421 C. Again this quasi-instinctive knowledge, realised on awaking from sleep, of the mutilation of a secluded statue may be compared with cases where a seer becomes aware of the position of a dead body, - sometimes of no special interest to himself.

From Proceedings S.P.R., vol. xi. p. 375.

The following case was borrowed originally from the Religio-Philosophical Journal, which described it as follows: -

"A prominent Chicago journalist states [in the Chicago Times] that his wife asked him one morning while still engaged in dressing, and before either of them had left their sleeping-room, if he knew any one named Edsale or Esdale. A negative reply was given, and then a 'Why do you ask ?' She replied: 'During the night I dreamed that I was on the lake shore, and found a coffin there with the name of Edsale or Esdale on it, and I am confident that some one of that name has recently been drowned there.' On opening the morning paper, the first item that attracted his attention was the report of the mysterious disappearance from his home in Hyde Park of a young man named Esdale. A few days afterwards the body of a young man was found on the lake shore".

In answer to Dr. Hodgson's inquiries, the late Colonel Bundy, who was then editor of the Religio-Philosophical Journal, wrote: -

I have known the gentleman and his wife mentioned in case No. 10, by reputation, for some fifteen years, and personally for six years. I obtained from each of them a report of the case when first published, October 14th, 1885, and each said that the statement was true as published in the Chicago Times of that date. I saw both of them September 23rd [1888], just prior to publishing the report, and read it to them; each declared it to be a true report of the occurrence. After receipt of Mr. Hodgson's letter I called to see what further information they could furnish in regard to the other points mentioned therein. After reading the letter, the gentleman, who is Mr. Franc B. Wilkie, the well-known editorial writer, and "Poliuto" of the Chicago Times, at once volunteered the following statement: -

Chicago, October 26th, 1888. In October, 1885, I was one of the editorial writers on the Chicago Times, and wrote the item referred to. I am the individual mentioned therein. The date of the occurrence was about a week prior to the date of the report in the Times. I did not make any written memorandum on the day it occurred; as the coincidence was so strong and distinctly marked, it made such an indelible impression on my mind, I did not forget any of the details during the time prior to writing the item. The name was one unknown to me previous to seeing it in the Chicago Daily News the morning referred to. I had not seen any reference to the disappearance before that morning. My wife said at the time, and still says, that she had never seen the name, or heard in any way of the disappearance. I was, of course, on the look-out for any report of the return of the young man, or of the finding of his body, and saw the account of the finding of the body in the Chicago papers a few days after the appearance of the first item in regard to his disappearance; and then wrote the item for the Times of October 14th. I had at the time carefully examined the case in all its bearings, and although I may not agree with the various explanations or theories that might be offered in regard to it, I gave it as a curious coincidence and one that I knew to be true.

Franc B. Wilkie.

To which Mrs. Wilkie adds the following: -

Having read the foregoing statement, I wish to certify to its truth. The dream was the cause of considerable comment for the few days following, as to the various features of the case, and whether the dream would be verified. My previous presentiments had been with reference to intimate friends, which made this one appear the more marked, and caused Mr. Wilkie to examine the matter more carefully in all its details.

The residence of the young man was eight miles from our home. I am not aware that we have ever known any of the young man's friends, or any one who knew him; and am certain that had the fact of his disappearance been mentioned in my hearing prior to the morning after the dream, I should have remembered the name, for I distinctly remembered that it seemed peculiar to me when I saw it in apparently large silver letters on the coffin.

Mrs. Franc B. Wilkie.

In the Chicago Daily News of the morning of Wednesday, October 7th, 1885, appeared the following: -

W. E. Esdaile, in the employ of Robert Warren & Co., commission merchants in the Royal Insurance Building, and residing at 4523 Woodlawn Avenue, Kenwood, has been missing since last Friday morning. Mr. Esdaile is a Canadian, unmarried, and twenty-seven years of age. His family resides at Montreal. He has been resting from business during the last week, and has spent much of his time strolling along the lake shore. As his accounts are all right, and there is no assignable reason for his disappearance, his friends fear that he has committed suicide. Overwork, it is thought, and an injury to his skull, received some years ago, may possibly have brought on insanity. The police are searching for him.

The following further evidence was obtained: -

The records in the coroner's office for Cook County, 111., show that inquest No. 941 was held on October 10th, 1885, on the body of Wm. E. Esdaile, drowned October 2nd, in Lake Michigan, whether by accident or otherwise the jury were unable to determine.

Mr. Robert Warren, of the above-named firm of Robert Warren & Co., says that he landed in New York on his return from a trip to England on Monday, October 5th, 1885, and reached Chicago, Wednesday, p.m., October 7th; that he did not hear of the disappearance of Mr. Esdaile until he reached home, and knows of no public announcement of the disappearance prior to that in the News of October 7th; that, had there been any, he would very likely have heard of it between New York and Chicago, as he was on the look-out for news from Chicago.

Mr. Ward, who had charge of Mr. Warren's business during his absence, says that he was informed of Mr. Esdaile's disappearance on Friday evening, October 2nd. On Saturday, a.m., he examined the papers, etc, found in the young man's room; found no evidence of suicidal intent, but indications that he was not in his right mind, and concluding that he might have wandered off, a detective was employed to search for him. The matter was kept very quiet, so as to prevent publication of sensational reports that would alarm his friends, and also render it unpleasant for the young man should he be found. Mr. Ward is not aware that any announcement of the matter was made in any papers before the item in the News of October 7th. They were following on the track of a young man, whose description corresponded somewhat with that of Mr. Esdaile, who had been seen at the waterworks of Hyde Park (and Kenwood), and then had travelled around the end of Lake Michigan into Indiana, and were expecting to find him very soon, when on Saturday morning, October 10th, notice was received that the body of Esdaile had been found on the lake shore near his home.

In referring to the matter, the Chicago Tribune of Saturday, October 10th, 1885, says: "It will be seen that the detectives are on a warm trail and will probably overtake the young man, who is believed to be insanely wandering about without aim or purpose." [There was thus no general belief that he had been drowned].

A Chicago reporter, who resides at Kenwood, and was acquainted with Esdaile, says that he first heard of the disappearance through the school children, who said that the teacher had told them that Mr. Esdaile was missing, and requested them to tell their parents, and ask if any one had seen him. The reporter, knowing Mr. Ward, called on him to obtain the particulars for publication, but Mr. Ward objected, saying that Mr. Warren had been away for some time; that Mr. Esdaile had been practically in charge of the affairs of the firm; that Mr. Warren had just landed in New York, and a public announcement of the matter in the papers would cause him unnecessary alarm. The reporter says that the item in the papers, Wednesday, October 7th, was the first public announcement of the matter.