(The psychic effect secured by Mr. Maddocks on the occasion of the third sitting described hereunder is shown by fig. 22. A normal photograph of the late Mrs. Maddocks is given for comparison [fig. 23].)
I am absolutely convinced that Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton are transparently honest and honourable, most reverent in their Circle meetings, and their only desire is to give comfort and consolation to those who have lost a loved one. To impute fraud or trickery to them wounded me to the quick.
After several months’ waiting I obtained three sittings (with three extras) as follows:
1st Sitting.—To my great surprise the “extra” was not my first wife, but the following message:
‘Kind friends, we are glad to meet you and for the benefit of your friend of the Psychic Research Society we are giving this message, so that he may understand that, given the right conditions, these works can be done, and we ask you for our dear medium’s sake, to speak of it as you find it. God bless you.’
2nd Sitting.—This “extra” was quite unknown to me, but on reaching home (Sheffield) my second wife (clairvoyant) exclaimed, “Why, that’s the same face I’ve seen in our bedroom nearly every night.”
3rd Sitting.—The “extra” was my first wife at last! I recognised it instantly, also relatives and friends, as a very good picture of what she looked like at the end of twenty months’ agony from cancer. All her teeth were extracted during her illness on the advice of a London physician, and that accounts for the sunken appearance of the mouth. (See Figure 22.)
The normal photo was taken several years previously. (See Figure 23.)
(Signed) Samuel Maddocks.
Supt. Royal Blind School, Broomhill, Sheffield.
(The account tells how Mr. Skelton obtained a photograph of his mother, and how later, with two friends, he was present when the famous message from the late Dr. W. J. Crawford was obtained on a photographic plate of their own, under strict test conditions. See figs. 3 and 4.)
I have known Mr. Hope for four or five years now, and have sat with him about a dozen times as well as being closely associated during his and Mrs. Buxton’s two visits to Belfast.
On January 4th, 1922, my mother passed to the higher life. I was summoned to Blackburn on Saturday, January 28th, 1922, and as I could not return to Belfast sooner than the Monday night, I decided to make a visit to Crewe with the hope that I might get her photograph. I wrote to Mr. Hope and made an appointment for the Monday morning, January 30th, 1922, and received his reply agreeing. On the night before I crossed to England, we held a brief circle at home, and by means of a small table, my mother manifested. I told her of my intention of going to Crewe and the time that I would be sitting, and she signified that she would do her best to get through. I arrived in Crewe on the day arranged (about 10 a.m.), and found that Mrs. Buxton was ill in bed and could not sit. Naturally I was much disappointed. Mr. Hope noticing it, said, “Never mind, we will sit without her and do the best we can.” Mrs. Buxton’s daughter sat in her place, Mr. Hope and myself completed the circle. The usual methods were adopted. The packet of plates which I bought in Crewe about five minutes before I reached 144, Market Street were lying on the table during the course of the sitting in full view of all. Mr. Hope and I then proceeded to the dark room, where I initialled the second two plates in the packet, and loaded the slide with them. Never once did Mr. Hope touch them. Miss Buxton and Mr. Hope arranged the camera, etc., after which I handed Mr. Hope the slide. He exposed the two plates and I afterwards developed them myself. On the first was the face of my mother, just as she appeared a few days prior to her death. The plate was hurriedly dried and a print was made for me to take with me, both Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton, who knew her recognised it at once. Everyone at home who knew her recognised it immediately, one gentleman saying, “I don’t know anything about spiritualism, but if you want an independent testimony, I am prepared to go on any platform and testify to this being your mother’s photograph.” To me the remarkable thing was, that it was secured exactly twenty-six days after her death. To say Mr. Hope tricked, substituted plates, or in any way defrauded, is puerile.
On a previous occasion I secured a photograph of an old friend of our family who died when I was a boy. It was not recognised for a week after getting it, and then only by chance. I compared an original photograph of her and it proved the identity up to the hilt.
My most recent experience was the securing of the now famous “Crawford” message signed by himself. Mr. J. W. Gillmour, Mr. S. G. Donaldson and myself, all of Belfast, were travelling to the Conferences of the S.N.U., Ltd., in London, and we decided to break our journey at Crewe. Mr. Gillmour bought a packet of ordinary Imperial quarter-plates from Mr. John Bell, of Garfield Street, Belfast, on Thursday, June 29th, 1922, telling Mr. Bell the purpose for which they were required. Mr. Bell parcelled it up and sealed with wax. We crossed to Liverpool same night. Mrs. Crawford also crossed over with us and we travelled together to Crewe, Mrs. Crawford went on to London and we went to see Mr. Hope, arriving there about 10.30 a.m. The usual sitting was arranged, Mr. Gillmour produced the sealed packet, and we all saw the seal was unbroken. It was then broken and the packet was seen to be intact as it came from Mr. Bell’s shop. The unopened packet was held between the hands of all present. Mr. Donaldson then took the packet and proceeded with Mr. Hope to load the slides in the dark room, Mr. Donaldson alone handled the plates from beginning to end. We were all photographed together at first, and then separately. The first plate exposed shews a message from Dr. Crawford. With Mr. Gillmour as a sitter there appears an (as yet) unknown face. With Mr. Donaldson there was no psychic effect. With myself a bright light appeared. We were all present at the development and at no time did Mr. Hope touch the plates. Mr. Donaldson did all the work under our careful scrutiny. The result was a surprise to us all. (See Figures 2 and 4.)
We are, however, mutually agreed that it is a bona fide message from Dr. Crawford in his own handwriting, with which I am well acquainted.
(Signed) Jas. P. Skelton.
651, Lisborn Road, Balmoral, Belfast.
During the last seven or eight years I have had several sittings with the Crewe Circle, and can state truly that I have always found both Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton most anxious to have me examine the dark room, the camera, the slides, the room in which the photographs were taken, and had I wished to examine anything else I am sure they would have agreed to my doing so.
At some sittings I have had no results, whilst at others the results have been excellent.
The very first time I visited Crewe I bought a box of plates in London and took it with me. Mr. Hope never handled the box at all excepting in my presence, and we obtained two excellent pictures of my father. During that same visit I bought a box of plates in Crewe, neither Mr. Hope nor Mrs. Buxton had any idea at which shop I bought it. I sealed the box and took it with me to 144, Market Street. I held it in my hands until we, Mr. Hope, Mrs. Buxton, Mr. Harry Walker, at whose house I was staying, and myself—were seated round the table. I then placed the box on the table, where it remained visible to all, as the room was well lighted by gas, whilst we held the little service usually held by the Crewe Circle. We all then placed our hands under and over the box and held it in this way for a little while. I then placed the bottom of the box against Mrs. Buxton’s forehead and then held it between my hands whilst instructions were given, through Mr. Hope, to the effect that I should go into the dark room with him, unseal the box myself, take out the bottom plate and the plate next to it. I was told to take particular note as to which was the bottom plate. I was instructed to develop the two plates in Mr. Hope’s presence, but not to allow him to touch them until I had developed them. Note, the box was not unsealed until we went into the dark room, and the plates were never exposed to the light at all.
Nothing appeared on the bottom plate, nor was there any sign of fogging. On the other plate were two messages, one in Archdeacon Colley’s handwriting and one in Mr. William Walker’s handwriting, together with a faint outline of my father’s face.
About one year after receiving the above I went up to Crewe with Miss Scatcherd. I had previously, without saying a word to Miss Scatcherd or anyone, made an engagement with my brother Will, who passed over in 1907, to meet me there and give his picture if he could manage to do so. Miss Scatcherd thought I wanted a picture of my father or a message from him. I do not think either Mr. Hope or Mrs. Buxton knew of my brother’s existence, and even if they did they certainly had no means of getting hold of his photograph. I took my own plates from town. On the very first plate exposed my brother’s face appears between Miss Scatcherd and myself.
During a visit the Crewe Circle paid to the “W. T. Stead” Bureau in Baker Street in 1919, at my father’s request I took my mother to have a sitting with them without advising them beforehand as to who it was I was bringing. I took my own plates, put them in the slides myself and stood over Mr. Hope whilst he developed the plates after the sitting. On the plate exposed on my mother alone there appears a very good picture of my father.
(Signed) E. W. Stead.
5, Smith Square, S.W. 1.
(Mrs. Jones relates how on two occasions she obtained an excellent likeness of her deceased husband. The second photograph referred to shows a remarkable likeness on comparison with a normal photograph.)
I had a sitting at Crewe, about four years ago, and again this last March. Success attended both sittings. The March sitting took place in my own house; Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton stayed with us a couple of days and we got a photo with three “extras” on one plate. We consider the last one a perfect likeness of my husband just as he was before his last illness. The first was very good, only rather too much like what he was at the time of passing over, so, you see, it was rather painful, but a truthful likeness. My son was with Mr. Hope the whole time he developed the plates. He knows quite a lot about photography, and we used our own plates.
(Signed) Ellen Jones.
Rees Cottage, Kempston, Beds.
I have had several sittings with Mr. Wm. Hope and Mrs. Buxton at Crewe. I will briefly relate one experience.
In 1910 I was just dropping off to sleep when I saw, in the far corner of the room, a beautiful girl’s face smiling at me. It slowly disappeared sideways behind a screen. I wondered who the owner was. It was slightly oval, radiant with joy, and the eyes were laughing at me with just a touch of roguish enjoyment at my perplexity. There was a certain efflorescence permeating it, a light which did not proceed from an exterior object, but which seemed to be one with the substance of which the face was composed. But it was not a mask. It was a living face.
About eight years later I saw the same face again, this time about six inches from my own. On this second occasion there came into my mind, as if intentionally projected there, the name “Ruby.” Ruby is my daughter who passed away at the age of fifteen months in 1896.
In August, 1917, my wife and I paid a visit to the Crewe Circle. On one of the negatives appeared the face I had already seen clairvoyantly. It was not full-face, as I had seen it on the two previous occasions, but in profile. This disposes of the theory that it might have been a thought-form of my own.
Later on, we were having a talk with this spirit-child of ours in our own home at Orford, and I took the opportunity to ask her if it was she who had managed to get her picture on the plate at Crewe. Her reply was: “I don’t know, daddy. I was there and tried to. I should love to have done it. Did I?” My answer was that I was satisfied that she had done so.
I also asked her why it was in profile and she said it was in order that she might shew her hair. Even when she passed away as a baby her abundant light-brown hair was an exceptional feature. On the photograph it was also conspicuous.
I am satisfied that the picture is the likeness of my daughter Ruby. We have received more than one description of her as she appears in the spirit life and this portrait tallies with these descriptions.
I am at one with several of my friends who have sat with them in their conviction that there is no trickery used by these mediums in the production of results obtained.
On all my visits to Crewe I have been struck with the transparent honesty and earnestness of both Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton. The only conclusion to which I can come is that they are out for the sole purpose of helping others with their rare gift, at great cost to their own comfort and convenience. Personally I am grateful to them for their self-sacrificing service.
(Signed) G. Vale Owen.
Orford Vicarage, Warrington.
Having had well over twenty sittings with Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton of the Crewe Circle, as well as intimate acquaintance of sittings of close friends, I have no hesitation in expressing absolute conviction of the genuineness of the results obtained.
With the exception of photographs of our own son, I cannot say that many were undoubtedly recognised. We have, however, had many photographs of our boy about which there could be no doubt on the part of anybody who knew him at all well. Of course, ordinary photographs of an individual taken from different angles or in different positions shew considerable divergence; perhaps the one approximating nearest to the last photo before transition is the one taken on October 16th, 1921, copy of which I enclose together with print of the pretransitional photograph for comparison. [Not reproduced.—Ed.]
The clearest photo we have had taken of him was on December 11th, 1920.
(Signed) Fred J. Twelves.
55, Victoria Road, Whalley Range, Manchester.
On August 19th, 1921, I called at Crewe on my way home from Llandudno and made my way to the house of Mrs. Buxton. I took with me a sealed packet of plates. I have done a considerable amount of photographic work in days gone by. I examined the camera, placed the plates into the slides myself in the dark room and developed and fixed them myself. As regards the psychic results secured, my good wife and myself have not the slightest doubt that it is a photograph of one of our daughters. I do pray that this knowledge may bring joy and comfort to some sorrowing heart.
(Signed) W. Whitefield.
St. George, Bristol.
(The photograph referred to by Mrs. Hartwell, when compared with a normal photograph of her late husband, leaves no doubts whatever as to the question of recognition.)
I went to Mr. Hope as a complete stranger and when I received the photograph, I recognised the “extra” to be the likeness of my husband, whom I had lost during the war. It was also recognised by all of his most intimate friends to whom it was shown.
You have my full permission to make whatever use of it you wish, and am only too pleased to do anything in my power to help forward this beautiful cause.
(Signed) D. Hartwell.
2, St. Giles Terrace, Northampton.
(Mrs. Foulds, an experienced photographer, describes how she obtained a psychic photograph of her mother and a psychograph of more than seventy words, under good test conditions. The psychic photograph showing Mrs. Foulds’s mother is reproduced in fig. 24, with normal photograph of the same lady, fig. 25, for comparison.)
The “extra” of my mother (Figure 24) was obtained at 144, Market Street, Crewe, in February, 1920, under the following conditions: I took a sealed packet of plates, also my own slide, which, though slightly different from Mr. Hope’s, fitted his camera; after the usual sitting I went into the dark room, broke the seal, opened the packet of plates, placed one in each division of the slide, initialled them, put slide in my dress, also rest of plates, after being focussed I placed slide in camera after a thorough examination of same, resumed my seat, when the usual exposure was made. I then took slide from camera, went into dark room and developed plates, with result that one was normal and the other bore a good likeness of my mother (recognised by all of the family who have seen it). Then Mr. Hope said, “I would like you to choose another plate, any one you like, from your packet, and develop that, too.” I chose the one next but one to the bottom of packet, and on developing that, obtained a message of upward of seventy words dealing with matters of a strictly private nature.
I wish to state most emphatically that from beginning to end of the experiment, the packet of plates never left my person, and those developed were not touched in any way whatever by Mr. Hope or Mrs. Buxton until they left the fixing bath, neither did the slide leave my possession except when I placed it in the camera.
(Signed) R. Foulds.
84a, Eastbank Road, Sheffield.
(In forwarding four psychic photographs with normal photographs for comparison, Mr. Dove gives the attestation hereunder.)
I can absolutely assure you that these photographs were taken under strictest test conditions in my home and in the presence of seven reliable witnesses who are willing to attest to their genuineness.
I myself bought the plates, etc., and was the only one who handled them until they were developed, which was keenly watched by all. Mr. Hope never actually touched the plates. They are fine photographs of Mr. W. J. Cary, Mr. Geo. Dove, of whom there is no normal photo in existence, and Mrs. Catton. I can quite well assure you that they caused quite a sensation in Sutton-in-Ashfield where all of them were well known.
(Signed) Charles Dove.
Homelea, Oak Tree Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield.
(The likenesses of father and husband were obtained on one photograph, the features of the latter being clearer than those of the sitter. This photograph is shewn by fig. 26. Fig. 27 reproduced alongside gives a normal photograph of Mr. Griere for comparison.)
I have great pleasure in forwarding the enclosed pictures. My sitting with Mr. Hope took place in December of 1921. I brought my own plates as directed, and I wish to state that throughout the whole proceedings Mr. Hope did not handle these plates unless to load the camera out in the studio. I took them out of the wrapper, placed them in the slide, unloaded and developed them. The result of the sitting you have before you.
I am perfectly satisfied that the “extra” on No. 1 picture is the face of my husband, and on No. 2 the “extras” are those of my husband and my father. You will see the undoubted resemblance to the original photograph herewith enclosed. I was a total stranger to Mr. Hope and his good friend, Mrs. Buxton, and I shall always remain indebted to them both for their courtesy during my visit to Crewe. I trust this picture may be of some use to you.
(Signed) A. Elizabeth Griere.
20, Woodmill Road, Dunfermline.
I am enclosing four photographs, one normal and three psychographs. [Not reproduced.—Ed.] All the psychographs were taken in Crewe. Our first meeting was arranged through the post. We were quite strangers and had no mutual acquaintances likely to be in touch with each other. I live in the Isle of Wight; Mr. Hope in Crewe.
The photograph obtained on the first occasion bears the strongest likeness to my dear wife.
The whole operations, less the fixing of the slide in the camera and making the exposure, were undertaken by myself. Although I had not the slightest reason to suspect Mr. Hope, I treated him by my actions as a man open to swindle his patrons.
I am satisfied, bearing in mind that Mr. Hope had not access to any photograph of my wife and following upon the very short time we were together for the first time in our lives, that the result of that sitting could not be produced or attained solely by any material means known to mankind, science and legerdemain included.
In June of this year as we were motoring through the country a friend and myself called in Crewe. No appointment had been made with Mr. Hope, but we found him at home. Our dear discarnate friends just before leaving the island on June 4th and June 11th of this year stated they would go with us, and my friend’s wife, who had passed over in November, 1921, stated to her husband that he should see her again. To fulfil this promise we called at Crewe. The small figure at the back is my friend’s wife. The other one, if you will compare it with the normal photograph, will not be difficult to identify as my dear wife. On this occasion the features are most sharply defined.
I cannot express my thanks too warmly to the Crewe Circle and my own dear discarnate friends for the trouble taken on our behalf.
(Signed) E. W. Lee, Esq.
Fearnside, Clarence Road, Isle of Wight.
We lost our only son in France, August 27th, 1918. Being a good amateur photographer, I was curious about the photos that had been taken by the Crewe Circle. We took our own plate with us and I put the plate in the dark slide myself and put my name on it. We exposed two plates in the camera and got a well-recognised photo. Even my nine-year-old grandson could tell who the extra was without anyone saying anything to him. Having a thorough knowledge of photography, I can vouch for the veracity of the photograph in every particular. I claim the print which I send you to be an ordinary photograph of myself and Mrs. Hipwood with the extra of my son, R. W. Hipwood, 13th Welsh Regiment, killed in France in the great advance in August, 1918. I tender to our friends at Crewe our unbounded confidence in their work.
(Signed) R. S. Hipwood.
174, Cleveland Road, Sunderland.
(This description tells of a compact made between two friends that the one to pass over first should endeavour to manifest to the other. The one friend died, and a few months later Mr. Childs went to Crewe and obtained a fine photograph of his friend, independently recognised by between two hundred and three hundred people who knew him. Mr. Childs’ account is accompanied by certificate of recognition from the members of the deceased man’s family, who were not spiritualists.)
For five years I worked side by side with Mr. R. H. Turton, and on several occasions tried to interest him in psychic matters by showing him various spirit photographs which I and various friends had secured. He generally greeted the matter contemptuously, and often used the words “bunkum” and “rubbish.” On one notable occasion, however, after a long argument, he and I made a compact that which ever of us passed away first should endeavour to give the other some evidence of continued existence beyond death.
Mr. Turton passed away on March 17th of this year. Seven weeks later I visited the Crewe Circle. I made no appointment, and Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton could have no idea that I was coming. I took a packet of plates with me and conducted the usual examination of the apparatus used. I opened the box of plates and loaded the carrier. After the exposure had been made I developed and fixed the plate. Everything was in my own hands. As the image came up in the developing dish I noted the face of a man above my right shoulder. The print shows a remarkable likeness to my friend, R. H. Turton, and I am convinced that he has thus fulfilled the compact made betwixt us.
I have shown it to his relatives and friends, and his shopmates, and they have no hesitation in recognising the photograph. Though none of the relatives are spiritualists, they assert that it resembles him as he lay in his coffin. No photograph of Mr. Turton had been taken recently, and I cannot discover one which bears any resemblance to this.
Thus did my friend keep his compact, to convince me that memory lives beyond death.
(Signed) L. Childs.
42, Glover Road, Lowfield, Sheffield.
On returning from our holidays on August 20th, 1918, my husband and myself paid a surprise call at 144, Market Street, Crewe. About three years previously we had lost our little boy of fourteen. None of the members of the Crewe Circle had ever seen him, or even a photograph of him. On this occasion we were successful in obtaining a wonderful photograph of our dear boy. I have not the least doubt about the reality and genuineness of this photograph. Later on, when in Coventry, Mr. Hope kindly photographed my little boy’s grave, and we again obtained a fine photograph of him as he was just before he entered the higher life. With the Crewe Circle I have obtained some remarkable results. No one acquainted with the members of that Circle would for a moment doubt their honesty, and I pray that God may bless and prosper them in their good work and the sacrifices they make for the benefit of their fellows.
(Signed) A. A. Pears.
30, Dorset Road, Coventry.
Fig. 28.—Photograph of Mrs. E. Pickup with psychic likeness of her husband. The sitter was an absolute stranger to the Crewe Circle. (See p. 106.)
Fig. 29.—Photograph of Mrs. Pickup’s husband for comparison with his psychic likeness on Fig. 28.
Fig. 30.—Mrs. Burgess with psychic likeness of her uncle, Mr. H. D. Barlow. Obtained through the mediumship of Mrs. Deane in the home of Mr. Fred Barlow, who developed the plate alone in his dark room. An excellent likeness. A normal photograph of Mr. Barlow is shown in the inset. (See p. 63.)
Fig. 31.—Since this book was written, the above important photograph shows that Mr. F. Barlow, in the presence of three witnesses (Messrs. Browne, Newton and Gilby), under good test conditions, obtained through the Crewe Circle a picture of his father. Note how the psychic face has moved and compare with the Deane result (Fig. 30.) and normal photograph. (See inset in Fig. 30.)
What reply can be given to such definite statements as these here enumerated by reputable witnesses in every grade of life? Every reader with an open mind will agree that the evidence for the reality of psychic photography is overwhelming. It is only necessary to repeat that these reports form but part of a tremendous mass of accumulated evidence, which is available for any serious student to investigate. Unfortunately, in a popular volume of this description it is possible only to reproduce just a few of the photographic results referred to. As far as possible, however, these photographic effects are being accumulated and preserved so as to form a permanent record of the truth of psychic photography.
THE END