The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 3a
Professor Botazzi. — Several Apparitions at the One Time
Professor Botazzi.
Several Apparitions at the One Time.
Professor Botazzi, Director of the Physiological Institute at the University of Naples, in his Report gives similar testimony and embraces some additional interesting facts. He says that at the seances he attended the apparitions or materialisations were numerous and multiple. "I saw hands and closed fists over the medium's head; sometimes they were of ordinary size, at others at least three times larger than Paladino's hand and fist."
"Professor Cardarelli," continues Botazzi, "had, in the right pocket of his waistcoat an elaborate stethoscope taken to pieces and I felt it placed upon my fingers. Professor Cardarelli announced that someone had taken his stethoscope, and it then came against his lips and everyone heard it rap against his teeth. He took it in his hand, but at the same time a mysterious hand wrenched it forcibly out of his hands, and in this last exploit the tube of the instrument was somewhat bent."
"My pince-nez fell off my nose," continues Botazzi, "and I distinctly felt soon afterward a very delicate touch on my knee as if a hand were trying to find something, and the pince-nez was immediately placed on my nose with a very precise action. Needless to say I was keeping strict control of the medium all the time."
Touching this point of control, I may explain that sometimes as many as four of these dignified Scientists were engaged at the one time in controlling the medium—two of them firmly grasping her legs and the other two holding her securely by the arms. I really don't think they required to do this for their own satisfaction. I think it must have been done to convince others that they left no stone unturned to make fraud an absolute impossibility.
Professor Caesar Lombroso,
Italy's Greatest Scientist.
"I had the happiness of seeing my deceased mother again, and of embracing her and conversing with her."
He concludes by declaring the phenomena to be absolutely genuine and adds—"From henceforward sceptics can only deny the facts by accusing us of fraud and charlatanism. I should be very much surprised if anyone was bold enough to bring this accusation against us, but it would not disturb our minds in the least."