers of people to invest small sums in his business--that of selling a quack “cure-all” under a promise of the most extravagant profits that are to be made from it. The effect of this is twofold; it not only provides Hanson with the necessary capital, but it enlists a large army of “co-operators” in all parts of the world as advertising agents and retail vendors of the company's goods. As the thing has been advertised regardless of expense all over the world, it naturally follows that a considerable business is set on foot. I heard only the other day of a soldier in India who had put £1O into the Nutriola Company, and was thinking of putting another ten, so pleased was he with the results. As long as the world is full of such people a bubble such as Hanson's can easily be blown up to a portentous size; but we know the fair of all bubbles and we know that the quicker they grow the sooner they burst. Whether or not the United States “fraud order‘ was justified, it is the duty of everybody to do what he can to save his fellow-creatures from flat-traps of this kind. I have endeavoured to do so to the best of my ability.
Feb 22, 1906, (Supplement), Page 3
"TRUTH" CAUTIONARY LIST
MEDICAL QUACKS
THE NUTRIOLA COMPANY, CHICAGO.—This is the latest manifestation of Yankee quackery. Not content with advertising its ability to cure everything, the company has also advertised purchase of its shares as the shortest way to wealth. Nevertheless, a fraud order has been made against the company by the United States postal authorities, and it is worthy of remark that the president of the company has already been bankrupt in America. Under these circumstances development of the Nutriola business in this country may he expected and a representative of the company is already in London looking about for oflices.Leave a comment:
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Miles' Historical Marker
Ah, so that's what "hyoscyamic" means.
Dr. Miles has a historical marker. His company went on to manufacture Alka-Seltzer.Last edited by TradeName; 12-21-2012, 04:24 AM.Leave a comment:
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Bloody Hell Trade...I'm not sure I'd fancy someone applying deadly nightshade plasters to my afflicted parts!
All the best
DaveLeave a comment:
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Ad for Franklin Miles
Norman Lees testified that he worked for the "Franklin Miles Medical Association" from 1901-1903.
The Saint Paul Globe (Minnesota), January 25, 1903, Page 8, Column 3
Free! A $2.50 Treatment
A Bona-fide Offer by a Wealthy
and Successful Physician to
Prove the Efficancy [sic] of His
New Treatments.
During- the last few years very great
improvements have been made in treating
disease. Cases formerly considered
incurable now yield readily to
new remedies. The wealthy specialist,
Franklin Miles, M. D.,LL. 8., founder
of the Grand Dispensary and Sanitarium,
of Chicago and Elkhart, will
give away $10,000 worth of his new
Individual Treatments.
This liberal offer is for the purpose
of demonstrating their unusual curative
powers. They are the result of
twenty-five years of careful study, extensive
research and remarkable success
in treating diseases of the heart,
stomach, liver, kidneys and nerves
which complicate each case.
They are prepared expressly for each
patient, as the res_ult is much more
certain. Each free treatment consists
of a curative elixir, tonic tabloids,
eliminating pills, and usually a compound
hyoscyamic plaster, together
with a diagnostic chart and valuable
personal advice. Extensive statistics
clearly demonstrate that Dr. Miles'
Treatments are at least three times as
successful as those usually employed.
Few physicians have such confidence
in their remedies, and there is no reason
why every afflicted person should
not avail himself of this liberal offer.
Thousands die unnecessarily each year
because physicians do not understand
such diseases.
A thousand testimonials from Bishops
Clergymen, Bankers, Farmers, etc sent
free on request. These Include many who
were cured after from five to twenty
physicians failed.
Send at once to Dr. Franklin Miles,
201 to 219 State street, Chicago, Ill.,
for $2.50 free treatment before it is
too late (Mention St. Paul Globe.)Leave a comment:
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Nutriola
Bio sketch of Hanson, founder of the Nutriola Company for which Norman Lees worked as advertising manager.
History of the City of Belfast in the State of Maine (Boston: Houghton, Miflin and Co., 1913), Volume 2, Page 14
1895. Edgar Filmore Hanson was chosen Mayor, a Citizens' prevailing over a Republican ticket by a vote of 674 to 505.
Edgar Filmore Hanson was born in Lincoln, Maine, 11 March, 1853, and is the son of Clark and Nancy (Hatch) Hanson. He attended the public schools, and when a young man followed the sea for three years. Coming to Belfast, he engaged in the carriage business, and afterwards in company with Kilgore and Wilson, manufactured Dana's Sarsaparilla, being manager of the company. Later he organized the Cream Company for publishing the magazine "Cream," and the Nutriola Company, for the manufacture and sale of patent medicines. He was Mayor, 1895-96. He married (1) Flora E. Nickerson, who died in 1890; and in 1895, he married (2) Georgia Geraldine Lord, daughter of Henry Lunt Lord, of Belfast. Mr. Hanson left Belfast in 1903, returning in 1906, and has since been elected Mayor for seven consecutive terms.
--end
Newspaper association's view of Nutriola as an advertiser:
American Newspaper Pubishers Association Bulletin No. 1148 (New York), March 40, 1904, Page 122
NUTRIOLA COMPANY, 802 West Madison St., Chicago, Ill.
Incorporated for $500,000 under the laws of the State of Maine. Placing on the market a proprietary medicine.
E. T. [sic] Hanson, President and Manager. M. W. Lord, Secretary. Hanson formerly lived in Belfast, Me., where he was interested in the patent medicine business. They claim not to be doing any advertising except through the Morgan Agency, Stock Exchange Bldg., Chicago. The stock of the company which they are endeavoring to sell, seems to be regarded as of no value. The company has a small office located in an outlying district, where they employ four or five stenographers who seem to be sending out advertising matter. The company is not considered to have any financial standing and Credit N is deemed advisable.
--end
Nutriola ad:
Sunset, Volume 14, April, 1905, Page 736
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Guenther Libel Trial
Norman Lees testified as a defense witness in a libel action by a Louis Guenther against The Ridgway Company, publishers of Adventure magazine. Here's a couple of excerpts of Lees talking about his employment and about his time in Matteawan.
Supreme Court [New York]
Appellate Division-First Department.
Louis Guenther,
Plaintiff-Respondent
against
The Ridgway Company,
Defendant-Appellant
(New York: The Reporter Co., 1915)
Pages 455-456
[October 22, 1914]
Defendant's Witness, Norman A. Lees, Direct
NORMAN A. LEES, called as a witness on behalf of the defendant, being duly sworn, testified as follows:
Direct-examination by Mr. Sheehan:
Q. Mr. Lees, where do you reside? A. Brooklyn, New York.
Q. What has been your occupation, say, for the last five years or so? A. Inquiry agent.
Q. And what was your occupation before that? A. Advertising manager.
O. With whom were you connected as advertising manager? A. Franklin Miles Medical Association first; Nutriola Company afterwards.
Q. Can you tell us about when it was you were connected with the Franklin Miles Medical Association? A. From 1901 until 1903.
By the Court:
Q. Will you tell us what an inquiry agent is? A. Making private, confidential inquiries for—
Q. Detective? A. You wouldn't hardly say that it is. It is making inquiries. I wouldn't say detectives, your Honor.
Q. Making inquiries about what? A. Oh, legal work,—private matters.
[...]
Pages 511-512
[October 26, 1914]
RE-DIRECT EXAMINATION by Mr. Sheehan:
0. Now, Mr. Lees, will you please state the purpose of your getting yourself committed to Mattcawan; state all the circumstances? A. Allegations had been made against the Matteawan State Hospial people and I decided that it was possible, after investigating the subject—that it was possible to get committed, investigate it from the inside and expose it, and I went in and did it; and for what I did, I was paid.
Q. Will you please state how long you stayed there? A. About five and one-half months.
Q. And during that time, what did you do there? A. Oh, I had pretty well the free run of the building most of the time.
Q. And during these five and one-half months, what was your purpose—to acquire this information? A. To acquire that information.
Q. And then after you had acquired this information, what did you do? A. Well, I had a writ of habeas corpus for my release applied for; came down before one of the Supreme Court Justices, and he let me go; said that I had,—well, just discharged me as sane; and the Assistant District Attorney of Kings County immediately afterwards quashed the indictment for arson on the ground that they had no evidence.
Q. As a matter of fact, did you commit arson? A. No, sir.
Q. Did you burn down anything? A. No, sir.
[...]Leave a comment:
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Norman Albert Lees
Here's a link to a page on Lees' son, Norman Albert Lees, and his connection to Harry K. Thaw at Stephen Butts' site.
Not sure if either Norman or Harry were aware of this, but Thaw's half-brother Alexander Blair Thaw (maternal grandfather of CIA agent Cord Meyer) participated in seances conducted by Mrs. Piper, the American medium that W. T. Stead said he sat with in the "Directory of Mediums" article in Borderland. (See A. B. Thaw's obit NYT, October 6, 1937, Page 25.)
Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research, Volume 13 (1897-1898), Pages 536-582, Page 284 (first)
A Further Record of Observations of Certain Phenomena of Trance
by Richard Hodgson, LL.D.
APPENDIX IV.
The following series of sittings with Dr. and Mrs. A. Blair Thaw and several of their closely connected relatives and friends are quoted in full as a specimen series, owing to the completeness of the record. Some weeks before the date of their first sitting, Dr. and Mrs. Thaw, who had heard that Mrs. Piper had been reported upon favourably in our Proceedings, called on Mrs. Piper at her house in Arlington Heights, Mass., and requested a sitting, without giving their names. Mrs. Piper was ill at the time, and not giving any sittings, and referred them to me. They called on me, and expressed their desire for a sitting, and finally gave me their address in New York. They were previously entirely unknown to me and were not members of our Society, and did not give me their names till the end of our interview. I told them that Mrs. Piper expected soon to visit one of our members, Dr. Anna Lukens, living in New York, and a sitting might be arranged for them there. In consequence they had their first sitting at the house of Dr. Lukens, to whom they were previously unknown. Their next three sittings were at Mrs. Piper's house in Arlington Heights, and the May sittings were in New York or its vicinity, where Mrs. Piper was their guest. The sitting of January 16th, 1893, was at a friend's house in Boston. The omitted portions of the sittings, marked by asterisks, and all of which I have seen, consist, for the most part, of references to living persons, showing an intimate knowledge of their character. The record of one sitting, which came between the numbered sixth and seventh, is omitted altogether, at the request of the sitter, as being too intimately personal, and containing much very private matter concerning the deceased.
[...]
--endLeave a comment:
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Claimed Healings by Lees
Light (London), December 20, 1890, Page 617
Spiritual Healing: By One Who Has Been Healed.
Sir,—While the newspapers are yet full of the great discovery of Dr. Koch, and are discussing the possibility of curing a disease which, up to the present, has resistad all efforts to overcome it, I should like to draw the attention of your readers to the wonderful manner in which I myself have been healed of an affliotion which is as intractable to the efforts of the ordinary physician as consumption itself.
The above heading indicates the means by which my affliction—that of cystic tumour in the neck of twenty years' standing—was overcome; and it seems to me that "spiritual healing," if universally known, would be an even greater boon to mankind than the discovery of Dr. Koch. His discovery applies to consumption, but the "spiritual healing" power is applicable equally to the most varied cases of disease, and the most out of the way afflictions to which human flesh is unfortunately heir. Allow me to give a few particulars.
I will commence by stating that I am not a Spiritualist, and that up to five months ago I thought Spiritualism and everything connected with it so absurd that I would never give it serious consideration. That which led me ultimately to change my opinion was a visit 1 paid to Winchester Hall, High-street, Peckham, S.E.
After the service Mr. Audy, the secretary, fell into conversation with me, and after a time kindly inquired concerning the tumour in my neck. In this Mr. Audy was only like the majority of those with whom I have talked, for my tumour was so conspicuous that I could go nowhere without being the object of much unpleasant observation. I told Mr Audy how that from a child I had attended doctors and hospitals of all kinds, endeavouring to get rid of my misfortune. Besides being under treatment by private doctors, I have attended Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas' Hospital, and the Homoeopathic Hospital, in Great Ormond-street, W.C,
Under the care of these various institutions I have had my neck painted with iodine for weeks, so that I was in constant pain from the burning. That failing, I had the tumour tapped four times, but the only result was that each time it came up quicker and larger than before. Finally, all the doctors with whom I have conversed at the above-mentioned institutions came to the conclusion that they could do nothing more for me unless I went into the hospital and underwent a long and dangerous operation. This, from personal and business reasons, I would not do, and so for about twenty years I have borne my increasing affliction as best I could. To my surprise Mr. Audy stated confidently that he knew a man who, he was sure, could cure me; and before we parted he gave ine the address of a Mr. R J. Lees, in Dulwich, who, he said, to his knowledge, had cured complaints quite as serious as mine, and he earnestly pressed me to give Mr. Lees a trial. Well, I thought that as I had tried all ordinary modes and failed, I might as well try an extraordinary one, for if that also failed I should then be in no worse position than before.
I accordingly wrote to Mr. Lees, who replied that he could not guarantee a cure until he saw me. "Guarantee a cure!" I said to myself, "that is a confident way of putting it, I think I will give him a trial." Without more ado, then, I placed myself under Mr. Lees' care, seeing him twice a week, once at his residence and once at Chepstow Hall, High-street, Peckham. From the commencement Mr. Lees stated positively that he could cure me, and he has kept his word.
There is, probably, no need for me to describe how Mr. Lees magnetised my tumour week by week, as all your readers are doubtless aware of the mode of procedure in such cases. Suffice it to say that after magnetising my neck for some time, he stated that the roots of the tumour were shrunk and killed, and that being the case there was nothing more for him to do than to let out the fluid which filled the cavity in the neck. This he skilfully did by pricking it with a needle, and now, for the first time that I can remember, I go about like an ordinary person unhaunted by the consciousness of being a curiosity to the beholders. I might dilate on this much further, but I fear trespassing on your space.
Let me, however, just mention two remarkable cases of healing, under Mr. Lees' treatment, which I witnessed at Chepstow Hall. First, that of a little girl who some, years ago struck her knee and injured it in some way, which the doctor could not exactly determine. A great swelling arose all over the knee, which not only prevented the child moving her leg, but pained so much that she could not bear to touch it with her own finger. The mother told me she had taken the child to various hospitals, but they all failed to do anything for her. Mr. Lees' magnetism seemed to act like magic. The third time he magnetised it nearly all the pain was gone, the fourth time it got so well that the child was actually able to bend her leg, and kneel down on the knee which before she could not bear touched.
The second case is even more remarkable. It is that of a little girl who for ten years has been a confirmed and helpless cripple. Both her legs were shrivelled like ticks [sic] and both her feet were drawn inwards like crabs' claws. She had to be carried if she went any distance, and could not move at all without the aid of a crutch and iron supports to her boots.
In this case the doctors had treated her from birth, but entirely failed to effect a cure. After four months of Mr. Lees' treatment she became so well that she could dispense with the crutch, leave off the special iron supported boots, whilst her feet were so straight that when she had her boots on no one could see there was anything the matter with them. I met the father the other day and he told me that the girl is so well that she runs about playing all day long and will not sit down to give herself rest.
In the above incidents I have confined myself rigidly to that which I know, but I could tell of many more which I have heard on unimpeachable testimony.
What I have stated, however, is sufficient confirmation of what I said above that here we have evidences of a healing power of even wider applicability than Dr. Koch's discovery, and far surpasses his method in the simplicity of the treatment and the sureness of the results.
For my part I am so overjoyed with the result of spiritual healing in my own case, and have such a conviction of its applicability to the cases of thousands who now suffer from ills which all the skill of the medical faculty cannot cure, that I feel I ought to proclaim everywhere and in every manner the blessing I have found, and endeavour to induce all who have need of such aid to try for themselves the agency by which I have been cured.
In conclusion I may say that I shall be only too pleased to give anyone any further information, and confirmation, of my cure, regarding which I have taken special precaution by having my tumour photographed before Mr. Lees operated on it.
S. J. Richards.
44, Bird-in-Bush-road, Peckham, S.E.
December 4th, 1890.Leave a comment:
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The implication has always been that they are indeed the same people - time will tell...Leave a comment:
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The Fred C. Beckwith mentioned in the Chicago Times-Herald article seems to have been an agent for George Treadwell. I also wonder if Beckwith is the "Mr. B." mentioned in Lees' account in Light in 1886. Haven't seen anything to confirm that Beckwith actually knew Lees.Originally posted by Jenni Shelden View PostLeave a comment:
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This stuff about mining is interesting. Where is it coming from?
JenniLeave a comment:
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