Five Fortune-Tellers Face the Magistrate

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 1

Five Fortune-Tellers Face the Magistrate

PROPHECIES VARY MATRON AND MATRIMONY Fortune tellers are inconsistent, according to evidence heard at the Police Court this morning. A police matron who had been going the rounds of Auckland crystal-gazers has had no fewer than three different husbands described to her as well as correspondingly varied futures. Four women and one man were charged at the Police Court this morning with telling fortunes, only one appearing personally to answer the charge. Annie Bond, of Ponsonby, who was said to be known as Madame Maria, sent a long letter to the Court in which she said that she nad to tell fortunes, as it was her only means of livelihood. “When I called on Mrs. Bond my fortune was told by the crystal and by reading my hand,” said the natron. “She told me that I was a visitor to Auckland, and would go home by water, as that was the quickest route. I would be seasick for an hour or so during the night. She described a young man whom I would marry, and said that I would find after marriage that he had more money than I had originally thought. There were going to be big changes in my life, and I would hear of an accident to a dark man of my acquaintance. I would also live to be 80 years old.” The matron understood from “Madame” that she had obtained her power from the Gipsies. Sub-Inspector McCarthy considered it hard to get any sense out of the woman, who was making no secret of her profession. “She says she will continue to tell fortunes, as it is her only means of livelihood,” he said. “Though liable to a fine of £ 5 or six months’ imprisonment, she says she must earn a decent living somehow-.” Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M.: I don’t know what she means by a decent living. A fine of £5 was Imposed, but, on the application of Mr. V. IST. Hubbie the decision was recalled and the case adjourned for a week. NOT AN ADEPT Mr. Bryce Hart appeared for Matilda Caider, whom he considered was not an adept at fortune telling or she would have been able to see that the matron would catch her. Counsel entered a plea of guilty, but said his client had closed her shop as soon as the summons had been served. She oniv charged three shillings for her consultations. Caider was fined £3. FINANCIAL ADVICE The services of the matron were again required when Claude Dolores failed to answer the orderlv’s call She had been told by him that she was going to marry a man with his hair parted on the side. A letter was coming from abroad signed Grace, and there would be money that witness was supposed to have expected for a long time. She was advised not to speculate in coal but to buy oil shares. Mr. McKean; Always the same old story. Boloreswaspenalised to the extent month ’ default being fixed at one THE THIRD HUSBAND The matron’s third prospective husband was described to her bv Marv Lvons, commonly known as Madame Hyland. The sub-inspector said that Lyons had already pleaded guilty, but ‘said she did not wisli to appear as she was going into the country for a holiday. The matron remembered that Lyons had told her she would live to a rip • old age. She would be wealthy and lucky and healthy. She would marry a tall man with long features. This prophecy cost Lyons £5. GIVING ADVICE Mary Salem was the last of the clairvoyants to be called. She pleaded guilty, the explanation being made that she thought she could help people by giving them advice outside the law. She had 15 children. “In this case there is an analyst’s fee of 10s 6d,” said the Sub-inspector. “Salem used to sell packets of face powder and so on for 5s and give the consultations in. We had to get the powder analysed to see if it was genuin6-” - Sal am was fined I£JL / ~~~