Hello Matsu,
There's a long article from the Hawera & Normanby Star from 1881. It's on a New Zealand site called "Papers Past". Sorry I'm not able to give the link. He seems to have used a "wonderful drum" as part of a clairvoyant act.

There's no mention of an automaton -- but my Robert Billy Barlow was known to have used one, as part of his act, in Gympie -- so I'm naturally interested.
Good luck. Please tell us about your findings.
Cheers, Joy