Margery: The Medium Who Nearly Won a Scientific Award for Proving the Existence of Ghosts

In general, scientists tend to be quite skeptics With existence of ghosts. However, this was not always the case. During the Victorian era, deciphering everything related to spirits was an obsession for many researchers. On the one hand, out of simple curiosity; but, on the other hand, because one of the most prestigious scientific journals, both then and now, awarded a large prize to a person who had achieved prove that ghosts exist. This was expected to be done by a scientist, although the closest thing to this was a medium called Mina Crandon.

Also known as Margery, or the Blonde Witch of Lime StreetCrandon was a highly sought after spiritualist in the United States. According to her, she was helped by her deceased brotherwhich served as a bridge for communication with the dead. Unlike other smoke brokers, whose fraud was obvious, no one saw any dirty tricks in Margery’s actions. Therefore, he came to make many skeptics believe in the existence of ghosts.

One of Crandon’s biggest fans was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The writer had very good connections and knew the editor firsthand Scientific American, Orson Dese Mann II. It was a magazine that offered a prize of 5000 dollars to whom to prove that ghosts exist. Doyle was confident that Crandon could win the prize. And she was close, but she was finally exposed by the only person who could decipher her tricks. The same one Harry Houdini.

Scientific obsession with proving the existence of ghosts

In fact, Margery developed an interest in spiritualism late. When she remarried to a much older man, she began to draw closer to this world due to her husband’s obsession. As a doctor I read Scientific American where they recently did some paranormal reporting. Little by little, he began to be so drawn to everything connected with perfumes that he thought of nothing else. He wanted his wife to share this hobby with him, so she eventually agreed to accompany him on session.

Although it didn’t attract her attention, little by little she began to feel attracted too, but for a different purpose. For her it might be hobby and would also help her husband cope with the fear of death, which also tormented him.

That’s how I learned about this subject before I became the famous Margery. Everyone wanted to go to his office to talk with those loved ones who had crossed over to the other side. Her husband was her biggest fan, as was Conan Doyle. She was a clear candidate for this award. Scientific Americantherefore, a meeting was scheduled with her on July 23, 1924, at which her skills would be analyzed. The committee responsible for the study consisted almost entirely of scientists and psychicsalthough there were a couple more wizards: Hereward Carrington and Harry Houdini.

The key is magic

None of the scientists were able to find loopholes in Crandon’s methods. However, after carefully studying her movements, Houdini was able to reproduce everything she did. They were nothing but tricks and he was an expert in executing them.

He recognized Crandon’s accomplishments as a magician, just like himself. But he insisted that he never spoke to spirits. He couldn’t win the prize because he couldn’t prove the existence of ghosts.

Victorian Ghost Possession

All this happened two decades after the end Victorian era. However, throughout the world there were still very strong traces of that era when the idea of ​​​​the possible existence of ghosts was constantly in the air.

There were many testimonies of people who claimed to have encountered a spirit in their lives, especially in countries like England. Scientists often become ghost hunters in search of an explanation.

Thanks to them, little by little it was discovered that there were real explanations for the paranormal phenomena of so many people. For example, at that time, houses were heated by coal boilers, which, if burned poorly, emitted a large amount of carbon monoxide into the air. This is a toxic gas that can be fatal if inhaled. But even if it doesn’t reach this fatal point, it can cause symptoms such as hallucinations. This was also a time when dampness on the walls of houses was common. Some fungus Environmental conditions can cause hallucinations when their spores are inhaled.

So they weren’t really haunted houses, but rather morbid ones. And also many people who, like Margery, had a magnificent ability to create tricks that perpetuated the illusion of the existence of ghosts. Unfortunately, she lacked the cunning of the great Houdini.