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
