[General] Both the ladies have signed a document they sent me

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jacob123

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in the following context, "both the ladies" refer to who? and "statement" refer to which statement?

Sir William Barrett* records this evidential communication which was obtained in Dublin through the ouija board, with Mrs. Travers Smith, the daughter of the late Professor Edward Dowden. Her friend, Miss C, who is mentioned, was the daughter of a medical man. Sir William calls it "The Pearl Tie-pin Case." Miss C., the sitter, had a cousin an officer with our Army in France, who was killed in battle a month previously to the sitting: this she knew. One day after the name of her cousin had unexpectedly been spelt out on the ouija board, and her name given in answer to her query: "Do you know who I am?" the following message came: "Tell mother to give my pearl tie-pin to the girl I was going to marry. I think she ought to have it." When asked what was the name and address of the lady both were given; the name spelt out included the full Christian and surname, the latter being a very unusual one and quite unknown to both the sitters. The address given in London was either fictitious or taken down incorrectly, as a letter sent there was returned and the whole message was thought to be fictitious. Six months later, however, it was discovered that the officer had been engaged, shortly before he left for the Front, to the very lady whose name was given; he had, however, told no one. Neither his cousin nor any of his own family in Ireland were aware of the fact, and had never seen the lady nor heard her name until the War Office sent over the deceased officer's effects. Then they found that he had put this lady's name in his will as his next-of-kin, both Christian and surname being precisely the same as given through the automatist; and what is equally remarkable, a pearl tie pin was found in his effects. Both the ladies have signed a document they sent me, affirming the accuracy of the above statement.

"The History of Spiritualism," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
 

Tarheel

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Puzzling. There doesn't seem to be but one woman being discussed.

(I would have quit reading that book long before that point.)
 

Alexey86

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in the following context, "both the ladies" refer to who? and "statement" refer to which statement?

I think "both the ladies" refers to Miss C. and Mrs. Travers Smith. They're also referred to as "both the sitters" in the middle of the passage. "Statement" is the whole story Sir William Barrett told the author.
 
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