Index to psychic science, Swarthmore, 1950.
Article by Jon Donnis
Mina Crandon, born Mina Stinson in Ontario, Canada, in 1888, became one of the most infamous figures in the history of spiritualism under the stage name "Margery." Despite her rise to prominence in the early 20th century as a psychic medium, her career was marred by accusations of fraud and deception. This article explores her life, the controversies surrounding her alleged supernatural abilities, and her enduring legacy as a figure of scepticism within the paranormal community.
Early Life and the Path to Spiritualism
Mina Crandon's early life remains relatively obscure, with little documented about her formative years. She married Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon, a wealthy and influential Boston surgeon, in 1918. It was through her husband's influence and connections that Mina first entered the world of spiritualism. Dr. Crandon's interest in the afterlife and psychic phenomena spurred Mina's involvement, eventually leading her to become a prominent medium.
By Stanley De Brath - The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism. London Spiritualist Alliance Publications, 1930.
Rise to Fame as "Margery"
Mina Crandon, known in spiritualist circles as "Margery," gained notoriety during the 1920s, a time when spiritualism was enjoying significant popularity. She conducted seances in her Boston home, where she purported to communicate with the dead, most notably with her deceased brother, Walter Stinson. Her seances attracted numerous notable figures, including scientists, journalists, and spiritualists, eager to witness her alleged powers.
Margery claimed to possess the ability to channel spirits, produce physical manifestations such as levitating objects, and even engage in automatic writing. Her fame reached such heights that she became a candidate for the Scientific American's $2,500 prize, offered to anyone who could demonstrate genuine supernatural abilities under scientific scrutiny.
The Teleplasmic Hand
Among the various phenomena Margery claimed to manifest, the appearance of a "teleplasmic hand" was one of the most sensational. During her seances, Margery purported that this ectoplasmic hand, believed to be an extension of spiritual energy, could materialise and interact with the physical environment. The hand was said to perform various actions, such as moving objects, ringing bells, and leaving imprints in soft substances like wax.
The "teleplasmic hand" was later exposed when biologists examined the hand and found it to be made of a piece of carved animal liver.
These manifestations were allegedly facilitated by Margery's spirit guide, her deceased brother Walter. The teleplasmic hand often appeared in dimly lit conditions, making detailed observation challenging and thereby adding to the aura of mystique. The phenomenon became a focal point of Margery's demonstrations and a key piece of evidence she offered to support her claims of genuine mediumship.
Despite various precautions in tests, Margery still attempted to produce the teleplasmic hand. During one session, an observer discovered that a supposed "teleplasmic hand" was, in fact, Margery's foot, which she had cleverly concealed and used to touch objects and produce noises.
Further investigations revealed that the hand prints supposedly made by the teleplasmic hand were highly suspect. They appeared to have been made by pressing a real hand into a soft substance, like paraffin wax, rather than a supernatural entity manifesting ectoplasm.
By Stanley De Brath - The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism. London Spiritualist Alliance Publications, 1930.
Exposure and Accusations of Fraud
Despite her widespread acclaim, Margery's career was dogged by accusations of fraud. Notably, the investigations into her abilities were led by Harry Houdini, the renowned magician and escape artist who was also a noted sceptic of spiritualism. Houdini was a member of the Scientific American committee and approached the task with a meticulous and skeptical mindset.
One of the key instances where Margery was caught cheating occurred during a seance in which she claimed to produce physical manifestations. Houdini devised a series of tests and controls to prevent any potential trickery. He notably constructed a special cabinet with holes for Margery's arms, designed to limit her movements and prevent her from using them to manipulate objects.
By Malcolm Bird - "Margery" the Medium, Small, Maynard & Company, 1925.
During these controlled conditions, Margery's supposed abilities failed to manifest convincingly. Houdini further uncovered evidence of fraud, such as discovering that Margery had hidden a collapsible ruler in her chair, which she used to manipulate objects outside the cabinet. Additionally, Walter Stinson's voice, supposedly coming from beyond the grave, was found to be mimicked by Margery herself. Houdini described the voice as a poorly disguised falsetto, lacking any true supernatural quality.
Other incidents further eroded her credibility. For instance, during a seance where Margery claimed to produce ectoplasm, a gelatinous substance said to emanate from mediums during contact with spirits, skeptics discovered that the substance was made from chewed paper or cloth. These revelations, coupled with her inability to perform under controlled conditions, significantly damaged her reputation.
Legacy and Impact
Mina Crandon's life as Margery ended in controversy and disgrace. She passed away in 1941, leaving behind a complex legacy. While her supporters maintained belief in her abilities, her exposure as a fraud has largely defined her place in history. Margery's case remains one of the most infamous examples of fraudulent mediumship, serving as a cautionary tale within the field of parapsychology and the study of psychic phenomena.
The sceptical investigations into Margery's seances, especially those led by Harry Houdini, have had a lasting impact. They highlighted the importance of rigorous scientific investigation and scepticism in assessing claims of the paranormal. Margery's exposure contributed to a broader sceptical movement that sought to debunk spiritualist frauds and protect the public from deception.
Mina Crandon's career as Margery serves as a stark reminder of the susceptibility of individuals to deception, especially when faced with the allure of the supernatural. Her story underscores the need for critical thinking and scepticism in the exploration of the unknown, ensuring that claims of extraordinary abilities are met with the scrutiny they deserve.
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