"BEWARE OF THE DARK MAN".

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 11

"BEWARE OF THE DARK MAN".

,fc'sw:V;'J:'r;M 7:-i t-'.lr- '$:?■ ; fVC> i CHARCE OF PRACTISING "SUBTLE GRAFT." r 'AMUSING EVIDENCE ' \ t >u , . ' i, (DT. ; ".. TEfIEGUAPII—SPECIAti 'VCOERESFON'DKNT.I '■~ { I , Ghrlstchurch, Starch 10 - • .; v Police Court this looming, a charge ~ - ■ or.practising the■ " subtle /craft ''' was .••pre-. ; ■ , ; i ferred by .tti'b police' against Mrs. Stowart ...■•■.■■:■■:■.■. Siott/i r- Occasionally, the evidence -adduced , if.\ fr ;^aS;,pWductiyc 'dt a; gbod'.'deal of .merririient. .. 7 . Mr.'Donnelly appeared tor the defence. - Tho., charge was that provided by Section'so of tho -•. ,■■■■ ■■~■.vltfdictable.. Summary ' Jurisdifction • . Act,' ''.using any subtle craft, means, or.de- - ,■ vice,-by palmistry> or otherwise,, to decciVo; •, • and. impose on Hid' Majesty's l subjects." r , iirst: witness was Jlrs. M'Bride, police matron, who stated that she went to Mrs: :" : Stewart Scott's' house to, have her. 1 fortune told'her l sho.iwasVjgoirig/ori'a'' ' journey a. friend of hers would meet with ; • . an accident by : machinery; although she her- ... , . • fielfi.would,be, lucky, she was tobewaro.of a - dark friend. ; Tho charge for' these - progiiostications was 2s. 3d. .:; i't v ; I - Mr. Donnelly . AYill you bewaro of tho darkman? .'. Witness:, Certainly I shall. ■>■!*.■ , \ Mr.-Donnelly:- The -woman itold you you " . would communioate -with spirits?-, 'Witness Yes » ■;';■ v';.l ? !/ in 'reply;; .to;: a not n er.'qu ost ion, '.witness. stated * that!she t-houghfa she.could-start,in the busi- • ' : ness,',*!but 's]ie preferred hard; work. ■ " I , • . haven't had: a try yet," isho remarked. ■■■• •' Mr. Donnnlly :,-Do you mean to say a police .. i : ■ rtatrort-j]'? ir; experience believes m this ■■ 1 .A.-- .vi:'-''-Y?v';;.vN! VJr i>.hy shouldn't a police. matron b lit ■» Mr, Vrjunelly: Have you consulted fortunetellers before? .. ... . ;Withcss:*-Ycs:--' ' • " •. Wr.i.Donnelly ; thought you > would' be. ■ Able to find, out' something for the police ?■•. . ■ > ' Alargaret .'Bryenton ,stated . that j: sho .Jiad "/ccompanied Mrs. M'Bride.- Mrs. Scott told ,er -that her husband was a:ifa'ir< man and • ~ .oilld soon die, and sho would marrv a rtark (Nothing /ofwhat :;she;^had^l)cerf ; : Cold . ' . id>yet.conie.triic v She. was.'clmrged 25.■3d.• '■ ', >■ To Mr.'Donnelly : Sho had been to fortune- ' toilers. heforo. Sho-had been ,to four or five •^•••^ , cards', and then : ! resorted to.Spiritualism. ' :* v ■*' Donnelly! contended that if ■ the charge , could -bo maintained-. at a 11,.; it' .should have teen ltud/iiridor Section 49, which dealt with ► pretending ,to-escrci3o or iuso any' land of, • ,v..tchcraft, sorcery, eiichantmont, or. con jura-, 'tif.n, .or, undertaking to. tell fortunes, or' pro- . U iding, from .skill 'or knowledge in any ' i cult :oraff -or .spienco whero and manner :ahy 'goods" or ' ohattels supr posed to havo -heon; stolen br lost may : bo found. < charge. was one of ■ , subtle: craft withintent to imposo onV His ~ Majesty's" ''subjects',' ■ thero "had,; ho said, been no subtlety; exercised,' : . x r. Tho Bencl* said that 'sufiicient had been Bhpwn.'i to !prove: that -the' present '".. charge'■ could hot bo maintained, ancl the case would • bo-dismissed. . '■ Further. , charged .against seven other women were accordingly withdrawn. ...,,