Spirits that Failed.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 208, 6 September 1904, Page 4

Spirits that Failed.

CLAIRVOYANT LOSES HEH GIFT IN A TRAMWAY CAR. AMUSING ACTION. In consequence of a fall alleged to have been caused through the nelige.it driving of a Manchester Corporation tramway-oar. Mis Clara Moss, who is described as a professional clairvoyant and spiritualist, says she has lost her 'gifts. She brought an action lor damages at the Manchester Assizes.

In support of her claim for special damages, Mrs Moss, who lives in Salford, said she had thirty pupils at one 'guinea a. quarter, and one gentleman had.paid her twenty guineas for four consultations. By her spiritualistic gift she earned £l5O per year, but that did not include her services on Sunday, the benefit of which went in aid of charities.

"Now," added the plaintiff, pathetically, "the ©ift has gone from me, and I would not lose it for a million pounds, because I love the work."

His Lordship : Supposing I was a pupil, what would yon charge me ?

The witness : Oh, it would be seconding to the position.

In the course of cross-examination, the witness said that what she lectured on was a religion. The clairvoyance was not seeing into the future, but was a special gift from God which she had. She could not make the religion clear if counsel had not investigated it,, because it would be boo vague. Further cross-examined, Mrs Moss said that business men, came to her to understand the phenomena, the first phase o.f which was the return of the dead. It was the death of her only child which taught her to look .nto it, and she had proved it to be correct.

Upon counsel asking whether she conducted table-rapping, the witness replied, '''No ; not at all; !>y sight and hearing* The Bible seers are not the only seers in the world." Mrs Moss said that as she had lost her gift since the accident she had discontinued the classes and consultations.

Counsel questioned her as to the seances, and asked if any phenomena were noticeable at the classes. The plaintiff, with some asperity, answered by inviting counsel to visit one of them. When the laughter had subsided the witness said, "Though the gift seems to have gone from me, I hope the guardian angels are helping me through this ordeal." The jury, who seemed sceptical, returned a verdict for the corporation.