The trial of Henry Slade, the medium who was said to communicate with spirits by a slate board. Top sketch shows Mr G. Leis, counsel for the Prosecution and bottom image shows Professor E. Ray Lankester, giving evidence. Slade first practised his spirit communication in America before travelling to England. He gave seances from his lodgings in Russell Square, London. Word spread quickly of his talents and stirred the attention of two professionals, Mr Lankester and Dr Donkin. After two seances Professor Lankester seized the slate and discovered that the slate already had writing on it before it had left the table. Lankester used this as evidence that Slade was a fraud. Henry Slade's trial took place at Bow Street court in October 1876.