The Clairvoyant and the Divorce Suit
A husband blames a local medium for his wife's refusal to return home, sparking a public denial from the accused.
Andrew D. McKenzie, who is being sued for a divorce by Emma McKenzie, says he has not neglected his wife and child, but has for a long time been a loving husband. In his amended answer, McKenzie alleges that certain evil-disposed persons living in this city, among them a clairvoyant known as Mme. Francisco, have made Mrs. McKenzie believe that she can disclose and reveal the mysteries of the past. He alleges that the woman has become a frequent companion of his wife and has her completely under her control, making her believe that McKenzie carried a huge knife with which he intended killing her. Mrs. McKenzie emphatically denied that there was one iota of truth in the statement that she had been mystified by Madame Francisco. She explained that she met the Madame while trying to sell furniture to make ends meet, and that the Madame had simply helped her find work and provided support during an illness.
“Do I look like a woman that could be put under the influence of a clairvoyant?”
This domestic dispute highlights the era's fascination with spiritualism and the vulnerability of women in financial distress. The husband's attempt to blame a 'clairvoyant' for his wife's independence is a classic example of 19th-century gaslighting and social control.
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