WCP289

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

April 18^th. 1897

My dear Violet¹

I enclose you an object-lesson on unbusiness-like habits — second part (proof) of my Kindergarten Article with not a word inside or out to show where I am to send it.!!! Beautiful! is’nt[sic] it? Perhaps you know. If not, find out, &, — like Captain Cuttle² — "make a note of it."

I also enclose Will’s³ last letter no luck, no work, so are going cave hunting. I have advised them to go to Maine directly, & work on a farm or lumber-camp till midsummer, then to the caves [2] and if first-rate secure the land & admit tourists at a dollar a head! Send letter to Hurst when read.

Now for spirits — a brief outline. "I tell the tale as ‘twas told to me".

Some months back Sunshine told Mr. Sharpe he would have to take an expensive holiday this summer. He said he had no money for an expensive holiday, as his income was diminished by very heavy repairs to his house — property in E. London. (This is extensive, & he is a trustee for the whole family — Repairs & expenses sometimes come to £1000 in one year.) Sunshine said — "You must go. It will do you all good. I [3] have found a place for you; & I’ll get you the money". About a month later, Sunshine told him that his Agent in London had been cheating him for years & must be discharged. Sharpe said, he expected it but had no proofs, & had an Agreement by which he could not discharge him for some years. Then Sunshine told him what this man had done, taken percentage ^{(10 or 20 p.c.)} from contractors on all work done, taken bribes from new tenants — in one case £.200 for large business premises just relet on by lease, & robbed & illtreated the poor tenants against Sharpe’s express instructions. Still Sharpe said — "I have no proof of this." [4] Then S[unshine]. said — "I will bring his spirit here" — (Sh[arpe]) "But he’s ‘alive’" — (Suns[ine].) "I will bring his spirit here when he’s asleep" — So one evening they had a sèance and this man’s spirit ^{(or an imitation)} came through Mrs. Greck, & confessed what Sunshine had said. Still Sharpe said "This is no evidence." (Sunsh[ine].) "Send for him on business, put him into a room with my medium, and I will charge him with all he has done, and you shall stand outside and hear if he denies it." — So Sharpe sent for him on special business — He excused himself — too busy — Sharpe wrote again — "very important business — you must come unless you want to lose my business." After three [5] letters he came. On Sunshine’s instructions S[harpe]. had an attic made to look like an office with an old desk boxes &c. &c. brought him in and introduced him to Madame Greck. Then made some excuse and went out of the room, took a few steps and then stood by the door. Almost immediately Sunshine controlled & began speaking to the man, seriously and impressively, telling him how bad he was, and one by one all the things she had told Sharpe, with names dates &c. The⁴ man’s "magnetism" was so bad that it made Mrs G[reck]. ill, & the room had to be purged with salt-water! After each saying — "Is that true?" And he [6] denied nothing! Sharpe says it was finer than any play he ever heard. It was like a judge talking to a convicted swindler. When it stopped, Sharpe came in & asked the man to come into his study, and then without saying anything about Madame Greck, asked for explanations about the accounts, and gradually brought in the particular things he was accused of (when he began to bluster & decry) telling him he knew everything, & that his only chance of not being [7] prosecuted was to write a full confession. He then put paper before the man who wrote down all that Sunshine had accused him of. Then Sharpe read it over — called in one of his servants who witnessed the man’s signature. Altogether he has robbed them in the last 3 — 4 years of about £1500.

Then Sunshine told him that his lawyer for this property was also untrusthy[sic] & must he changed. Sharpe also suspected [8] this, but knew no one to have instead. Sunshine gave him the name & address of one who was really honest & clever. Sharpe had heard his name, went to see him liked him, told him all the circumstances, & has acted on his advice since. As he (Sharpe) holds £500 of the Agents money as security, he is sure of this ^amount & the lawyer thinks they will get at least £1000 back. — So there is the money for the holiday! They are to go to Les Avants above Montreux, for 3 or 4 months to a chalet which Sunshine has told them of.

This is only a quarter of what Sharpe told me. Is it not a good test case?

Yours very affectionately | A.R. Wallace [signature]