FORTUNE-TELLER’S ‘LOVE POTIONS’

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20284, 28 August 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

FORTUNE-TELLER’S ‘LOVE POTIONS’

English Girl Says: “I Am Ruined ” £14,000 Lost to “Retain Banker’s Love”

Dsanagss totalling about £460 were •warded by a Paris Court the other day to Mlse Baby Slefried Knudsen, a beautiful blonde, who was born in Manchester, against a Paris fortuneteller. Mme. de Tanis. >ll as Knudsen bad complained to the Courts that Mme. de Tanis had extracted £14,000 from her for “love philtres and maglo potions" designed to retain the love of a wealthy banker whom the Manchester girl had hoped to marry. A long Judgment was read In court severely condemning the fortune-tell-er, and ordered hor to pay a fine of •bout £23 on the ground that, her charge of £l4O a visit to Miss IKnudean constituted fraud. £20,000 Mentioned. When ehe filed her case, Miss Knudsen stated In an Interview: “I know nearly everybody Is afraid of the publicity In these sort of cases. But I don't oare. Why should I? I am ruined. I am suing for about £IO,OOO, although the sum should be about £20,000. I cannot remember the exaot sum, as the fortune-teller never ■wanted to give me reoelpts. 'M was Introduced to her by a boy Irlend. Her appearance Is not Impressive, but. I did not mind, as 1 was madly In love six years ago with Baron Jean Empaln, a Belgian millionaire. I made frequent visits to Mme. de

Tanis when I was in Paris, and in between my travels to Hollywood, Hawaii, Tahiti and other tropical spots. “She told me a great deal whloh c&qie true, and she gave me white powders to make It certain that I would marry my fiance. 11 Madly In Love." “It was not his money that attracted me, but himself. I was only 20 when I met him, and I was madly In love with him and did not mind how much money I paid the fortuneteller.’’ Mme. de Tanis, whose real name Is Mme. Soudre, a stout, alert-faced woman, stated when summoned before an examining magistrate that her “clientele" Included some of the crowned heads of Europe and many leading personalities in Frenoh sooiety. In her luxurious home the police found all the apparatus of the neoromnncer’s trade, including cards, incense, crystals, toads in bottles, and stuffed owls. After Miss Knudsen brought her case more than a year ago, Baron Jean Empaln, a Belgian mllllonalde, said during a visit to London : “I never loved Miss Knudsen. I am through iyith her.’’ Miss Knudsen, who Is 26, was born of wealthy Danish parents, her father being a well-known shipping magnate. —British United Press.