MADMAN MAKES £120,000 IN TWO YEARS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 51, 7 December 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

MADMAN MAKES £120,000 IN TWO YEARS.

Herr Heinrich Bettermann, a man of unsound mind s has succeeded in duping many thousands of "educated men ana women by telling their fortunes, and thereby .amassing a great fortune for himself and his partner, Herr Schmidt, of Magdeburg. At the Cologne District Court on September 8 Heinrich Bettermann and Schmidt were indicted 011 a charge of fraud, apd astonishing evidence was given. Bettermann established himself at the village of Broich, near Muelheim, in West Germany, a little more than two years ago as a phrenologist, and subsequently as an astrologer, and by means of extensive adver-1 tising offered to foretell future events.

Clients of every class and of all ages came from the first day in scores, and soon swelled into hundreds and thousands. It frequently happened' that Bettermann's residence at Broich was besieged by credulous persons desirous of hearing his verdict with regard -to their future.

His business developed to such an .extent that he was obliged to engage Schmidt as business manager. With Schmidt's assistance he established 1 branches in different parts of the Continent and he dealt with the clients pi all these establishments by post. According to the evidence given it appears that Bettermann accumulated ,a fortune of more than .€IOO 000 within two years, while the substantial sum of £20,000 fell to the.sharo of his partner, Schmidt. In many cases disastrous results ensued fro.ni Bettermann's prophecies. One woman is said to have been influenced to an extent by his prediction of her future that she deserted her husband and children and ran away to a foreign country with another man. In other families equally unhappy consequences followed Bettermann's prophecies. At the trial Professor Aschaffenburg appeared as medical expert anjl testified that after thoroughly examining Bettermann he had come to the conclusion that he was a man of unsohnd mind and not responsible for his actions. The Professor held to his opinion though it was shown by sworn evidence that Bettermann had declared after h-.= arrest that "if people are so stupid I do not .understand why I should nrt exploit them."

In consequence of Professor Aschaffenburg's testimony the Court acquitted Bettermann, but his accomplice, Schmidt, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment.