Spiritualism and the Buffalo Tragedy
A SHOCKING tragedy, which practically suspended business on the Buffalo grain exchange for the day, occurred in that city July 15. A grain broker named Washburn committed suicide, after killing his wife and daughter, the alleged reason for the mad act being business reverses. Mr. Washburn was, it is stated, “an ardent Spiritualist.” He began business by seeking advice from spiritualist mediums, and was at first very successful. He attributed his success to the source from which he obtained advice, and became a confirmed Spiritualist; but later the tide of his prosperity turned, and in a letter to his business partner about the time of the tragedy, he said: “There seems to be something that forever upsets my plans.” Not only his plans were upset, but his reason and judgment as well. The history of Spiritualism abounds with human tragedies.