A SPIRIT MEALING FRAUD. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 157, 31 December 1898, Page 2

A SPIRIT MEALING FRAUD. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

A great amount of interest was sliowi in a prosecution in the Fitzroy (Melbourne) Court against a supposed spiritualistic medium, a young man named Charles Bailey. Mr. Gurner, Crown Law Department, prosecuted, and Mr. J. M'Keir defended. The information set forth that defcnda 1' "unlawfully, knowingly, and designedly and falsely" pretended that he was a me dium, and capable of so controlling trim self that his body for the time being be came possessed of the spirit of one Dr. Whitcombe, a medical man, who, through the mediumship of the body of defendant diagnosed the bodily ailments of person? resorting to him for relief, and* treated sucl> persons upon payment of a fee, " by mean? of which said false pretences <the said Charles Bailey did then attempt to unlawfully obtain from his informant certain money, that is to say the sum of one shilling and upwards, whereas in truth and in fact the said Charles Bailey was not a medium or capable of so controlling or conducting himself that his body for the time being became possessed or controlled by the spirit of Dr. Whitcombe, or any other spirit." Mr. M'Kean urged that there was no law in this colony to deal with the case. Chief Justice Cookburn decided in England "that if a defendant honestly believed he could produce spirits he was not guilty." In Melbourne there were many very reputable men, some holding high positions, who strongly believed in spiritualism. The defendant, to save time and trouble, would plead guilty if the charge were amended so that the court could deal with it. Mr. Gurner replied that he was prepared to meet this proposal. He would have the information amended ; the charge would thus be one of endeavouring to impose by false representation. It was the first case of the k;nd in the colony. Detective M'Manamny deposed that he sent a man named Alfred Cummins to No. 391, Gertrude-street, Fitzroy, kept by Mr. Greig, with instructions to consult defendant as a spirit medium. He returned to witness later with a bottle containing a mixture, dud 6s. change out of 10s. which had been given him. Witness himself called on Sunday evening, 4th December, and was informed that a soance was about to commence, but, as the room was already full, he could not be admitted. ' Upon big expressing his disappointment, and stating that he expected to hear something' respecting an ailment, defendant said : "Well, we might be able to make room for you," and took him to a room behind the shop, where there were about 20 persons, men and women, and a little child. Proceedings were opened with a hymn, "In the Sweet Bye and Bye." Witness continued — I felt the woman sitting next to me running her hand over me, and as the lights were turned very .low at the time 1 didn't know what to make of it. (Laughter.) It was a. new experience to me. She tickled me. (Loud langhter.) Then som& spirits were announced. ' They talked in guttural tones. The spirit of the Rev. Mr. Woods, I think, came and spoke for half an hour. Then Mr. Ramsay Chalmers appeared on the scene, and in the midst of nis speaking on " physical phenomena," a cockatoo in the shop began to shriek, and the spirit very politely waited till the bird had its innings, and then resumed his conversation. He was next interrupted by a clock striking 8, and the spirit held its tongue until that noise ceased. It wasn't going to waste its words. (Laughter.) After a while, there was a rattle of crockery. . Things became rather creepy. We were going to see spirits. But the plate was passed round for a collection. (Laughter.) I put in Is, and when I saw that the others only put in 6d each, I felt I had gone too far with the Crown's money. But a woman near me reached over and put in ss, I think. I was taken into a bedroom upstairs to consult Dr. Whitcombe. The room was in total darkness. I pretended to be lame. The defendant sniffed two or three times, had the shivers all through him, and, then, in a hollow voice, "the doctor began to talk to mo through the defendant. He asked me what I felt like, and if I had shooting pains. I answered, "\es, but I suffer. from stiffness sometimes." I said that about eight months before I hurt my thigh. He said, " Yes, the sinews are bruised deep in." I said I was afraid I would have a short leg, and he replied, "It is awkward ; lam afraid so myself; but I have made some great cures. One was a lad/ who was going ta

be operated on by the doctor for 20 guineas. If you are very careful, and attend to me, it will be right. You must have confidence in me." The fee was 2s 6d. - The spirit observed, " The medium cannot live on air." When the medium came round he asked if I had seen the doctor. I said, " Yes," and he remarked, " Ah, yes ; here is the prescription and fee, "both of irhich he put in his pocket. When -witness called next day, according to instructions, he received some herbs, upon the cover of which was written " Fomentation " (sic). Later witness appeared with a warrant, and, after referring to his own case, said, " That man you said suffered r from sweats was sent to you by me." Defendant admitted that he went to a chemist for the physic. Mr. M'Kean — Do you not think it was wrong to practice such deception on defendant? Witness — But if lie had the power he pretended to have he ought to have been able to see through it and known me, and instead of his humbug he should have fcfud, " You are Detective M'Manamny ; get thee out of this." (Laughter.) Mr. M'Kean asked that only a nominal penalty should be imposed. Defendant believed in his own power. Defendant wt<s of a nervous temperament, and could be worked upon by hypnotic or mesmeric influences. A fine of £5, with 4 guineas costs, in default three months' imprisonment, was imposed. Mr. M'Kean ased that the fine might be reduced. The Chairman — We have dealt leniently The public must be protected. The money was paid by a friend of defendant.