Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) 0807. THE DEATH BLOW TO SPIRITUALISM. Being the true story of the Fox sisters, as revealed by authority of Margaret Fox Kane and Catherine Fox Jencken. Written by R. B. Davenport. 147 pages. Deathblow to Spiritualism. R. B. Davenport 1.00 OCT. 1897. ISSUED MONTHLY. $5.00 PER YEAR. ENTERED AT THE NEW YORK POST OFFICE AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER. THE DEATH-BLOW TO SPIRITUALISM: BEING THE TRUE STORY OF THE FOX SISTERS, AS REVEALED BY AUTHORITY OF MARGARET FOX KANE AND CATHERINE FOX JENCKEN. BY REUBEN BRIGGS DAVENPORT. NEW YORK: _G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers._ MDCCCXCVII. Copyright, 1888. BY REUBEN BRIGGS DAVENPORT. [_All Rights Reserved._] TO MRS. HESTER S. DWINELLE. "ALONSO. This is as strange a maze as ere men trod, And there is in this business more than nature Was ever conduct of: some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. "PROSPERO. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on The strangeness of this business: at picked leisure, Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you (Which to you shall seem probable) of every These happen'd accidents: till when be cheerful, And think of each thing well.--Come hither, spirit; Set Caliban and his companions free: _Untie the spell._" SHAKESPEARE.--_The Tempest._ PREFACE. This book has been written in extreme haste. It does not pretend to literary style. But it pretends to absolute truthfulness and a reverent regard for justice. Its sole value is its character as a contribution to the real history of Spiritualism. As such, it is unquestionably of great importance, greater even than any work of the kind that has been published since the beginning of modern Spiritualism. It is, in fact, what its title sets forth--"THE DEATH-BLOW TO SPIRITUALISM." No one who does not love illusion for illusion's sake--better, in other words, than he loves the truth--can, after reading this volume, remain a follower of Spiritualism and its hypocritical apostles. The full authorization of Mrs. MARGARET FOX KANE and Mrs. CATHERINE FOX JENCKEN for the publication of this work will be found on the next to the following page. _29th October, 1888._ [Illustration: MARGARET FOX KANE IN HER 18TH YEAR.] [Illustration: KATIE FOX JENCKEN] We hereby approve of Mr. Reuben B. Davenport's design to write a true account of the origin of Spiritualism and of our connection therewith, and we authorize him to make proper use of all data and material that we furnish him. New York, 15th Oct., 1888. Margaret Fox Kane Catherine Fox Jencken CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION. Poetic Justice of the Exposure 13 II. RENUNCIATION.