Spirits Utilized

Two Thieves Captured Through Information Given by the Spirit of Vidocq

At about ten o’clock on the night of Thursday, Sept. So23, E.H. Sanford, a New York commercial traveler, was knocked down on Michigan avenue, near First street, and robbed of a $270 gold watch and chain. The robbers escaped without leaving any clue behind them. The next day, the police being informed of the case, detectives Bishop and Somerville were detailed to look it up. An unusual effort was made by them to discover some clue, but all in vain. Thursday, a week after the robbery occurred, no discovery having been made, and the detectives becoming wearied of their work, lounged into the circuit court room, where Mrs. Cartwright, the medium was being examined. Here Somerville, who is a very spirituelle sort of a fellow, was deeply impressed with the witch’s powers. A happy thought struck him. He whispered a word to Bishop, who smiled, nodded and said “good.”

That night the two seekers after wisdom wended their way to the witch’s den. “What do you want,” said she. “A sitting,” muttered Somerville. They walked in and sat down. “Two dollars, if you please,” said the witch. “Oh, that’s all right,” said Bishop. “I always get paid in advance,” said she. “Guess we’ll have to come down,” said Somerville as he forked over. The money having been disposed of, the detectives were informed by the medium to await until she was entranced, and then call for what they wanted, and ask the right questions.

Soon the appearance of her face showed that the medium was ready. “Jack Shepherd appear” said Bishop, with a sonorous voice. “I am here, what do you want?” came from the lips of the woman. “God! that’s him!” said Bishop as his voice sank and his usually florid countenance paled. “Come! what do you want? Came from the impatient spirit. “You talk, Somerville, I dare not.” “We want to know who has got that watch and chain that was stolen from Sanford a week ago,” and forgetting, for a moment, the spiritual nature of the of the interlocutor, he added; “You lose nothing by telling us, neither.” “Ah, that’s what you want to know? You want me to squeal on a brother, do you? You are mistaken in your spirit. Git out!” was the reply. “Beg pardon, Jack, din’t mean to offend; thought you had been dead so long you didn’t care about such things,” muttered Somerville. A sneering laugh was his only reply.

“Let him go,” said Bishop, “Try a detective. Call that old Frenchman, Vicocq, I believe they called him.” Vidocq was called, and being requested to speak English did so. But exactly what he told the detectives they are sworn not to tell. It is sufficient to know, however, that the next day they succeeded in making the arrest of Arthur and George Pierce, brothers, and finding on George’s person the identical gold watch of which Sanford had been robbed eight days before. This morning the Pierce brothers were arraigned before Justice Harbaugh. They pleaded not guilty, but when they find out the ghostly nature of the witness against them, there is but little doubt but that they will withdraw their plea and own up.