THE "SPOOK POST."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 101, 27 April 1912, Page 17

THE "SPOOK POST."

BANK NOTES SENT TO THE UNSEEN.

Extraordinary evidence was given at the I Western Police Court, London, at the , continuation of the trial of George HamtMon ! Izard aud his wife. Rboda Emily Izard. I who were charged with obtaining six £,-> notes from Thomas Syms, a Manchester solicitor, by false pretences. Syms had already told, as reported in these columns, how he consorted with Mrs i Izard, who had advertised as a medium. IHe sent bank notes to spirits, he alleged, and attended 300 seances In three years. iHe wrote lcters to Dr "W." a Dr Reeves, • and to "M.LO." imy loved one), repreI seining a lady to whom be was greatly I attached, who died in April, 1000, and these were sent c/o Mrs Izard. He always spoke to the spirit Dr "W." through the medium of the female defendant, and sent with some of the letters bank notes in reply to .requests for money. Syms told of sending a number of notes, as he believed, at the request of the spirits into the "unseen." "WATCH RUBBER." (Prosecuting for the Crown. Mr Bodkin read a letter from the solicitor to "M.L.0." ("My I/oved One), a deceased lady friend:— Have I done right to allow my spirit friends to control mc, and against my better judgment ? I must keep the flag flying over my office, although I know I am using £20 or £25 a week out of other people's money. Mr ißodkin—When was the first mention of rubber shares made? Symsln Easter week. lftOS. | Who did it come from ?— It came from Mrs Izard's lips. What did her lips tell you?—" Watch rubber." Who did that message purport to come from ?—"W.W." were the Initials given. Sorely not the clergyman?Oh, no. "W.W." is not "Dr W." Who is "W.W." ?— All I know is that there was a sign given that he was a person who had cheated the law. "Everybody knows his identity then," commented Mr Bodkin, amid laughter. "THE 'OOF BIRD." Questioning the witness with regard to banknotes which were put in letters addressed to spirits, and which were subsequently used by the Izards, Mr Bodkin asked—"Did you authorise anyone to open them on earth?"

Witness—No, but it does not follow that the letter was opened because the banknotes are abstracted. Did you seal up the letter ?—Yes. Well, surely you don't suspect the honesty of Laurent, the spirit postman? "M.L.0." apparently did not get them.—l don't know that. That does not follow by any means.

Further letters were read from the spirits containing references to rubber dealings. One from Dr Reeves contained thp passage: "Rubber Is going up, thank the Lord !" and in the course of reply Syms wrote— "Ton spirit people always smell the 'oaf bird. You must hear him sing before we do, like the lights from the stars." Mr Bodkin With regard to the telegram sen* by the spirit for hank-notes, did the spirits -materialise themselveo In the post office and rend a telegram—Oh. no. The "instrument" would be controlled in the post office. She would, be induced to go there ana -then ahe ,wOTIuV-^seniJ < .-'Ujat--iac9''