A. Goodrich-Freer

Ada Goodrich Freer (born 15 May 1857 in Uppingham, Rutland, England, died in New York, 24 February 1931), was a medium, clairvoyant, psychical researcher and author. Much of her work was published under the pseudonym Miss X. Freer was investigated by the Society for Psychical Research and, under strong suspicion of fraud, she was disowned by the Society. She was later caught cheating at a séance and subsequently immigrated to Jerusalem and, later, the United States.

Early life

Ada Goodrich Freer was the daughter of George Freer and Mary, née Adcock. She gave various accounts of her background and age, suggesting connections with Yorkshire and Scottish Highland gentry.

Society for Psychical Research

Freer joined the Society for Psychical Research in 1888 with the support of F. W. H. Myers. After criticism of her work on the Ballechin House case in 1897, her work was repudiated by the SPR and she abandoned psychical research.

W. T. Stead and Borderland

Campaigning journalist William Thomas Stead had become increasingly interested in spiritualism in the 1890s. In 1893 he founded a spiritualist quarterly, called Borderland, in which he gave full play to his interest in psychical research. The focus of the publication was on spiritualism and psychical research, mainly from a supportive point of view. The magazine appeared quarterly, priced 1/6. As with the Review of Reviews, Stead was both proprietor and editor. He employed Freer as assistant editor: she was also a substantial contributor under her usual pseudonym "Miss X". Stead claimed that he was in the habit of communicating with Freer by telepathy and automatic writing. The magazine ceased publication in October 1897.