FORTUNE-TELLING CHARGES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22424, 10 June 1938, Page 7

FORTUNE-TELLING CHARGES

DEPENDANT- IN CLERICAL GARB ADVISED TO LEAVE NEW ZEALAND George Samuel Thomson, known as the Rev. G. S. Thomson and as Professor Thomson, pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to two charges of fortune-telling. Wearing a clerical collar and describing himself as a priest and metaphysician, Thomson said he was an accountant in Dunedin some years ago and twice stood for Parliament there as an independent. He said he was president of the Anti-Conscription League once and went to gaol then because he was unable to pay a fine of £SO. He left for Australia to start again and in 1936 was ordained, consecrated, and anointed as a priest of the Liberal Catholic Church in Melbourne. Thomson was charged with having told the fortunes of Police Matron Ruby Annabel! and Constable Cyril George Gadsby. They gave evidence that he had answered questions about

their future and offered to give them horoscope readings. Thomson told the Magistrate, Mr E. C. Levvey, after evidence had been heard, that he realised he was liable to conviction on the statements of the witnesses, and said he was willing to undertake to stop this type of work, .which he described as “hack” work. He complained that he had been per-, secute.d, whereas another man in the city was allowed to go free. * The Magistrate told him that if he was willing to leave New Zealand no obstacle would be placed in his way. He said that provided Thomson left the country within, say, 30 days, he would not be fined, but would be ordered to come up for sentence if called on within two years. Matron’s Visits Detective-Sergeant T. E. Holmes, who prosecuted, said the attention of the police had been drawn to an advertisement in one of the newspapers, and to : a notice referring to two addresses given by Thomson. Police Matron Ruby' Annabell said that acting on instructions she visited Thomson in Regent street on May 26. He asked her if she wanted a reading at 10s 6d or ss. She asked for ass reading about business matters and gave a name other than Ruby, Annabell. She wrote three questions down and was told to hold each one in her left hand, then to give them to him. Her first question was, “Will my interest in business be a success?” He answered “No.” She asked, “Shall I go to Sydney?” He answered “Yes, about September.” Then she asked, “Shall my family come with me?” and he answered, “No, not yet; they will follow later.”

The matron said she was told to come back again for her horoscope, and she paid him ss. On May 27 she returned, but was told to come the next day as the horoscope was not yet . ready. While she was there she saw a man studying a race book.'• Thomson asked the man to come back again as he had not worked out the numbers. Witness was told by Thomson that she would definitely marry,.inside two. years. . Winners For Races She asked him if he could , give ; her the winners for the races that Saturday. He said he had not yet worked them out.- He also told her .that if she liked to send-anyone along to him he would pay her a third of : any moneys received... She gave him an address to which he. could send any information. - On May 28, the matron said, she received a note giving the numbers of horses for two races; She. was to pay him 2s 6d for each race or half of the profits. He had still, not.: got the horoscope ready . but she -was given an. address in Madras street, and was told that if she attended it he would hand it to her then. From , the dock Thomson, asked the matron if it was true she gave him anassumed name. ' She said it was. “And Sonoma King did win that race, didn’t he?” said Thomson to the matron. “I believe it did,”-she said. . “Then why didn’t you come as you agreed and give me half the proceeds?” •—I didn’t go to the racecourse. “But you know that wasn’t necessary if you put it through a bookie,” defendant said. Constable Cyril George Gadsby said

he went to see Thomson in Madras street, and was invited to ask questions about his future and have- them answered. He was told Sundays and Mondays were his good days, and that June was a good month for him. He was to expect a change for the good in- eight years’, time. Thomson told witness he .could feel a , pain trans-ferred-to him from another person according to - a process he learned: in Australia. Witness paid him 5s and Thomson suggested he should introduce other people, and would be given a ;third of the proceeds. Life Story Told • > ■ Thomson from the dock gave the Court a long; story * of his life. He said he was ah accountant for a number of ■years .in Dunedin. When he. was president Of the Anti-Conscription League he was fined £SO in Court and went to gaol because' he could not pay it’ He stood as' an independent’ Labour candidate for Parliament in Dunedin and again as independent Lib-eral-Labour candidate. He had trained for-the Presbyterian Church, hut-was ordained, anointed, and consecrated as a priest of the Liberal Catholic Church in; Melbourne; He said it had been his desire to get a footing here and to try to Kelp people in a genuine, Christ-like way. , In the witness-box Thomson said he was prepared now to answer any questions anyone in Court liked to put to him. “You’re taking a risk,” the Magistrate said. “I might ask you - what sentence I’m going to pass now.” Detective-Sergeant Holmes asked Thomson if he had anything to show that he was entitled to wear a clerical collar. Thomson, said his certificate

was in Melbourne and - he had sent far it He said, no law could stap-hte using a clerical collar or being'cillM by the title "Reverend.” “I,put.it toyou it’sa false said Thoroson said it was not. ' The Magistrate said Thomson made it. difficult for him - to -know encfly what to-do with him.- If he-was satisfied Thomson was -a cold-blooded Receiver like 1 others he might - have. no hesitation, but he would give him the benefit-of the doubt Provided he left New Zealand within, say. 30 days, he would not be fined, but ordered to come up if called on within two years. “We don’t .want , you here if you want ito - get away,” the Magistrate said.