Dr. Leidy:  My own supposition is that, when he played the accordion freely, the Medium made use of a little wire attached to a hook or something of that kind, which he could hold by fastening it to his clothing.

Mr. Sellers:  His method of manipulating the instrument was readily observable upon close attention.  The accordion was a small one of the kind which is easily procurable in the market.

(Resuming, from notes):  The next meeting of the Committee, which was held on January 26th, at the Girard House, was an exceedingly important one, because its result was absolutely negative.  There were present, with the Medium, Professor Thompson, Mr. Furness and Mr. Sellers.  Two slates were lying on the table behind him.  The Medium brought forward one of these, wiped it, laid a pencil on it, and placed it under the table, but without any result.  He said, “We must make a circle—­that will have better effect.”  He laid the slate back upon the table.  We then joined hands, and, after a time, thinking that there was magnetic influence enough at work, the Medium reached back and took the second slate—­not the first one—­brought that forward and put it under the table.  Mr. Sellers asked the Medium, “Dr. Slade, will you allow me to see that slate?” The reply was, “No, not now; the conditions are not favorable.”  The Medium seemed rather embarrassed, and apparently regretted his reply.  He laid the second slate back upon the table, in its former position, but further back.  We then again formed a circle, when he seemed to hesitate a moment as to the better course for him to pursue.  He then reached back, grasped the first slate, and with a sponge washed off both of its sides, though there had been no writing upon either; and then he brought forward the second slate, with the top side upward, and washed that side, though there was no occasion for the washing, as there was no writing upon that side.  Turning the slate over, he began washing the back of it without showing the face of the slate, and finally laid it down.

Mr. Furness here stated that he observed, at the time, that the face of the slate contained writing.

Professor Thompson here remarked that the Medium had evidently appreciated the fact that he had been caught.

Mr. Sellers:  That fact was plainly apparent.

Mr. Fullerton here remarked that at the seance reported by him, soon after the members were seated, the Medium reached behind his (the Medium’s) position to get one of the slates placed near him, and accidentally turned up one, the back of which was covered with writing, whereupon he coolly remarked, ‘That is the wrong slate.’  Mr. Fullerton added that he did not at the time think of connecting this accidental exposure with what the Medium was then doing, and suggested that possibly this exposure prevented Dr. Slade’s use of this method at the seance reported by him, as it would seem that none of the communications produced on that occasion were of the sort produced by substitution of slates.