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| Anniston Star, Anniston AL - March 25, 1938 |
This small, East Louisiana town today buzzed with reports of the supernatural powers of 12-year-old Alice Bell Kirby, who hundreds swear "talks" with a table and commands a ghostly hand that writes answers to her questions.
Alice Bell, seventh granddaughter of a seventh child on the paternal side, today had achieved her greatest evidence of weird powers, Mrs. Leon Kirby, the mother, reported. The child has become proficient in mathematics, formerly the "tough" subject in her seventh grade classes.
Mrs. Kirby said her daughter discovered the strange powers by accident while playing with a group of friends. The children tired of dominoes and decided to "play at making the table walk," Mrs. Kirby related. They were terrified when the table actually "walked" at Alice Bell's command, the mother said.
Among the feats the child has been able to perform, according to Mrs. Kirby, were:
- To get a "yes" or "no" answer to questions from the direction in which a dining room table tilted or tapped, apparently of its own accord
- To make the table rise as high as three feet off the floor
- To make the floor vibrate at her command
- To make doors open or close without touching them
- To make a pencil, without human motivation, scribble answers to her questions
- To make a piano lift at her request; to make the instrument play a tune, unaided by human hands
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| Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton OH - November 17, 1938 |
Among the some 5,000 persons who have visited the 425-acre Kirby farm four miles south of here during the past 10 months, have been business men, plantation owners, appellate court justices, educators and many just plain curious and skeptical folk from near and distant places.
Probably most skeptical was Dr. H. W. Wright, who had been superintendent of Catahoula Parish schools for 21 years. Alice Bell visited his home early this year to play with his daughter and asked him what he thought of her "power". 'Alice Bell,' he said, "I wouldn't believe it even if I saw it."
But since then he has observed the "miracles" many times and he talks about them willingly and at length, but with no effort to explain them. "It's just the most miraculous thing I've ever seen," he said.
Wright, Charles C. Elkins, parish supervisor of education, Principal A. L. Brooks of the elementary school at Sicily Island and Principal F. H. Shiel of Alice Bell's school, have all been witness to Alice Bell's performances and all professed themselves to be utterly mystified.
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| Nevada State Journal, Reno NV - November 19, 1938 |
The Universal Council of Psychic Research, Joseph Dunninger, chairman, Friday invited 13-year-old Alice Bell Kirby of Jonesville, La., to come to New York during the Thanksgiving holidays and demonstrate her piano and table moving feats that have startled the people of her home town. The council has a $10,000 reward posted for proof of any such feats by psychic or supernatural means, or that it cannot duplicate by natural means.
November 25, 1938 - Catahoula News
LOCAL MAN AND GIRL BROADCAST ON NATION WIDE RADIO HOOKUP
Jonesville Citizens Fly to New York City for Broadcast on Last Tuesday Evening
...The little lady herself, talked with unexcited calmness and told of her mysterious ability, stating that she was quite unaware of how the things were accomplished. The program, however, was a very interesting one and radios through this section were tuned in for the occasion and listeners everywhere listened with rapt attention.
People from many states have visited the Kirby home at this place and been present while Alice Bell demonstrated her very astonishing ability. However, there are times when she is unable to accomplish much for her audience.
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| Ogden Reporter, Odgen IA - December 8, 1938 |
Photo shows 13-year-old Alice Bell Kirby whose reputed occult powers are the talk of the state. According to reputable neighbors, Alice can make herself float in the air, make tables spin, receive messages from the dead predicting storms, deaths and other events, and many other unexplainable phenomenon. The girl, whose grandmother was a medium, takes her reputed powers quite casually, making no effort to explain to investigate its source.News articles are courtesy of Chronicling America and CatahoulaHistory.com.
Editor's note: No news reports were found to confirm whether Alice Bell Kirby was able to perform her feats while in New York.
She knew what she was doing. If she would had preformed like they demanded she would have never been allowed to leave. That was nothing more than a modern day witch hunt. They would have locked her away for future studies and experiments. The general public fear what they can't understand. The one cure for fear is to eliminate its source so they make fun of and humiliat her.
ReplyDeleteShe knew what she was doing. If she would had preformed like they demanded she would have never been allowed to leave. That was nothing more than a modern day witch hunt. They would have locked her away for future studies and experiments. The general public fear what they can't understand. The one cure for fear is to eliminate its source so they make fun of and humiliat her.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for researching my aunt Alice Belle. She is now 92 years old and the only surviving member of the "Kirby Girls", Leon Kirby's 8 daughters. She is living in Natchez in an antebellum house and is quite independent and loves talking to her family.
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