Sketches of the trial of Henry Slade, showing Slade in the centre. Slade first practised his spirit communication in America before travelling to England where 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