Buckle up, supernatural sleuths. We’re diving into the curious legal saga of Chico Xavier v. de Campos— a case where the lines between life, death, and copyright law became rather blurry in a 1940s Brazilian courtroom. Today, we’ll explore the legal battle that famously asked the question: Who exactly gets paid when a ghost writes a book?

The Medium and the Muse: Chico Xavier’s Ghostly Inspiration

Our tale begins with Francisco Cândido Xavier, better known as Chico Xavier, a spiritual medium and prolific author from Brazil who was famous for more than just his writing talent. Chico Xavier wasn’t your average writer— He claimed his inspiration came not from muses of the living sort but rather from the spirits of deceased poets, novelists, and brilliant literary minds. Not only did he allegedly channel these spirits; he took dictation from them and produced over 450 books “written” by the mouths of the dead.

But in 1944, his ghostly writing took a spooky turn in the courtroom. Enter Humberto de Campos—a poet who, by all accounts, had stayed dead since 1934. Despite this, Xavier claimed that de Campos had dictated a new literary work to him from beyond the grave. The book, “Brazil, Heart of the World, Homeland of the Gospel,” was published, but not without raising a few eyebrows—and some legal challenges.

The Lawsuit That Gave New Meaning to “Dead Poets Society”

The widow of Humberto de Campos wasn’t exactly thrilled about her late husband’s posthumous literature— so displeased, in fact, that she launched a full-blown lawsuit against Chico Xavier. The case centered around the unusual question: If Xavier was channeling the spirit of a deceased poet to write this book, who should receive the royalties? The widow argued that since the work was attributed to her late husband (even if he was allegedly communicating from the great beyond), his estate should be entitled to a share of the earnings.

Just imagine it: a courtroom filled with lawyers, a skeptical judge, a clearly alive author claiming to be the vessel for a long-dead poet, and the ghost of Humberto de Campos looming over the proceedings. This lawsuit wasn’t just about money; it was a debate on the nature of authorship itself, asking whether a spirit could hold intellectual property rights.

The Brazilian courts were faced with a decision they’d likely never anticipated having to make: Can a spirit be considered an author, and do its heirs have any claim to royalties? The court ultimately ruled in favor of Chico Xavier. Ghosts aren’t known for leaving paper trails, so they decided that there was no concrete evidence proving that Humberto de Campos had indeed authored the work from beyond the grave. The Widow de Campos’ claim to Xavier’s royalties was ruled invalid.

The Legacy: A Case that Refused to Die

The lawsuit didn’t stop Chico Xavier. In fact, it only seemed to fuel his prolific career as a medium and writer. His books continued to sell by the millions, and his reputation as a man who communicated with the dead only grew stronger. Meanwhile, the de Campos family had to accept that while Humberto may still be writing from beyond, there’s no money to be found in a dead man’s words.

The Chico Xavier v. de Campos case remains a fascinating chapter in legal history. It’s a tale that challenges the boundaries of what we consider reality, creativity, and ownership. At its core, the case serves as a reminder that the law isn’t always equipped to handle matters of the supernatural—especially when it comes to settling scores with the dearly departed.

So, whenever you hear about a “ghostwriter,” just remember that some may take that term a bit more literally than others.

Next Time on Trial and Terror

When the Broaddus family bought their dream home (a historic, 110-year-old mansion located in Westfield, NJ), they likely expected the normal issues that accompany any old house: creaky floors, temperamental plumbing, routine repairs… maybe even a ghost or two. Nonetheless, the family of five loved their new home and were looking forward to starting a new life there. That was, of course, until they recieved a letter from “The Watcher.”

What happened next? Join us next week for our season finale of Trial and Terror to find out! Tune in this Halloween, if you dare.