TESTING "THE BOY PROPHET'S" CLAMS

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 3

TESTING "THE BOY PROPHET'S" CLAMS

Some Interesting Sidelight* On Private Demonstration Before "N.Z.TruthY' Com WHY WERE COPELANDS SORTED OUT FOR POLICE ACTION? iuinnmiMnmuwiimiiiimm<mr.imiimiuHimuilirßmiiimTmmmironniiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiniiiimii immmmmimmmmmmmffliimiimmmn.miimmii^ iiiiiiimtiiiiiimnmmßmi^ iB iiiiiuiiiiiiiinnuiiimiimiuiiiiiiiiiiiiniiuuiiiiiiiiiunuiiiiiiiniiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii imm miiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiii imiaimiiiimitiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitaiuiiiiiini«mit_iiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiii«iiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiriinii iiiiiiiiii imimiiiiiiiiiiiitiuiiiiiiiiii iiiinmii.miniiiiiiiiHmiimiiiwiiiimiiiiiifflß__^

| (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) J |I WHO IS THIS BOY "ARGUS'" and what is he? Is he psychic medium, mind-reader or straight-out frost? Thety«Ts | some of the pertinent questions that have been referred to , the Auckland office of "N.Z. Truth** since the recent prosecution m | Whangarei of " Argus, the Prophet"— otherwise Nathaniel Julius Copeland, and his father, Charles Louis Copeland, who were j] convicted on charges of telling fortunes and kindred offences by Magistrate Luxford and fined £5 on each of four charges. Si "Argus** and his father have been before the public as showmen off and on for the past seven years or so.. In order to || satisfy its many inquirers and readers generally of the bona fides or otherwise of "The Boy Prophet,*' "Truth" representatives fi made it their business to get m touch with "Argus" and his father, and generally runthe rule over them. ff As the Copelands appealed against the decision of the magistrate, it is not permissible or desirable al this stage to comment || m any way upon the merits or demerits of the case itself. "Truth, " however, has ai number of observations to make, which, m ll view of the great public interest ihe Whangarei case created, will be very much to the point, and incidentally, be the means of |f giving the public who patronize "Argus'' and his performances some idea of what lies behind it all

IT . has always been the policy of "N.Z. Truth" to treat things and people — whatever they are or whoever they may toe — entirely on their merits, irrespective of whose corns may be trampled on m the process. , That policy is being pursued m respect- of "Argus" and his father. The public can judge for themselves as to how much, reliance is to be placed m the clainis and powers of this young man, who has been . variously described as "the psychological wonder" and "The Boy Prophet." . Fortunately or unfortunately, according to whatever views are held, the law of this Dominion' is', not partial to prophets, seers, plain fortune-tellers or anything of that sort. •:■ "Argus" and hia father discovered this to their oost at the hands of , the ,S.M., and they don't like it, naturally. There is only one way to test any claims, whatever they may be; and that is the acid test of a private demonstration, the arrangements for which are entirely m the control of those who throw down the challenge to the claimants. , The alleged powers of "Argus" are not m dispute; the issue concerns the legality of their praotioe m public.' Copeland, senior, on Jiis return to Elaborate Code? Auckland, was approached by "Truth" representatives, arid, as a result .of the .preliminary conversation, the question of a private demonstration was raised. Would "Argus" and his father — who is an Integral part of the show— ln common parlance, "come at it"? JThey would and did. •', ••;.'■ In Justioe to Copeland, senr., he raised no objections whatever. In fact, he showed keenness to convince "Truth" that he and his son were not oheap fakes .out to gull the publio. "We are prepared to stage' a demonstration at any place you care to nominate, and, so that the test may be per. fectly satisfactory, I would prefer that you get together a small committee of about eight people — the more sceptical they are the better," was Copeland's reply to the suggestion of a private test. And so it was arranged. "Truth" nominated the place — a private room m a city olub — and selected, at random a number of hard-headed soeptics who would not be likely to be bluffed and less easily convinced." The committee of eight comprised the members of "Truth's" Auokland staff, two hard-headed oity barristers and three equally hard -headed business men. An adjournment was made to the meeting-place at which "Argus" and his father had agreed to stage the demonstration. To begin with, Copeland, senr., unburdened himself of the usual patter as ta what they claimed to do and what they did not. He did thip, he explained, so that g-Wmuiiriiillwßiiiiii»iiiuniiimnniiitiininiiiiiMniiimiiiiiMiMiiiiiiittitiHHtnitiiiMttiiiimimtiii. uuininni___nuiu.iimuinumiiniininiiiiii<(tnifiiiiiiiiinnmiiiiiiiiiii«miriiii(i»»niuiiiiu«i<iiri>n

the audience could see exactly where they stood with the public. In the first place, he declared that "Argus" did not elect to tell fortune* or foretell the future, and that any questions relating to the future were answered "for amusement or experiment and were not always correct." . Having said his piece, Copeland, senr., then blindfolded "Argus" and questions were invited. The method adopted was simple. A member of the audience was taken from the room and Invited— out of. earshot of the "Boy Prophet" — to ask Copeland a question. Having done so, a return was made to the room, when Copeland asked "Argus" what the "gentleman wanted to know." In every case the' answer given was correct, the question being' repeated almost m the very words 'in which it was asked and the reply . having a direct bearing on the subject. ' .. Then came the cruoial test. "Truth" went armed with a pack of cards which never passed once into the hands of the Copelands. Cards, were selected from the pack hy various members of. the audience. The boy's father saw the card, and, when asked what it was, "Argus" — m every case except two — answered correctly. AH very interesting, but there was more than a suspicion m the minds of the audience that an elaborate system

of code between father and son was ln operation. However, when "Argus," who waa blindfold throughout, was turned round with his back to the audienoe— ■ and "Truth" selected a card which was not seen by either of the two demonstrators and the question was asked: "What card ,is this ?" — the answer came without hesitation and the card was correctly named. But the audienoe, while im* pressed, were not nearly convinced, particularly one hard-headed legal member. However, when "Argus," m reply to his invitation, told him that he was holding m his hand a home-made motor-car key, and then described the make . of., the barrister's ' car and its number, the barrister did not quite know what to make of things. The 'demonstration ended m a reading by Copeland, senr., of a sheaf of letters from various people testifying to the "amazing powers" of "The Boy Prophet," including one from the Attorney- General of Tasmania. Also produced were innumerable press cuttings from various New Zealand - and Australian newspapers. Some of the press reports quoted instances where "Argus" had given advice con cc r ning ____ — _________________

crimes and the perpet rat o r s of them, and several related to demonstrations be fore: members of the

police force m different cities and 1 towns, both m the Dominion and m j j Australia. ■ ■■;"■■ ! A strange sidelight on the widespread interest this "prophet" has arousedj is furnished m recent ("request" demonstration before members of both legislative houses of New Zealand. And, by a strange, irony of Fate, practically the next public appearance of "Argus" aiid- his father was m Whangarei a few days later, when the police took action against them. •Having isaid this much in' favor of "Argus," the next point to be considered is: What- is the public advantage of , ajl this, show of mysterious power, provided .-it is that? All the , public gets out'- of it is a little amusement, for which they pay entrance fees to see the show. "Argus" and his father, m commercializing these remarkable gifts, are on a very good, thing. That much cannot be gainsaid. ; They are m precisely the .same position as a concert artist, a circus proprietor or any other showman,, the only difference being that they are .peddling entertainment of the "mysterious" order, whereas the circus man displays to the public gaze the whole box of, tricks — wild animals, clowns, trapeze artists and the like. . "Truth" does not seek to belittle what powers "Argus" pos r sesses. For the most part, the .

Expert Showmen

more or less -than telepathy-— the art of reading another's mind. The ability of "The Boy Prophet" m this regard is remarkable and .amazing, tout as to the rest of the "mystery"—if it is anything at all— it is a form of mental concentration which ls really divination. ■ "Truth" representatives who were witnesses of the private demonstration admit that it was a remarkable performance m the art of telepathy, and, m common ' fairness, it must be said that there wa's no opportunity for trickery of any kind. The results spoke for themselves. That Is not to say, however, that "Argus'* is to be hailed as a "Boy Prophet." To describe him, as he is sometimes billed, as "The Most Wonderful Being on Earth," is a ridiculous extravagance totally without justification, although, as a publicity stunt, it Is a phrase that will lure the nimble coin from the pockets of the inquisitive. "Argus," who is now 18, is more of a mental freak than a "prophet,"but —as it has so happened— his is the type of freakishness that has capitalized extraordinarily well. Yet, when all is said and done, there is a potentially sinister side to the whole business. There are living m the community Hundreds of neurotlo, superstitious

people who are prone to take an exaggerated view of this sort of thing. It is open to grave abuses, whioh, if practiced, could do incalculable harm. It Is for this very reason that . the law, dealing with such mumbo- jumbo is on the Statute book — and it would be a bad day for this Dominion were that legislation ever repealed. The powers of "Argus" are not m dispute, insofar as the recent prosecution is concerned, but what is m dispute is the legality or otherwise of their practice m public. That is a matter which will definitely be decided by the Supreme Court judge who hears the appeal. The prosecution . itself has demonstrated the need for some definite policy on the part of the police as to how the law dealing .with fortune-telling and occultismis to be carried out. In every town . and city of the Dominion, fortune-telling is being openly .practiced. Spiritualistic " mediums — comedians would be a better name for many^of them — are "giving readings" which, purport to advise the mugs who patronize the mat so much per. sitting what their. futures, will be.

Psychometrists are to be found m every city telling fortunes m the most barefaced manner. True, they repudiate the suggestion of fortune-telling and get out of it by

j talking about spirit ■ control and so on— any messages that come thrqugh arriving "from the aura." i There are women hidden away In by-streets who vfrill "read your Fate from the cards" at half a dollar a time and others, again, who bose as psychic health specialists. They have ,a regular "practice" of | patients, who risk their lives and shrink their purses m receiving'"mcdi- i cal attention from the psychic world through a medium," rather than put their trust m. a flesh-arid-blood medical man. ; , j And all these; parasitesyas the great majority of them are— wax fat at the expense of the neurotic, semi-hysteri-cdl members of the comniunty. ;i There' is a law to deal with these parasites — and to deal effectively with them— but how: often is It invoked? Very infrequentiy is a case brougfht to court, considering the hundreds who are commercializing occultism m its various forpis .and doing incalculable harm- to credulous people. All: -this, however, has nothing to do with "Argus." He is not a psychic health specialist— nor is he a reader of cards or a common, fortune teller of the back-parlor . variety. Tet i.c is prosecuted when many others are openly practicing all sorts of.mumbo-jumbo and pious fraud. It is the definite opinion of "N.Z. Truth" that the police should have 6ome set: policy of action. '"'■'.'

They must ' either clear out the whole lot by a systematic drive 61 1 prosecutions — or they must leave them all alone. : Occultism, as a religion, is a matter of personal belief — and when practiced as a religion is entitled to respect. - "* But the trouble to-day is that tho country. is overrun with fake mediums, fakirs and absolute frauds, who are using the name of occult science for their own mercenary ends, no . matter what misery and harm is created m bleeding the pockets of the credulous. Wherever they are — and "Truth" knows a few of. them— they should be j cleaned out lock, stock and barrel. If "Argus" is breaking the law, then hundreds of others are doing it — and doing it Just as openly. j "Why piok on me?" might well be) the query of this so-called "prophet." ! And m asking the question, he would I be no more than logical. . At worst, from ■ what was demonstrated before "Truth's" committee, his - performance is an advanced form of telepathy which is quite understood- — In principle, at least— by scientists. One thing is certain. So long as such people as fake mediums and other Impostors are battening like human ghouls on simpletons and |

Inspiring Terror

neurotics, there must be restrictive laws to clip their greedy claws. The very nature of his demonstration, genuine though it is for all "Truth" could see to the contrary, places ' "Argus"— if not, actually m the category of deepest suspicion as to his powers— at least on the fringe of it. There is so much ' abuse by fakes, chicanery and down-right fraud being practiced by peopie to-day, that the fools who patronize them must be protected against themselves. This is the Justification for %\%& present law, however antiquated ana mediaeval it may seem. The chief complaint is that it is not invoked more v than-'.it" is. Too many humbugs are getting away with it— and under the very noses of the police. "Argus" may— or may not— have transgressed the law; the appeal will decide that point. But should the appeal be dismissed and the magistrate's conviction upheld, then it will become the paramount duty of the police, m the publio interest, to sweep the country. They must put an end, as far as possible, to the operations of those who have found m occultism — so-called— and the other ''isms" and "ists," the road to easy money by draining the pockets of credulous people, ' building up false hopes, inspiring dread and fear, and threatening mental stability. If "Argus" should be legally debarred from performing, m common fairness, the whole of his fellow performers and exponents of fortune-' telling and prophecy should be swept away with him. , , nmimimimiimuiimimimmi-mimiimuimmminmnimunmmminmraHinmunnrara >numu iiMiiiiiliiiiimimiiNtitmimiiimliuiiMimmiiimunnMlliiummiiimmiilllllNmiimmmimi.mii.il