TEA ROOM TALES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 3

TEA ROOM TALES.

FORTUNE TELLING?

FOUR WOMEN PROSECUTED. DECISION RESERVED. Charges of undertaking to tell fortunes were brought by the police in the Police Court to-day against two women employed in city tea rooms. The magistrate reserved his decision. Marion Page was charged with telling fortunes, while Ivy M. Goodman, of the Cottage tea rooms, was charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of the offeilcc.

■ Mr. IT. P. Richmond appeared for both defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Two police matrons gave evidence that they visited the tearooms on April 1 and had their cups read by Marion Pnge. They were told such tilings as that one was going on a train journey and would hear of an old lady's death shortly. "I was told that 'this death would not cauee much sorrow, as it waa expected," said the matron. "I was also told that I had been handling legal papers, and I was advised not to do anything without my solicitor."

Both witnesses said there was no extra charge, for payment. The reading , was included in the price of the afternoon tea (1/). "I was told that there wag nothing but brightness around me," said the second matron, "and also to be careful going around corners when I rode in a motor car." (Laughter.) "I was also informed that I was going to bo very busy." (Laughter.) I Sergeant Ebbett said he interviewed Mrs. Goodman on May 13, when she told him that Mrs. Page had heen employed as a character reader, and that she did not road from teacups. "Absurd," says Counsel. Mr. Richmond submitted that there was no case to answer. "This is an absurdity to begin with," he said. "There was no pretence to tell the future, my client merely reciting vague generalities of a cheerful character. The whole matter has been considered under the English Act in a recent judgment. This is not fortune telling, as it does not come under the statute as mischief by deceiving people. It is a fitting charge for the police to bring on April Fool's Day. This is a silly charge, no doubt prompted by the jealousy of other tearoom proprietors." Counsel added that it was not suggested that either defendant had promised to tell fortunes. On a matter of law there were no facts to justify either charge. There was no possible evidence against Mrs. Goodman. ■The- magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., agreed and dismissed the charge against" Mrs. Goodman. "There have been convictions for tea-eup reading in other places in New Zealand, so I will look into the- matter and reserve my decision in the case against Mrs. Pa"-e," he said. "Of course, these readings really do no harm, except in exceptional cases, It is a harmless amuse* Sub-Inspector Fox, who prosecuted, did not agree. He said that tearooms were public businesses and the telling of the future had mischievous tendencies. It was also unfair competition with other tearooms. Character-Reading? The charges against Margaret Wyatt, of undertaking to telt fortunes, and Elizabeth Simpson, of the "Duck-In" tearooms, of aiding and abetting, were then taken. ... Dr. R. McElroy appeared for Dotn women, who pleaded not guilty. The police matrons described a visit to the tearooms on April 4, when they were told by Mrs. W.yatt that one would live until she was 84, that she would receive two letters nnd a parcel in two days' time, and that she was going on several short journeys. Each was required to write the month and date of birth on a piece of paper. The charge for tea. (1/) included the reading. The defence was that Mrs. Wyatt was en<*a»ed as a character render and that she road character from the writing of each person. Dr. McElroy eaid Mrs. Simpson, the proprietress, before engaging Mrs. Wyatt, made inquiries and was told that character reading was legal. No fortunes were told by Mrs. Wyatt. In the case of Mrs. Wyatt the magistrate reserved his decision , . The charge against Mrs. Simpson.was dismissed.