Katie King's farewell sitting

On 21 May 1874 the figure called Katie King held a farewell sitting at Florence Cook's home, according to those present. The date ended a series of sittings that William Crookes held with Cook from December 1873.

Katie King was the name of a spirit that Florence Cook, a medium, said appeared at her sittings. William Encyclopedia.com says Crookes sat with Cook repeatedly between December 1873 and 21 May 1874. Crookes reported measuring differences in height between Cook and Katie, and noted differences in complexion, build and manner. He was photographed with each of them in the same pose.

Florence Marryat, who wrote in 1891, was one of the friends present on 21 May 1874. She reported that Katie had always said she would leave the earth after May 1874, and that she gathered her friends that day to say goodbye. Marryat recalled that Katie had asked Cook for a large basket of flowers and ribbons. Katie sat on the floor and made a bouquet for each friend to keep. Martyn Jolly gives the same date and says Katie announced that her energy to manifest would last three years, with the term expiring that day. Once she had said goodbye, Jolly writes, Crookes's work with Cook dwindled, and he thanked her in public for what he owed her.

Others disputed what the sittings showed. Wikipedia reports the author Walter Mann as saying that Katie was a confederate introduced by Cook.