238 A. A detailed record of the case of Mary Lurancy Vennum was originally given in the Religio-Philosophical Journal in 1879, and shortly afterwards published in pamphlet form under the title " The Watseka Wonder," by E. W. Stevens. The first part of the account which I shall give here consists of an abridgment from the narrative given in the pamphlet by Dr. Stevens (second edition, Chicago, Religio-Philosophical Publishing House, 1887), with some further statements by Mr. Roff. The second part consists of some additional evidence obtained by Dr. Hodgson in personal interviews with some of the chief witnesses, which was published in the Religio-Philosophical Journal for December 20th, 1890. Colonel J. C. Bundy, who was Editor of the Religio-Philosophical Journal when the record was first published, and was himself well known as a skilful and scrupulously honest investigator of spiritistic phenomena, speaks in the highest terms of Dr. Stevens (who died in 1885), and adds: "We took great pains before and during publication to obtain full corroboration of the astounding facts from unimpeachable and competent witnesses".

The case briefly is one of alleged "possession" or "spirit-control." The subject of the account, Mary Lurancy Vennum, a girl nearly fourteen years old, living at Watseka, Illinois, became apparently controlled by the spirit of Mary Roff, a neighbour's daughter who had died at the age of eighteen years and nine months, when Lurancy Vennum was a child of about fifteen months old. The most extraordinary feature in the case was that the "control" by Mary Roff lasted almost continuously for a period of nearly four months, from February 1st till May 21st, 1878. The narrative by Dr. Stevens was prepared shortly afterwards with the assistance of the chief witnesses, and confirmed by the parents of both Mary Roff and Lurancy Vennum. I give extracts from it, with some slight verbal alterations, and abridgments which are indicated by the square brackets.

[Mary Lurancy Vennum, the "Watseka Wonder," was born April 16th, 1864, in Milford township, about seven miles from Watseka, Illinois. The family moved to Iowa in july 1864 (when Lurancy was about three months old), and returned to within eight miles from Watseka in October 1865 (three months after the death of Mary Roff). Lurancy was then about a year and a half old. After two other moves in the neighbourhood, the family moved into Watseka on April 1st, 1871], locating about forty rods from the residence of A. B. Roff. They remained at this place during the summer. The only acquaintance ever had between the two families during the season was simply one brief call of Mrs. Roff, for a few minutes, on Mrs. Vennum, which call was never returned, and a formal speaking acquaintance between the two gentlemen. Since 1871 the Vennum family have lived entirely away from the vicinity of Mr. Roff's, and never nearer than now, on extreme opposite limits of the city.

"Rancy," as she is familiarly called, had never been sick, save a light run of measles in 1873. A few days before the following incidents took place she said to her family: "There were persons in my room last night, and they called ' Rancy! Rancy!!' and I felt their breath on my face." The very next night she arose from her bed, saying that she could not sleep, that every time she tried to sleep persons came and called "Rancy! Rancy!!" to her. Her mother went to bed with her, after which she rested and slept the rest of the night.

[On July nth, 1877, she had a sort of fit, and was unconscious for five hours. Next day the fit recurred, but while lying as if dead she described her sensations to her family, declaring that she could see heaven and the angels, and a little brother and sister and others who had died. The fits or trances, occasionally passing into ecstasy, when she claimed to be in heaven, occurred several times a day up to the end of January 1878; she was generally believed to be insane, and most friends of the family urged that she should be sent to an insane asylum.

At this stage Mr. and Mrs. Asa B. Roff, whose daughter, Mary Roff, as we shall see, had had periods of insanity, persuaded Mr. Vennum to allow him to bring Dr. E. W. Stevens of Janesville, Wisconsin, to investigate the case].

On the afternoon of January 31st, 1878, the two gentlemen repaired to Mr. Vennum's residence, a little out of the city. Dr. Stevens, an entire stranger to the family, was introduced by Mr. Roff at four o'clock p.m.; no other persons present but the family. The girl sat near the stove, in a common chair, her elbows on her knees, her hands under her chin, feet curled up on the chair, eyes staring, looking every way like an "old hag." She sat for a time in silence, until Dr. Stevens moved his chair, when she savagely warned him not to come nearer. She appeared sullen and crabbed, calling her father "Old Black Dick " and her mother " Old Granny." She refused to be touched, even to shake hands, and was reticent and sullen with all save the doctor, with whom she entered freely into conversation, giving her reasons for doing so; she said he was a spiritual doctor, and would understand her.

[She described herself first as an old woman named Katrina Hogan, and then as a young man named Willie Canning, and after some insane conversation had another fit, which Dr. Stevens relieved by hypnotising her. She then became calm, and said that she had been controlled by evil spirits. Dr. Stevens suggested that she should try to have a better control, and encouraged her to try and find one. She then mentioned the names of several deceased persons, saying there was one who wanted to come, named Mary Roff].

Mr. Roff being present, said: "That is my daughter; Mary Roff is my girl. Why, she has been in heaven twelve years. Yes, let her come, we'll be glad to have her come." Mr. Roff assured Lurancy that Mary was good and intelligent, and would help her all she could; stating further that Mary used to be subject to conditions like herself. Lurancy, after due deliberation and counsel with spirits, said that Mary would take the place of the former wild and unreasonable influence. Mr. Roff said to her, " Have your mother bring you to my house, and Mary will be likely to come along, and a mutual benefit may be derived from our former experience with Mary".