FORTUNE SELLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 146, 17 December 1937, Page 10

FORTUNE SELLING

FINE IMPOSED

VISITS TO CITY OFFICE

MAN FOUND GUILTY

"The charlatan fortune-teller today Sourishes more than the astrologer of the Middle Ages, though fortunately he exercises a much less serious influence," said Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today, in fining Arthur Hill, who pleaded not guilty to undertaking to tell fortunes on December 15.

Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle conductad the prosecution.

Mrs. S. Thomasson, assistant police matron, said that she visited the deLendant at his office in Lambton Quay on December 15 as the result of an appointment. She was admitted by he defendant. In the room were two -hairs,' a table, and a screen. He isked her for her full name, and emohasised the necessity of spelling it ro.rrectly. He worked out certain figires for about .ten minutes. .The deandant then said that a definite hange had come over her life at 22. Ie then asked her if she had married t 29, and she replied no. The defendnt asked her if she had come into ; loney then, and she said she had an ilowance. Witness replied yes when is defendant asked her if she had \d a proposal of marriage in 1931. This as not correct. When asked if she ss foolishly contemplating marriage ■din, she said that that was what she i there for. MARRIAGE FORETOLD. j ie told her she .would be married in ,8. It could be January 6if .hur-,-d up a little. It would be advisable 3t to marry, as in May the husband ould tire of the restrictions of the ome, and would definitely leave her n July. Between July, 1938, and 'ebruary, 1939, he would be killed, aaving her a widow again. She had deviously told him she was a widow, when he told her that the figures did lot work out with the name Thomasson. ■ ■ . ■

He told her that she had had to go to work because her husband was not fit to work or had not the inclination. She then told him her husband was dead, and he replied: "Then there's the reason. He's unfit to work." He advised her not to marry, and bet her 5s that she would not take his advice. He- asked her for the name of her gentleman friend,. and she gave the | first name that came into her head. Then he worked out the name with figures to ascertain whether the man was suitable. This being done, he advised her not to marry. She gave him ss, and he handed her a paper (pro--luced) on which he had made the nlculations. ■ • ■ . Cross-examined, by the defendant, tness said that the defendant worked n the figures for ten minutes. He ien asked her about a, change in her fe at 22. The interview lasted aliost an hour. She had no reasons >r going there apart from her duties assistant matron. The Magistrate: It is quite apparit that-'she went there in response *'instructions^ ■which she carried, out. The defendant: And quite well, too. A DETECTIVE'S CHARACTER. Detective B. C. Browne said that at 30 a.m. on December 15 he went to room at 248-Lambton Quay. He was dmitted by the' defendant and sat own opposite him. The defendant wk down witness's name, made some -ilculations, then took down the date f witness's birthday. He then put own the. various months, starting at le birth month. The defendant then told witness that c was honest, had a keen analytical lind, was a keen thinker, and did not io manual work, but worked with the aind. He then - said: "Your occupaion brings you into contact with the jublic a. great deal." Witness said hat that was correct, and asked if he numbers had anything to say regarding his changing his occupation. The defendant asked the name of the jccupation witness was ■ considering aking up. On being told salesmanship, he made calculations, and advised against it. .

On being asked what the numbers said about .marriage, he asked if the witness was single. He then ■ said that the numbers told him that the witness would be married by the age of 34. He asked if witness was interested in a tall dark girl, and witness replied, "Yes." The.defendant then said: "The numbers tell me you will be married by December, 1938." Before telling witness this, he said: "I will advise you to remain single, but you will probably not take my advice." He went an that disruptive influences would be it work in witness's life for. five years, "rom the date of marriage, and that, he would have to be careful. He said hat there might be' a serious illness.

When the interview terminated, wit-, less tendered 2s 6d, which was all,the noney he had-in his possession. He Promised' the defendant to give him he other .2s 6d later. He kept this, •romise in court this morning. The nterView lasted over an hour. QUESTION OF OBSERVATION. Cross-examined, witness said that here was also an armchair in the room. He could not say about the windows.

The defendant: Your- observation is not very keen. I should have mentioned that in niy reading.

The Magistrate: Did the figures tell you that?

The defendant: Are you interested in a tall, dark girl?

Witness: My wife happens to be tall and dark; ■

The defendant: So this evidence you give took, up all the time of the interview. ;

Witness: You talked a. lot of meaningless nonsense besides.

The defendant Yes, I quite agree with you.; It was probably brought about by the company I was keeping.

Witness said ne went with an open mind, but for the purpose of seeing what- was going on. He appreciated going.. The defendant certainly advised against -his going in for salesmanship. It might have been because of witness's honesty of purpose clashng with the technique required to sell in .article. The defendant spoke for •ome time, and witness gained the imoression that he was on a fishing expedition.

The defendant: All the world is on a fishing expedition.

The Magistrate: Fishing expeditions are usually associated with tall stories.

The defendant: I hope you were not referring to :me, sir.

Constable F. Thompson said that on Wednesday afternoon he went, with Detective-Sergeant Doyle and interviewed the defendant. The defendant's -aply when told-of the object of the visit was, "Oh, so soon?" He said he would call at the detective office the following morning, and did so. DEFENDANT IN BOX. After taking the oath by affirmation, the defendant said that the' witnesses went to his room with the intention of ascertaining whether he was genuine. He submitted that the evidence was pre-arranged, and that there was no evidence other, than that given by people who.-:had-started put with the thought of trapping him;;-He had come to the conclusion long ago that