A MEDIUM’S BELIEFS

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 11

A MEDIUM’S BELIEFS

“HO RIGHT TO LAUGH AT THEM" Horoscopes and seances were discussed in tho King’s Bench Division during the hearing of an action in which the plaintiff was a spiritualist medium. Summing up, Mr Justice Humphreys said the view that certain stars were favourable to some persons and not to others might be true or nonsense, and one had no right to laugh at the belief in power to communicate with those who had passed to another sphere. Mrs Florence May Perriman, Holmdale road, West Hampstead, sued Mr Frederick Percy, Binns road, Chiswick, taxicab owner and driver, and Mr Joseph Guy Enoch, Dutch House, Raglan Gardens, Wembley Park, claiming damages in respect of injuries received in an accident at West Hampstead in May, 1930., Mr Enoch was the, driver of a car which collided with the taxi in which Airs Perriman was riding. Both Mr Percy and Mr Enoch denied negligence. The jury awarded Mrs Perriman £lO6 10s damages against Mr Percy, His Lordship entered judgment accordinglywith costs, and for Mr Enoch with costs against Mr Percy. Air Malcolm Hilbery, K.C., for Mrs Perriman, said that on the night of the accident plaintiff had been working in London. In the accident she suffered dislocation of a thumb, injuries to the face, hands, and shoulder, and a broken cartilege of the nose. Plaintiff, giving evidence, said that she had attended an 11 at homo ” at Albert Hall Mansions, and was returning home in a taxi when the accident occurred. She earned an average of £lO a week as a spiritualist medium. She had many seances booked, but could not carry them out owing to her injuries. Sergeant Sullivan, K.C. (for Mr Percy): What do you do when a client comes in?—lt depends. Usually there is more than one client. I hold seances. That means that a number of people come in tho same way as they; would go to a church. Spiritualism is my religion as well as my living. When they come in what happens? —We sit down and have a prayer and an invocation. Then wo continue the singing. Probably a voice comes over from the other side, and we get a sermon or help for people so far as their health is concerned. Some other people will come in contact with those who have passed over. “ To me,” added plaintiff, “ the belief is absolute that these people had a communication, and that l am merely the receiver, as on a long-distance telephone which is just beyond the veil.” Counsel: Are clients told of things which are going to happen?—No, they are not. If there is any help that can be given to them as far as their health is concerned it is given. In. what way do they receive medical advice?- It anything is told them about their health I have nothing to do with it 1 simply tell them tho diagnosis I get. and toll them to go to a doctor. .1 do not profess to cure. PLAINTIFF AND HOROSCOPES, Airs Perriman said the fees she received varied. At a seance attended by, say, six people, she would -'ecoivo three guineas. On an average people paid about half a guinea each. She also gave astrological readings which referred to health or business. Mr Justice Humphreys; Do you give horoscopes?—Yes, I have done.

If a person came to you, you give a horoscope for him, and you are able to tell him whether it is wise to go out to-night or to-morrow? —No, I should not do that, I tell them whether they are suitable to go into some new business. Later, Mrs Perriman said; If I were able to foretell the future I should not be here to-day, because if I could have foretold the motor accident 1 should not have gone.” Asked to explain a horoscope, plaintiff said: “ People tell you their birthday, the day and the month, you get the rising sign, and then simply give them a reading on that.” Mr C. Doughty, K.C.: It seems very simple, but you cannot carry in your head the rising sign of each planet in the month in which they were born?— You can tell by the date which is given as to what the sign will be. Then people born at the same time must have the same character? —Yes, I am convinced of that. There is some sort of vintage in man the same as there is hi wine?—Yes. Mrs Perriman said it was possible to tell whether a young man was suitable to go in for law or medicine. “I am not a fortune teller,” retorted Mrs Perriman, to another question. She broke down and sobbed, and at the suggestion of the judge an usher assisted her from the witness box to the corridor outside the court. When plaintiff returned to the court she said that she had advertised as a trance and direct-voice medium. “ Everyone hears the voice,” she told the judge. Turning to Mr Doughty, she said: “They will hear your’s one day.” . . Mr Doughty (bowing): The inference is obvious madam.—(Laughter.)—l take it you hope it will be soon. Mrs Perriman agreed that she attended the Theatre Garden Party a few weeks after the accident, but explained: “I got out of bed to go. I went by taxi and kept my eyes shut all the way. I had ray arm in a sling, and was carried froni th© taxi to the place where the readings were to take place.” Mr Justice Humphreys said the law would not assist a person to recover loss in respect of an illegal business. There was no evidence, however, that plaintiff’s astrological investigations were only a form of fortune telling. With regard to her astrology, plaintiff called herself an entertainer, and that was what she was. It was said that certain stars were favourable to some persons crossing the sea, but not to others, who might be drowned. That might be true or it might be nonsense, but it was not illegal to investigate a subject. “ There are a great many people who believe that they have the power of communicating with persons who have passed into another sphere,” continued His Lordship. “I say in all seriousness that one has no right to laugh at people who hold these beliefs. They are held by people of the highest standing in this country—scientists and others. One must not make fun of people who believe these things. This lady honestly believes in them.”-