At several other seances, held at the home of Mr. Brickey and other places, these questions were again asked, and the answers repeated that Mr. Varis would die on the morning of October 8th, as at the first sitting. Of these dates I am perfectly confident.

It may, and it may not, be superfluous to add, that, unlike my husband, I am not a confirmed believer in the spiritual origin of those phenomena which we have from time to time witnessed, such as movements of the table by some unknown power; intelligent answers to questions; messages given through the alphabet, etc, but have been undecided whether to attribute them to telepathy, thought-transference, or some other unknown mental or magnetic quality residing in the sitters themselves, or whether, as so many believe, it is really through the direct agency of the disembodied.

Wishing your Society much success in its rational and most scientific way of dealing with these occult problems, - I am, very truly,

Louise F. Suddick.

Dr. Hodgson has also received letters from Mr. I. P. Brickey, Mr. E. A. Evans, and Mr. J. A. Rost, confirming the authenticity of their testimony quoted above. Mr. Brickey states that it was at his house that the seance at which the prophecy was confirmed was held.

Mr. Evans writes:-

Cuba, Mo., November 8th, 1890.

Touching the matter cited in yours of the 4th inst., I desire to say that my signature subscribed to the published statement of Dr. Suddick, relative to the prophesied death of Chris. Varis, of St. James, Mo., is authentic. Further, in this connection I desire to say that I never attended a seance, as it is called, I believe, in my life, have no experience in that line, and have no personal knowledge upon which to base belief nor unbelief of Spiritualism. But I was told by parties that met at Dr. Suddick's residence, some weeks before the demise of Chris. Varis, that by raps with, or on a table, I do not know which, they were told that Varis would die in forty days, or October 8th, and he did die on the date as given. Eugene A. Evans.

There remained an important question to determine: whether Mr. Varis had known of the prophecy, making it possible that it had brought about its own fulfilment. The following letter and statement give the result of Dr. Suddick's inquiries on this point:-

Cuba, Mo., December 23rd, 1890.

I received your recent letter several days ago, but thought it would perhaps be more satisfactory to you and your Society for me to go and see Mrs. Varis, widow of Mr. Chris. Varis, myself. So yesterday (Sunday) I boarded the noon train, and on arriving found Mrs. Varis and her two daughters, young ladies, very intelligent and clever people. On introducing the subject, just a shade of vexation passed over Mrs. V.'s face, and she made haste to say, "We are not Spiritualists, and knew nothing of the prophecy until we saw it in the Crawford Mirror, at least two weeks after Mr. Varis' death. I was very much vexed, as we believe nothing in such foolishness. ..".

I explained that the parties who had signed their names to the paper had not intended it to appear in the local press. Mrs. V. said she had felt very badly about having her husband's name bandied about in that way in a newspaper, but when Mr. Cottnam explained the matter, and Dr. Headlee said he knew of the prophecy, and that the morning of the 8th of October had been specified as the time in which he should die, a week or more before his death occurred, she felt that there must be some truth in it, as she could not doubt Dr. Headlee.

"Mrs. Varis, did your husband know anything about the prophecy before his death?"

"No, indeed," she said, "none of us knew anything about it until two weeks after his death".

"Might not Dr. Headlee have said something to him about it during one of his visits, without your knowing it?"

"Oh dear no," she said, "I was always present at these visits, and know no such talk occurred at any of them. No, I am positive Dr. Headlee never mentioned it, and that Mr. V. never knew it".

I then wrote up the little memorandum enclosed, and she signed it, or rather her daughter did, at her request, in my presence. . . .

I then went out and found Dr. Headlee, and he said in answer to my questions:-

"No, I know positively that Mr. V. knew nothing of the prophecy; no one in St. James knew anything of it but myself, and I did not want him to find it out." S. T. Suddick.

To all whom it may concern:- This is to certify that I am positive that my husband knew nothing whatever of the prophecy of his death, made at a spiritual circle held at the home of Dr. S. T. Suddick, in Cuba, Mo., on August 29th last. We did not hear of it for about two weeks after his death. We are not Spiritualists. [Signed] Mrs. A. Varis.