9. William Foos demonstrated his abilities using his daughter before several government employees
In the memorandum describing the abilities of William Foos, he is described by the writer as a “…high school graduate employed in a minor capacity with the C. and O. Railway” (Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad). The memorandum notes that Foos did not claim any supernatural abilities and that being uneducated in science and psychology could not offer technical explanations. Instead, Foos claimed to be entirely self-taught in the use of ESP, through private experimentation. He also claimed to have taught more than two-dozen people in the Richmond, Virginia, region to develop their own extra-sensory powers, including teaching “…persons completely blind, to see with 100% efficiency”. Foos demonstrated his abilities by using his daughter, who was blindfolded with cotton balls over her eyes, secured with an elastic band. She then demonstrated an ability to read, from materials selected by her father.
Margaret also demonstrated considerable manual dexterity by playing jacks while blindfolded. The observing FBI employee, identified as W. A. Branigan, expressed near ecstasy in his observations, forwarded to his seniors. “There is no limit to the value which could accrue to the FBI”, he wrote, listing the ability to read mail without opening it, including the documents in diplomatic pouches. He recommended the FBI further investigate the abilities demonstrated by Margaret and William Foos, “bearing in mind the tremendous potential to the FBI should these claims be well-founded.” He also attached a summation of newspaper articles which had appeared in Richmond papers, describing demonstrations offered in the region prior to the demonstration he attended in Washington. Among the newspaper articles was one which described Foos as having received a State Corporation Commission Charter for ESP Research Inc.