THE COST OF CREDULITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 651, 30 October 1909, Page 11

THE COST OF CREDULITY.

A man of unsound mind named Heinrich Bettermann has succeeded in duping many thousands of educated men and women'by telling them their fortunes, and thereby; amassing, a, huge fortune for himself and for Ms 'partner,' ,Herr Schmidt, of Magdeburg. Bettermann esr tablished himself at * the" village. of 'Broich; neaT Hulheim, in 'West Germany,' a littlemore than. two years ago as a • phrenologist;'■■ and subsequently as an astrologist able to .'forecast the future. By means of extensive advertising persons of all classes and. all ages came to him in hundreds.;: It frequently happened that Bettermann's residence- at Broicn'was almost besieged by credulous persons desirous of hearing his verdict on their' future. His business deyeloped. : to 'such an' .extent -that ho' was obliged to' engage" Schmidt as - business manager. With Schmidt's assistance he established no fewer 'than'7o. branches in 'different parts of the Continent,, and he dealt; with the clients of all'these establishments by' post. Bettermann accumulated a'fortune. of more than ,£IOO,OOO. within .(wo years, whilethe substantial sum; of, approximately, ,£20,000' fell to the share of his partner; Schmidt: In l many cases disastrous results ensued from Bet-i termann's prophecies! One woman is said' to; have been influenced to such an extcnt.by his? prediction of her future that she.deserted her' husband and children, and' ran '.away to': a 1 foreign country with another;man. In other' families also equally unhappy",- consequences', followed on Bettermann's; prophecies. \ At. the' ; trial Bottermann; was declared, to be r of u'n-.-sound; mind, and not responsible for ; his actions! In consequence of Professor Aschaffenburg's testimony the court acquitted Betterman, but his accomplice Sohmidt was sentenced to two months' imprisonment.