<p>The story of Dr William Jackson Crawford, an engineer and teacher, who carried out a series of strange experiments with a teenage medium and her family before his untimely death on the shores of Belfast lough in 1920. 
Dr Crawford’s findings were extraordinary and widely published – but was it all a hoax?</p><p>Episode 3 – Mr Splitfoot</p><p>1848, Wayne County in rural New York. Two young sisters claim they can communicate with a strange presence in their home – the ghost of a murdered pedlar who uses raps, knocks and bangs to answer their questions.</p><p>The Fox sisters become key in the creation of a new religious movement known as Spiritualism – the belief that the dead may be contacted by the living. Word spreads fast and it soon takes root in Ireland, where Spiritualism finds its way to Belfast – and the Goligher family.</p><p>Written and presented by Reggie Chamberlain King</p><p>Readings by </p><p>Dave Fleming
Lucy McConnell
Mark Claney
Stephen Beggs</p><p>Produced by Conor McKay
Editor Andy Martin 
A BBC Northern Ireland Production</p>

Assume Nothing

BBC Radio Ulster

3. Mr Splitfoot

MAY 16, 202612 MIN
Assume Nothing

3. Mr Splitfoot

MAY 16, 202612 MIN

Description

<p>The story of Dr William Jackson Crawford, an engineer and teacher, who carried out a series of strange experiments with a teenage medium and her family before his untimely death on the shores of Belfast lough in 1920. Dr Crawford’s findings were extraordinary and widely published – but was it all a hoax?</p><p>Episode 3 – Mr Splitfoot</p><p>1848, Wayne County in rural New York. Two young sisters claim they can communicate with a strange presence in their home – the ghost of a murdered pedlar who uses raps, knocks and bangs to answer their questions.</p><p>The Fox sisters become key in the creation of a new religious movement known as Spiritualism – the belief that the dead may be contacted by the living. Word spreads fast and it soon takes root in Ireland, where Spiritualism finds its way to Belfast – and the Goligher family.</p><p>Written and presented by Reggie Chamberlain King</p><p>Readings by </p><p>Dave Fleming Lucy McConnell Mark Claney Stephen Beggs</p><p>Produced by Conor McKay Editor Andy Martin A BBC Northern Ireland Production</p>