FORTUNE-TELLING

Evening Star, Issue 24016, 15 October 1941, Page 11

FORTUNE-TELLING

' BACKET ■' CROWS IN SYDNEY EASY LIVING FOR IMPOSTORS Police in Sydney are perturbed at the growth of fortune-telling, not only because it provides an easy living for many impostors, but also because of its effect on tho relatives of members of the forces serving abroad (says the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’). Women who have not heard from their menfolk overseas for some time fall an easy prey to tho fortune-tellers, the police say, and in some instances the “ news from the void ” lias caused deep distress. Detectives say that fortune-tellers have spread through Sydney “ like a plague.” Their charges are usually small—2s Gd is customary—but the number of thoir clients brings them hig sums. Inside the police locker of Sergeant A. G. Lcdwidgo, of Sydney’s " vice squad ” is a strange collection of odds and ends—crystals of all makes and sizes, with their accompanying pieces of black cloth; books and cards and charts on astrology, phrenology, numerology, and palmistry, special cups and packs of cards and letters—all because of the way in which they have been used are signs of what the police term one of the biggest swindling industries or “ rackets ” of modern times. These articles have been seized by the police, after prosecutions. BACK-STREET SHOPS. In the by-streets of the city, and in every suburb, detectives say, are a number of insignificant little shops serving “ special ” afternoon teas at prices which no afternoon tea could ever justify. Here the fortune-tellers aro often available, usually under some other name. There are, of course, cases in .which the “ special ” is merely some sort of entertainment, a psychology talk or a rather trivial duscussion on luck, without the pretence to tell fortunes in defiance of the law. Some women invite the fortune-tellers to their homes when giving parties to thoir friends. The fortune-teller always receives a “ fee.” A woman in Sydney iu 1940 had rooms in a large city building, and for 2s 6d was prepared to tell fortunes up to 1945. She had such a large clientele that she ,had to make an appointment a fortnight ahead. FIVE-YEAR FORECAST. After having looked at one client this woman was able to say:— “ You are in a good job. You will pick up good security and will start to express your life as you want to live it. You must try and not bo independent. You can let opportunity pass. “ Your friend is 100 per cent, suited to you. Ho is most practical and will shoulder responsibility. He is ideal, and tho companionship should bo lasting. He craves love and must have affection. You are a little cautious, and I would advise you to marry'this year. “From 1940 your tide is in and things are lasting. You will find you will liave no regrets. “ 1941 is your year for big events. You aro a perfect hostess, a wonderful mother, but a little too fussy. Try and ease up on this, for you have good intuition and must always follow first impressions. “ The wear 1942 will play a big part in your life. This could be through'an event, and you will go through without opposition. It will be a 100 per cent, year. Go into the lottery on any Friday and call your ticket ‘ Change or Luck.’ You will change your outlook on life, and this will be most cheerful and helpful. ~ lAri “ 1943, 1944, and 1945 are three 100 per cent, years. You are rising on your cycle up to 57 years, and will express your life. You are most romantic ana can live in a world of your own. lhat is why vour friend fits in so well, lour husband, being ruled by Scorpio, was too selfish and fell for too much flattery from the opposite sex. .Make up your mind and marry your mend. The fortune-teller did not know until later—that she had been talking to a policewoman. “TRANCE” FOR VISITORS. Another fortune-teller had rooms furnished like a church. She went into a “ trance ” for visitors, shivering and. making strange sounds. . . Her visitors were asked to bring a flower. As the visitor stood up, holding the flower, the fortune-teller interpreted the vibrations pt the flower. 1 This fortune-teller ' said to one visitor: — “I. see a prison and a man. He is giving somebody a sentence of six months. There will, be bad. news for you regarding a. missing friend. He won’t come back.. Another friend in the Air Force is going to crash, xou le going to be rich. You’ll give away £IOO and not miss it. 1 see a big, daik poUcemam sentence—the last—proved to he true. WOMEN MAIN OFFENDERS. Tho fortune-tellers are almost invariably women. As most of those detected "are first offenders, they have tho privilege of a closed court, and usually the sentence is a bond. Police emphasise that the ottence in such cases is the pretence of being able to tell fortunes. . „ , ' In tho Appeals Court in September, 1937, Judge Betts rejected an appeal by a man who had been convicted on a charge that at a. theatre in Sydney questions were written on a piece ol paper by a member of the audience, handed to the man’s father, who then obtained answers from the son. “ Any person who predicts any future event or happening in another person’s life,” said the judge, “ whatever may be Ids intention, does, in fact, pretend to do something which neither he nor anybody else can do. “ Tim offence created by the statute was not telling fortunes, but protending to tell them. The reason seemed obvious. If the statute made fortunetelling an offence it would be recognising the possibility of revealing future events in a person’s life. Anything, in the nature of pretending to tell fortunes, whether for mere amusement or not, whether there was intention to deceive or not, and whether anybody is deceived or not, is absolutely prohibited.”