PAST AND FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 222, 15 June 1932, Page 10

PAST AND FUTURE

Indian Visitor Fined for Fortune-telling CONSTABLE’S VISITS Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, June 14. Many interesting things about their future were learned by two young constables from Swami Godalphas who, with Makam Singh, another native of India, has been conspicuous about the streets of Christchurch lately. To-day Godalphas appeared in the Magistrate s Court and was fined £3 and costs on each of two charges of undertaking to tell fortunes. Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., presided. Senior-Sergeant Fox said accused with his friend Makam Singh arrived in New Zealand from Suva in January and had been in Christchurch for about a month. They had in their possession testimonials from highlyplaced persons outside New, Zealand and from several well-known persons in Wellington. They were avowed theosophists and were considerably skilled in the telling of matters concerning the past, present and future. Senior-Sergeant Fox went on to say that they visited the police station. The Magistrate: Did they get anything there? . The Senior-Sergeant: That is one of the places where it is fairly difficult The Senior-Sergeant said the pair took a house, and it was there the two young constables visited one of them and had their futures told. Constable Hart described his visits to the house. For some time theosophy was discussed, and accused made reference to some secret power he possessed. Witness said he was told several things which were true. In 1940 he was to become very rich. Before witness was allowed to go accused slipped a piece of paper into his hand and asked for a donation to “the mission.” Witness wrote 5/- on the paper, but accused said: “Five shilling no good; ten is your lucky number with God.” The constable paid his 10/- and left.

Constable Stewart said he was told the names of two girls who were supposed to be very fond of him. The Magistrate: Two of them?— “Yes.”

Senior-Sergeant Fox: Did you admit it? —“I did and I didn’t.” Witness was asked for a donation for “the mission to God,” and he wrote 4/- on a piece of paper. “That is your unlucky number,” said accused; so under the 4/- witness wrote 5/-. Accused added the two together, and exclaimed: “What! You give me 9/-!” But witness said he could not afford 9/-. Accused then said he usually got 20/-, so witness informed him he would get £1 in 1936, his lucky year. Witness paid 5/- and left. Accused in evidence said he was a member of the Brahmin Mission and travelled to discuss the Yogi religion. To the magistrate accused said he had not sent any money to his mission from New Zealand. A. R. Galbraith, city engineer, said he had spoken to the two men several times. They had told him a lot about his past life, and so far as he knew they had not made a mistake. He was satisfied that they were genuine in their beliefs. “I will admit they have the ability to read the minds of their subjects and get an answer to a question,” said the magistrate, “but I know it to be a fact from my own experience that as regards the future it is a different thing; I don’t think any man can foretell the future.” The magistrate said the testimonials were not worth anything, and added that men of high positions should be more careful in giving such references, which might be used for an. ulterior motive. Accused would be fined £3 and costs on each charge.