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The Future and Beyond – H F Saltmarsh

This case is taken from Proc., XI, 432

Dr. Suddick, with his wife and two friends, was sitting for table-tilting. One of the sitters, Mr. Cottnam, inquired concerning his friend, Mr. Chris Varis, then lying ill in another town and expected to die at any moment. Mr. Varis's doctor had told Mr. Cottnam that he would probably live only a few days at most.

In answer to the inquiry, the table rapped forty times. Taking this to mean that forty days would elapse before the date of the death, which would bring it to 8th October, M. Cottnam asked, 'Will he pass out on 8th October?'

The table replied, 'Yes.'

Asked if he would pass in the forenoon, it again answered 'Yes.'

Mr. Cottnam then asked whether a telegram would be sent to him on the morning of the 8th, giving the information. The table replied 'Yes.'

A night or so later, Mr. Cottnam, sitting at another house with different sitters, had a message purporting to come from a friend, recently deceased but of whose death he was unaware. This message confirmed that Mr. Varis would die on 8th October.

The prediction was fulfilled:

Mr. Varis died at 6 a.m. on 8th October, and a telegram was sent to Mr. Cottnam that morning.

Fourteen people signed a statement to the effect that they knew of the prediction before the event. Mrs. Varis, the widow, stated that neither she nor her husband knew anything about the prediction having been made.