SIBYLS OR SCIENTISTS?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 649, 28 October 1909, Page 8

SIBYLS OR SCIENTISTS?

... ._— .-■•.,.. ■ ■'. CHARGES OF FORTUNE-TELLING. AT THEI MAGISTRATE'S COTOT. At,the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr.-.. W. G.; ~BiddeU, ; S.M., vMadame Hilder, Clara Sinclair, and Mary'- Lyons, otherwise •: known 'as -Madame '• Hylan'd, were called upon to answer to charges of undertaking to tell fortunes, to various police probationers. Mr. Herdman represented , Madame' Hilder, and Mr.'Wilford'appeared for Clara Sinclair and Mary Lyons. The case against Mary Lyons was taken first. : , Police Probationer's Buse.' Ernest Snow, police probationer, stated in evidence that defendant was located in the new Occidental Hotel buildings. On October 7, about. 11.15 a.m., witness was looking in the window.' Defendant was standing at-the door, and asked .him if he would like his head read. (Laughter.) Witness replied: "A friend and myself are thinking of going away. Can you .tell us which is the best place to go top" She answered: "Yes, come inside." They went behind a curtain, and witness sat down on a chair. She looked at the palm of his hand, and told him about his character. Witness said: "Thafs no good to me; you've told me nothing at all about the future." , She replied that she could not-tell the future from the hand, but sho would tell him a little - clairyoyantly. She then told witness that he was paying his addresses to a girl in.a business place, and he would presently give.her a rin* if he had not already done so. She added: "Ton will marry this girl and have seven children. The first one will be a boy like his father."

'. Chief-Detective Broberg: Did she say whether he would be soft or not?—"No; she said that he'would be'a hard case like his father." .(Laughter.) '.. : ■ Mr. Wilford: Did 6he tell you anything about going to sea?—" Yes. She said: Tour young lady does not like your going to sea, and you will give it up. You would do better in New Zealand.' She also' said: "Why do you not join the police -forco?"' Mr. Wilford: Did you tell , her?—'TTes. I said that'l did not care about it. -Too many funny jobs to do." ' Witness proceeded: I gave her a sovereign, and she returned me 17s. 6d. I returned with a friend at 8.15 p.m., and said: "This: is the man with whom I have been arguing the point about going away. Tell him.which is .the best country to go away to." She accordingly read his head, but said nothing 'about the future. I complained about'this," and she replied: "I told you quite enough this ihorning." V The friend (Probationer Curry) paid 2s; 6d., .and they left. She had.no cards.',,: ~-'-,•'...; ~'.

The Probationer' and His Fiancee. 'Mr. Wilford: You went in there determined .to make her speak of .the future?—" Yes, if possible. ' It was a device to get her to ,sptak of ,the future." ' , .' '■''. '■-'■-''.'

Having worked your little-device,-you tried it again-when your friend came; and you-got no result?—" No." . . '

Did you say to her: "Will I marry the girl?" : —"NO." :

Will you swear you.did not ask her a question about this?—'T may have done ; so." ;- She told you you .were'courting a girl in a business place. Was that true?—" Yes." : • , She also'said that you would give that girl a ring if you had not already done so?—" Yes." ,Have you done so?—" No,""' : Do.you'iritehd to?—" No." ' ' Mr. Wilford: Then'ifs just as well that she knows your intentions.' (Laughter.) ' Chief-Detective. Broberg: Did anything; defendant say deceive'. you.?—'Tfo.".-',•,'

■ "You would have.Told 100 Lies." Joseph James' Curry, another.: probationer, stated, that witness,:said: to .him: 'TYbu.'.a're adapted to machinery.; Yoii have a strong .will, and think, as much of : your'iopinion, as most' men." Witness paid her, 2s. M. ■"-•'•- i' Mr. Wilford of the future was told you .at all?—TN6." : ,' " ' .; At the time Snow was in you were watcliini?—"Yes."' '/ The whole thingwas.a preconceivedVplan to get*this-woman to tell, the future?—" Yes.",.. - Whether you. told-lies br-not?—"Yes." ' You would have told 100 lies if you could, ;have-got. her to tell the future?—" Yes." '■ 'Mr. Wilford',(addressing the Bench) .asked that ,the information' be dismissed. .Beading character from - head, face; or hand was, ho, said; a science,,but foretelling the.futuro was not.: His client, denied that she had' done the latter.;' Was not'corroboration .of a witness's story required?- His' Worship could see the 'value of the: ovidence of those who,would "tell 100 lies." The-practice of gettihg-a.man who would "tell 100 lies" to obtain a; cbtfvic-; tion'.was "a." thing that ought to be ; stopped.' Inferentially,ithe witnesses wanted to give,the .woman 2s. ■6d. to'.- tell the future,. but '.Wot otherwise. He also Contended that his; olient should have the right .to elect to go.befpre'.a jury-as the case'was'brought under the; Crimes Act,'.which provided' a penalty up- to twelve months', imprisonment/ -.Under, Section; 26! of the Crimes' Act an' accused, person had', the Tight..of .electing to. be tried, by the' Supreme Court. Section 224 .of the: Justice of the Peacei Act'overruled the previous. section," and stated that after hearing evidence the presiding magistrate might. decide'whether he should send •the case to the Supreme' Court,' or whetheri he should deal with if summarily.i'; . ; ' r. ; His.Worship admitted that the position was anomalous, and said he would■ look'into the matter and give, his decision later. M ; ; Tvwi Other Cases.; ' ;. The case against; Clara Sinclair was adjourned, until Monday. pending decision in the 'first'case. Bail was-fixed at £5 and one surety qf £5.- -.."' -Mr; Herdman. entered a plea of guilty- in Madame Hilder's case.

'Chief-Detective Broberg explained defendant; used" a pack, of, cards,' and: told *the usual ,'tale about disputes, a dark woman; children, etc. " ■■ . ' , Mr. Herdman asked the magistrate to take, into consideration' the .fact that the woman, had'not-been: convicted previously. -She had given the'police no trouble, and he asked for alightjenalty.. ■ ■', •' His Worship imposed a fisto-of 205., in default .'seven days' imprisonment,. on the first charge, and oh, the other ordered-accused to eomc.-up for-'sentence if called, upon. -'