Fronczek, Janusz (ca. 1926)
Polish mining engineer of Warsaw who was a medium for
telekinetic, teleplastic, and luminous phenomena. Eric J.
Dingwall, then research officer of the Society for Psychical
Research (SPR), had three sittings with Fronczek in August and
September 1923 and was impressed. Lights appeared to come
from the mediums mouth and to remain apparently unsupported
in space two or three inches from the lips. The brilliancy
of each appearance varied, not only as compared with others
but apparently in itself when still in view, Dingwall said.
Fronczek was invited to London to sit at the SPR. He arrived
April 17, 1925. According to the report of V. J. Woolley and
Dingwall in the societys Proceedings (vol. 36), before he entered
the séance room he disrobed entirely and offered himself unreservedly
for examination. He sat in a pajama suit, and his
hands and legs were controlled. He preferred silence or low
conversation during the sitting.
The phenomena seemed to be preceded by vigorous grinding
of the teeth. Greenish, bright spherical sparks were seen,
lights appeared on Fronczeks arm and jerked up toward his
mouth. The floating lights were about one to two inches from
his lips; a bell was telekinetically moved while both hands and
both feet were under control.
Throughout the sittings the medium constantly rubbed his
chest with his hands (still controlled) and soon afterward a light
appeared. Since the investigators could not discover the modus
operandi for the supposed fraudulent production of the phenomena,
they summed up their conclusions as follows
(1) At three sittings out of a total of nine given by Mr.
Fronczek at the Societys rooms, phenomena occurred which
purported to be produced supernormally.
(2) At one of these three the phenomena consisted of the
movements of small luminous objects provided by us for the
purpose and we suppose these movements to have been
brought about by the employment of a cushion held in the mediums
mouth.
(3) At the other two sittings the phenomena consisted of the
appearance of small luminous objects which appeared to come
from the mediums mouth and to be attached to it, but we were
unable to discover their nature or the method of their introduction
into the seance room.
