Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 8/13 by Estelle Roberts

Fawcett was a remarkable man. A fine soldier, an experienced surveyor and intrepid explorer, he was also a mystic of a high order. His last expedition began in 1925 when, with his younger son and one other companion, he penetrated the Brazilian hinterland. It was a journey from which he never returned – in the physical sense. Several explorers claimed to have met him, or found traces of him, but none of their claims stood up to searching investigation. With the passage of years there could be only one logical…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 7/13 by Estelle Roberts

To this brief spirit return there was an unexpected sequel. Some days later, Reeves, walking in Hyde Park saw a horse and rider approaching him. When they reached him Reeves noticed that the rider was a man he had known slightly in days gone by, one who had no small reputation as an Arctic explorer. The rider halted his horse and said surprisingly: “Ah, Reeves, I was keeping an eye open for you. I understood you have been in communication with Gino Watkins.”“Yes, that is so. But how did you…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 6/13 by Estelle Roberts

Later he came again to my séance room and spoke this time in the direct voice. Dick was upset and his voice came with great difficulty. He was worried because of a claim that he had spoken through a medium at a public meeting. This, he said, was not so. He then asked that a message be given to his daughter, urging her to go ahead with the plans for his memoirs, and giving the name of somebody who was opposed to their publication. He sent affectionate greetings to George…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 5/13 by Estelle Roberts

“Mother, this is Dorothy,” came a girl’s voice. “Yes, darling.”“Mother, you have wonderful psychic gifts. Why don’t you use them?”“They are not sufficiently developed, darling. There is so much one needs to know.” There followed a long exchange of the kind you expect between mother and daughter, a conversation of no consequence to anyone but the two principals concerned.When it was over Mrs. Cunliffe-Owen acknowledged it had been one of her most rewarding evenings. Shortly after the events I have just described, Lord Northcliffe, the founder of the Daily Mail,…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 4/13 by Estelle Roberts

At the end of the séance Mary Glynne explained the significance of these words. She told us that she also sat with another medium through whom, a few days earlier, she had received a communication from Dennis. Ever seeking greater, more convincing, proof she had asked him for a text message, a few words only that he would repeat at her forthcoming visit to me. “I will say,” he had promised, “I have brought some flowers for you.”Emma Cunliffe-Owen was one of the most vital and kindly women it has…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 3/13 by Estelle Roberts

Shortly after the passing over of the talented young actor-manager Dennis Neilson-Terry, his actress wife, Mary Glynne, and his actress sister, Phyllis, started to attend regularly at my direct-voice séances. The first time that Dennis’ voice was heard it was faint and feeble as it called his wife’s name. “This is Dennis,” it added. “Can you hear me? I’ve got to get accustomed to this.”“I can hear you,” Mary Glynne said, encouragingly.With obvious effort the voice went on to give short messages to friends and relatives. Then it said: “This…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 2/13 by Estelle Roberts

The anti-Spiritualists scoffed at the bare idea of a spirit picture. Nothing, they asserted, was easier to fake than a photograph. This is undeniably true, but what they conveniently chose to overlook were the test conditions under which the picture was taken. The plates used at the séance were provided by a Fleet Street Photographic agency after having been secretly marked by one of its representatives for identification purposes. They were loaded into the camera by the same representative. Two representatives of the agency were present the whole time the…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 12, 1/13 by Estelle Roberts

CHAPTER TWELVE,FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS It is now more than thirty-five years since the world was startled by the publication in a psychic newspaper of a series of automatic writings entitled “My Life After Death” by Edgar Wallace. Although I had no part in the origin of this script that came through a medium in Wales, I was concerned in establishing its authenticity. During the last years of his life Edgar Wallace was always in the news as a novelist, journalist and a playwright. He was also a “character,” rich in eccentricities…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 12/12 by Estelle Roberts

I carried on transmitting spirit messages until Sir Arthur got to his feet and came over to my side. Slowly and deliberately he gave me a test message for Lady Doyle. It was an intimate one concerning another member of the family and referred to an event which had occurred only that morning. It convinced Lady Doyle that it must have come from her husband, as only she and the other member of the family were aware that the small incident described had happened. While giving clairvoyance that evening a…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 11/12 by Estelle Roberts

George Craze, President of the Merylebone Association, who had often presided for Doyle at public meetings, said he was.“Take care of this medium,” Doyle urged him. “She is doing wonderful work. And you, Swaffer, watch our interests in the battle for truth that is now taking place. Great forces are opposing us, yet we must go forever forward.” He continued in this vein for some time. Before taking his leave he sent a message to his wife with “all my love and affection” and one to his son Denis, “tell…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 10/12 by Estelle Roberts

The trumpet then fell to the ground with the fading of power.After the meeting Mrs. Brooke and some friends, over coffee, discussed this striking spirit message. They all regretted that the girl’s mother or some friend or relation had not been present to witness the nurse’s spirit return. For several days Mrs. Brooke deliberated, unable to make up her mind whether she might not be meddling with things which did not concern her if she took some positive action. At last she decided that no harm could come from checking…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 9/12 by Estelle Roberts

Poor Barbanell! There he was in Blackburn, in Bessy’s home town, and he had not told her dramatic story. With many of the audience having known Bessy in life, it would have created a sensation! Maurice Barbanell has a keen sense of humour and I know that he would be the first to appreciate this story, told to me by one of the sitters in a voice séance. The greatest drawback to any good direct voice communication is tension. Once Red Cloud had brought a poor soul who was trying…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 8/12 by Estelle Roberts

I sent a copy of this spirit message to the old Blackburn address, but my letter came back with the envelope marked “Gone away.” I was disappointed that Mrs. Manning’s family could not have the mother’s message. Then, to my surprise, I received a letter from another address in Blackburn. It was written by a Mrs. J. Smith, who described herself as a daughter of Mrs. Manning. Someone had seen a printed reference I had made to her mother’s return and had sent Mrs. Smith a copy of it. “I…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 7/12 by Estelle Roberts

“Eight years later, my daughter Bessy passed on, one of the most lovable and sweetest girls who ever lived. Just before the end, she said, ‘If it is possible at all, I will come back.’ I knew she would keep that promise. She has come in the most unexpected manner. I had often heard of the Red Cloud circle. “It came as a big surprise to me to receive a telegram from Mr. Barbanell telling me that my daughter had come through, asking for her mother and telling them where…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 6/12 by Estelle Roberts

Later Mrs. Manning assured me that this was true. Often, in her grief, she would take her daughter’s photograph, kiss it and talk to it. Bessy, to show that she knew what was happening in her own home, said to her mother: “You were telling Father about his boots this morning, weren’t you, Ma?” “That is quite right,” replied Mrs. Manning.“You said they wanted mending, didn’t you, Ma?”“I understand what you mean Bessy,” was the answer. “My Ma, I called her Ma,” said Bessy. In repeating Bessy’s words to enable…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 5/12 by Estelle Roberts

I regard Bessy Manning’s return as flawless evidence for the after-life. No theories of telepathy or the subconscious mind can explain it away. No suggestion of collusion or any other kind of fraud can be entertained. Mrs. Manning had never met Estelle Roberts, or corresponded with her or any member of her family. Neither had she written to me or anyone who attended these voice séances. Yet her daughter’s full name and address had been given, accompanied by a complete message which was accurate in every detail. Later, when I…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 4/12 by Estelle Roberts

I had never heard of Bessy Manning. I did not know whether there was a Mrs. Manning, or whether there was a Canterbury Street in Blackburn, but my confidence, built on years of experience with Red Cloud, was such that I knew the spirit information was correct. On the following morning, without the slightest doubt in my mind, I sent this telegram to Mrs. Manning at 14, Canterbury Street in Blackburn: “Your daughter, Bessy, spoke to us at Red Cloud’s circle last night.” I received no reply, so I telegraphed…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 3/12 by Estelle Roberts

The trumpet slowly moved towards me and a voice, obviously belonging to a young girl, said: “I will, All right. I will . . . “From long experience I knew that the way to get the best results was to encourage the communicators to speak, not to ply them with questions which could have a rebuffing effect. “Come along,” I urged, “you are going to try to give me a message. Come and talk to me.” The voice replied: “I will if I am allowed to talk. A kind man…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 2/12 by Estelle Roberts

“Shingi had set his heart on achieving a certain speed at the trial run. My husband was timing him. One lap had been just finished and he was at the beginning of another when the boat overturned.“His statement was correct. He achieved his speed.” One of the difficulties in writing a book from the medium’s viewpoint is that when you have been in a deep trance you are dependant on the memories of those present for an accurate description of what transpired. Because of this the presence of the shorthand…

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Fifty Years a Medium – Chapter 11, 1/12 by Estelle Roberts

CHAPTER ELEVEN,MORE DIRECT VOICE Sir Henry Segrave helped another speed-boat victim to prove his identity when a Japanese visitor attended one of my voice séances. The communication she received not only set her own mind at rest but dulled the edge of grief of her son’s suffering. She was Mrs. Kingi Yano and her son was named Haro. Her husband and his brother, Shingi, had collaborated in racing motor boats and had won deserved reputations at this sport. Then came the day when Shingi was killed while practicing for a…

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