FORTUNE-TELLING ALLEGED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 11

FORTUNE-TELLING ALLEGED

/ CASES IN COURT

SPIRITUALISTIC BODY INTERESTED

' Soveral charges of fortune-telling Nyero heard by Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, Q.M., in tho Magistrate's Court yesflorday. The court was well tilled, and those present appeared to be much entertained by the proceedings. Tho persons.charged were Mrs. Barjton, Florence or Madamo Levine, and ■ John or Jonathan Page. Florence Levine, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty. Police Inspector Mareack said that ton September 20 defendant had been fined £3 for a similar offence. Defendant said that she had .now gone out of tho business. Tho caso of Mrs. Barton, who was defendod by Mr. A. 11. Hindmarsh, Itvas then taken. Inspector Marsack said that on Nojromber 7 the police matron and anetlier -woman went to defendant's premises in Waterloo Avenue. Unfortunately defendant's delving into tho fast was not as accurate as the delving into tho futuro might prove to bo. Mrs. Connolly, who was assistantpolice matron at-Lainbton Quay on November 7, stated that acting under police instructions sho went to defendant's premises that evening with iMiss Brcmner. Defendant asked witness to remove both gloves. Sho did bo, and defendant, holding the gloves, Said- she got tho number 3, also tho number 7. Defendant said something about two men being interested in her and also something about a cousin a.t the war, concerning whom sho saw a hospital and a mist. Witness said to defondaut that she. contemplated making a change of position, and asking if it would be advieable to do so. Defendant said: "Do not mako it this Month; 1918 would, bo better for you in every way." M'itness was to remain where she was for a month and on no account to go south. North was the place for her. Defendant said she was a martyr to rheumatism and showed them that she was wearing raw potatoes about her body. She added that she had cured a case afl'alinerston. Defendant remarked: 'iWhat is .this about a telephone?" She asked if witness knew anyone in the Post .Office or Telephone Exchange. The. . month of May would be a month ol changes for her. ■ Sho woiild be thinking deeply in/that month, and witnesi was to come and let defendant know at ,the reading , was correct.. Defendant; said that her charge was 35., and this .witness paid. '' . Inspector Marsack: Did she refer to the crystal globe ? Witness: She said she did not have ito rely on it as others did. Mr. Hindmarsh: 'You spent a very pleasant half-hour, there? Witness: Not very pleasant. Mr. Hindmareh: You set out to get ithis woman convicted? :. Witness: I was acting under instruc- ■ itions.

Mr. Hindmarsh: I suppose you have leen to nave your fortune told on your lown account also? Witness: Perhaps—years ago. Mr. Hindmarsh referred to tho retaarks of the defendant as to the numlers 3 and 7 in witness's family. - Witness said the reference to the irambera. seemed strange' as there were ninein witness's family. Mr. Hindmarsh:,-. But she might not have referred to jthe immediate present—she may have referred to the future. -Fortunes generally refer to the future.- • •, ....■'' ■. ■■ - The Magistrate: I would prefer them Snthe present.: .. ••■ ■. . ' Miss' Bremner* who accompanied Mrs. Connolly, then gavo evidence. Mr. ■ Hindmarsh: How on earth did jvou come to. be mixed up in this, Miss oremner ? Witness: I don't know. Mr. Hindmarsh: Who asked you to So? , ' Witness: The police, I suppose. ' Mr. Hindmarsh: Did you ever .go to iiortune-tellers in your young days? Witness: No. Mr. Hindmarsh: You are too sensiole a woman. , Not even once? Witness: Never. Mr. Hindmarsh: Did you never go to' inquire about a sweetheart? \ Witness: No. 'Mr.-Hindmarsh: Not a fair man? Witness: No, nor a dark one. Mr. Hindmarsh: A man with £10,000 h year? - Witness: Never, f Mr. Hindmarsh said the caso was taken under nn old statute which wae made to deal with witchcraft. Mrs. .Barton believed in , mental telepathy and in that she was in excellent company, tho brother of Mr. A. J. Bal-,

four among thorn. Wonderful results .had been secured by meutal telepathy, but everything new was laughed at by the ignorant. Inspector Marsack (bowing): Thank you.

Mr. Hindmarsh: What about the man in England who wrote about his eon who was killed ht the front? Sir John Findlay: Sir Oliver Lodge? Mr. Hindmarsh: Yes, Sir Oliver Lodge. I daresay he is as truthful a man as there is, and yet some peoplo think him foolish, and if he were in Now Zealand I daresay ho would ho prosecuted by the police. (Laughter.) °

In her evidence Mrs. Barton said that some\ of the women who visited her asked her if they were going to be married.

Mr. Hindmarsh: A good many young ones ask you that, I suppoee? ' Defendant: And a good many old ones.

Mr. Hindrnarsh: What do you tell them ?

Defendant: 1 say that I do not answer such questions.

During bis cross-examination of tho defendant ; Inspector Marsack questioned her as to whether Barton was really her namo, and whether she was the wife of a man sho lived with in Palnierston. Defendant answered both questions affirmatively, but Mr. Hindmarsh interjected heatedly that the inspector ought to bo thoroughly ashamed of himself for seeking to win n trumpery case by attacking the honour of a woman.

Tho Magistrate: You are trying to browbeat tho inspector. You cannot do that.

Mr. Hindmarsh: I am shocked, and every man in court is shocked. You (the inspector) ought to be ashamed. You- ought to bo avoided by every man.

Tho Magistrate: You have gone far enough, and. you must recollect that I am controlling this court. Mr. Hindmarsh: I am not disrespectful to you, Your Worship. > . Tho case of Page was then heard. Sir John Fjndlay, K.C., appeared for tho defendant.

The police evidence was put in in typewritten form..

Sir John Findlay said that lie wae there to defend the liberties of a religious body as well as to defend Page. There was in New Zealand a National' Association of Spiritualists, Incorporated. This body of spiritualists was growing in numbers, no matter what orthodox people thought. He knew that no matter how unorthodox, fantastic, or ridiculous spiritualism was considered, the Court must protect • spiritualists from the , oppression ot othor religious bodies.

The Magistrate: What you are really contending is that just as there is communication between two wireless stations theret can be communication between two minds.

• Sir John Findlay: Exaotly. Sir John Findlay said that Pago did not tell fortunes and was a spiritualistic medium. Tho Spiritualist Church fel that if this man were convicted they must close tho church. In this case, it was clear that the element of deception was not present. Two members of the Spiritualist Association gave evidence to the effect that they considered Page to bo a genuine medium. Decisions in all the cases'were reserved.