WCP6744

[1] [p. 280]

Washington, D.C., December 21st, 1887.

Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, Godalming, England.

Dear Sir, — My friend, General F[rancis]. J[ames]. Lippitt¹, has shown me a letter² addressed to you by himself in regard to certain appearances of two forms as spirits at séances of Mrs. M. Eugenie Beste³, held in this city of the 8th, 17th, 24th, and 28th of May, 1885.

I was present at these séances, and can say that I have heard most of the conversations of the spirits purporting to be Carrie Lippitt and Nellie Morris. I particularly well remember the séance at which a lock of hair was cut from the head of Nellie Morris. At this séance, P. O[scar]. Jenkins⁴, Esq., was present, and handed the scissors for the use of the spirit in severing the lock.

I was very much interested in the efforts of General Lippitt to establish the identity of Nellie Morris, of the success of which I could only judge by what was incidentally uttered by the spirits, and by the disclosures of General Lippitt himself, after May 8th, 1885.

I cannot say whether Mr. Jenkins was present at all of these séances, but he concurs with me in vouching for the truth of the incident of the cutting of the lock of hair.

Both of these gentlemen are well known in this city, and need no vouchers for their credibility where they are known. As for myself, I must refer to the record of my 24 years of service in the Treasury of the United States, and my studies of the phenomena of Spiritualism since 1845 in proof of my honest endeavour to state facts as they were.— Very respectfully,

Darius Lyman