MEGAPHONE AT SEANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22195, 25 November 1935, Page 18

MEGAPHONE AT SEANCE

■ «- WHAT TORCH REVEALED MEDIUM FINED £6. A man told the Whitley Bay, Northumberland, magistrates that he went to a seance and, flashing an electric torch in the darkness, saw th? medium with a megaphone to his lips John Hope, Whitley road, Whitley Bay, was lined £2 on each of three summonses alleging that he unlawfully obtained by false pretences 6d from Joseph Gibson Honsby, Alice street, South Shield!*, on three different occasions with intent to defraud.

Mr Donald Harvey, prosecuting, described Hope as a bogus spirituafisi medium, and said that he had been carrying on in Whitley Bay what Hope himself termed “direct voice spiritualist seances.” Mr Harvey submitted that they were actually for the purpose of defrauding people of money. Joseph Gibson Honsby, giving evidence, said he had been a spiritualist for 18 years. When he first visted Hope’s place in Whitley Bay he saw a notice outside reading, “ Christum Spiritualist Mission.”

Accompanied by friends, he went upstairs on July 20, and following the example of other people sat at a table and put his hands on the top. A plate was passed round and he contributed 6d. The room was then plunged in darkness.

He also attended seances at Hope’s room on July 22 and 27. On the third occasion 'the same procedure took place ns at the two previous meetings and communications were received from voices.

During the seance hq flashed an electric torch and saw Hope with a megaphone to his lips with a black cloth draped over it. When the lights were turned up, Rope said; “I have been expecting this during the whole of the proceedings.” The voices heard in the room had the same accent as that of Hope. in answer to defendant, Honsby agreed that he received his 6d back at the close of the third seance.

Hope, in the witness box, said he had been a spiritualist for 3G years. He was unaware that he was holding a megaphone when Honsby switched on the hash lamp He must have been in a semi-trance. No charge was made lor admission, and the only money received was voluntarily contributed.