SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2306, 13 November 1914, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS FORTUNE-TELLER CONVICTED The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were continued before His Honour Mr. Justice Hosking yesterday morning. Mr. P. S. K.'Macassey, of the' Crown Law Office, represented the Crown. A plea of not guilty was entered by Robert Henry Gibson, otherwise "Professor" Gibson, who was charged with having, on August 31 last, undertaken to tell the fortunes of two womenEvelyn Blencoe and Pansy Foothead. Mr. D. S. Smith appeared for the defence. _ ■ The evidence for the prosecution was on the lines of that tendered in the Lower Court. It appeared that i-n August 31 Mrs. Blencowe and Mrs. Foothead were residing in the samo ■house at 30 Roy Street, Newtown. After lunch, the accused called at the house, represented himself to be a pupil of the only fortune-teller who had predicted the King's death, and offered to tell the for times of .the two women. Mrs. Foothead first had her fortune told, and paid Gibson 2s. 6d. Mrs. Blencowe then had her fortune' told, and, as a result of what Gihson told her, she bocame hysterical, and ran out of the room. Mrs. Foothead then told Gibson to leave the house. He demanded his fee before leaving, but received nothing for telling Mrs'. Blencowe's fortune. In consequence of Gibson's behaviour at the house, the police were communicated with, and accused was arrested by Deteutivc-Sergeant Cassells on the afternoon of September 10. No evidence was called for. the defence. A After counsel had addressed the jury and His Honour had summed tip, the accused asked if he might be allowed to addres3 the jury from the dock. His Honour remarked that the procedure was rather unusual, but allowed the prisoner to say what he desired to. The speech consisted of a denial of certain portions of the remarks attributed to him, while telling Mrs. Blencowe's fortune.

The jury retired at 11.45 a.m. and returned in a quarter of an hour with a verdict of guilty. : On the application of Mr. Smith, Hi Honour remanded the prisoner for sentence until this morning.. •

SERIOUS CHARGES. A young man named Lewis James Hocking was arraigned on three chargee of carnally knowing a girl under the age of ten years. Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guiltyThe Court was cleared by order of the presiding Judge. Hearing of evidence was not completed until 5 o'clock,' arid it was then decided that addresses to tho jury. should be postponed until this morning at 10 o'clock.