The history of spiritualism is littered with the clatter of “spirit trumpets” hitting the floorboards when the lights unexpectedly flickered on. The front page of the Psychic News from November 7, 1992, serves as a quintessential artifact of this enduring phenomenon. It details a séance of the Noah’s Ark Society in Scole, Norfolk, where physical medium Lincoln was caught holding a trumpet during a moment of sudden illumination—a classic “gotcha” moment that has been a staple of skeptical literature for over a century.

Yet, as the history of the movement demonstrates, these exposures rarely signal the end for the accused. Instead, they often trigger a curious psychological defense mechanism among the faithful

The “Daniel” Defense: Absolving the Medium

When a medium is caught red-handed, the blame is rarely placed on the person sitting in the chair. As seen in the Noah’s Ark incident—and decades later in the case of Colin Fry—the responsibility is conveniently offloaded to the spirit realm. In the 1992 account, it was “Daniel,” a “mischievous earthbound spirit” who allegedly took control of the medium’s body.

This narrative maneuver is brilliant in its simplicity. By externalizing the fraud to a spirit guide, the medium remains a victim of their own “trance” state. The devotees are left with a comforting binary: either believe the medium was possessed by a prankster, or confront the uncomfortable reality that they have been paying for an elaborate theatrical performance. For many, the former is infinitely more palatable.