FORTUNETELLERS FINED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 29

FORTUNETELLERS FINED.

A CRIMINATING LETTER. AUCKLAND, September 2. At the Police Court to-day Elizabeth Peart was charged that, on or about 20th •May, 'she pretended, from her knowledge of a science, to discover where certain stolen or lost rings were to be found. Detective Marsack, opening the caee for the prosecution, said "that in May last Mrs Collins's house in Ponsonby was broken into, and a quantity of jewellery and various -articles of value were stolen. She communicated with the police, but unfortunately the burglars had not buen discovered, nor had the goods been Tecovered. She was ad-vised to apply to a fortune-teller, more especially about on© particular article — a brooch — which she was most anxious to get. Acting fupon this advice, she wrote to the defendant, who traded as a fortunte-teller under £ihe name o>! "Madame Grant/ enclosing a fee of Is, and asking her advice as to where this particular brooch could be found. She received a letter in reply, giving what purported to be information ahout the brooch. . Mrs Collins at once took this letter to tibe detectives, saying : a ' Here is a clue j you -will be able, to find' *ny brooch now." The detectives took the letter to madame, and she admitted having written it, and afterwards gave them. i lesson in astrology Mr Cuttsn, S.M. i Did you find the goods? Detective Marsack : Unfortunately, no. .The prediction is rather vague. It reads, •"•'The brooch appears to be in possession. '&f a dark, thickset female, who appears 4o be making a change of some sort in & few da£s, I dp not see that you will

recover it, as there appears to be some , mystery about the matter, or secrecy. I \ have taken the question as theft. If jt j should have only been mislaid it would . be found concealed under other things, I such as papere, books, etc." ' Detective De Norville gave evidence that he, accompanied by Detective M'llveney, went to defendant'^ establishment on the 27th May. Witness asked 1 her whether she told fortunes, and she replied '"No." She added, however, that she answered questions about future | event.*. She said that ehe had been ' practising for nine years in the same house, and. that if *he was prosecuted Wragge ought to be prosecuted too. { The Magistrate held that the letter ', clearly purported to give information as ' to the whereabouts of the brooch, though-] that information was of a very vague kind. The defendant bad herself claimed when the detectives called upon her that she discovered euch information with tire' aid of astrology. The circumstances of j the case .clearly brought it within the ! scope of the act, and it was clearly proved ' that defendant had been guilty of a breach < of the act. Defendant was fined £2, and ordered to pay 14s costs. j

• Footballing' as a Christianising agency among- the Maoris is recognised by the Vicar of Waipiro Bay. In referring to Rev. Nikora Tarataa in the Ohurah Chronicle, th€^ vicar remarks : — " He ie (perhaps the strongest Native clergyman in these parts. He is well known in both islands. He speaks deep 6pirifrual truths in continual metaphor?, and his oratory is very taking and effective. He takes a great interest in football, and has therefore much influence among the young Maori men of Tola-go Bay and the district."