ABSTRACT
On 23 May 1865, US Assessor William H. Rogers interrupted a demonstration of ‘supernatural powers’ in Charles J. Colchester’s Washington Hall rooms to ‘invite’ the celebrated spirit medium to ‘defray his share of the Government expenses’ by taking out a ‘jugglers licence’.1 The juggler’s licence was one of many occupation or income taxes in the federal Revenue Act of 1862 enacted to pay Union debt accrued during the Civil War.2 Colchester refused the invitation, offended that his spiritual gifts would be equated with ‘sleight of hand’, entertainment or a business.3 Instead, he handed over the required fee for the licence, on the condition he could ‘take out a license as a spiritual medium – not as a mountebank’.4 Rogers, equally affronted, rejected this counter-offer, repeated his invitation and, upon Colchester’s second refusal, obtained a warrant for his arrest. In June, a grand jury indicted Colchester for ‘knowingly, feloniously, and unlawfully exercis[ing] and carry[ing] on the
trade and business and profession of a juggler’, having ‘publicly and for a fee and reward perform[ed] by sleight of hand’ without a licence.5
