FORTUNE TELLING

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1936, Page 5

FORTUNE TELLING

A “MAGNETIC” MAN In Touch with Spirits I FINED £3O AND WARNED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. June p). Stated to have been convicted and fined £159 >in 1916 for false pretences in connection with herbs, Joseph Isherwood, aged titty, who recently came back to New Zealand, and who was described as a magne.ic healer and hcrbalisi. was fined £3O to-day on fortune-telling charges. The Magistrate. warned him to confine himself to lecturing, and to keep within the law. for if he were convicted again he would be gaoled. Detec.. ive-«ergeant Revell, giving evidence, said the accused came to New’ Zealand in January, 1936. He advertised hi s presence by notices in newspapers, and he engaged a suite of rooms. He had conducted semiprivate and private meetings, and had also been holding public meetings in various parts of the city. On -he night of May 31, DetectiveSergeant Revell Said, he attended a lecture given by the accused. Thcic we: e between 299 and 399 persons present. The accused informed the audience that he was in direct communication with spirits, who would deliver a lecture through him. He then went into a. trance, and he delivered a lecture on “The Beyond.’’ Admission by means of a collection at. the door, which was attended to by accused’s lady secretary. During t’he evening, said witness, the accused answered numerous ques,ions, some being about re'atives who had died. He would explain that he Wtus in touch with the deceased, who wa s sending" a reply to the message, and he invariably gave the reply m a suitable verse of poetry. Qude a number of questions weie aski d people who wanted to know whether certain business ventures would be successful or not, or about a proposed purchase of property, lu each case, Im told them what he thought, about the propositions. lie aiso advised set eral people to see him privately , The accused, said witness, had told him that, only opinions were expressed, but from lijs own observations, witness was satisfied that every question answered on the night of ALiy 3 . with the exception of those relating to deceased persons, tunoiiii.nl to loretelling future events. Addressing the Court, Detective Sergeant Revell said that, in view ot complaints made to the Police DepartmeiH, arrangements had been made ioi a number of members of 'he T ||lL 'e t> visit the rooms of the accused the accused held himself out. as a. herbalist, and he had issued a notice with the following statement in it: J-L-herwood. Herbalist. specialises _ in he tieatment of asthma, rheumatism, insomnia, piles, nervous debility, anaemia, kidney and stomach troub e. ana feminine weaknesses. Over 101 < ferent herbs in stock. Special herbs for rejuvenation from India. In out case-, at least, of persons going to see him. an objectionable feature had been that he had handled them as only a. medical practitioner was entitled He had charged private yis-tois D> fid. and 3s and 2s fid ami 2s lot scimprivate parties, x Counsel for th e accused said thM the accused pleaded guilty to h - charges. He had been carrying on m a similar manner m other eoiintii .-. and. so far as his lectures were co y ceriied, they had been considered unobiee.tollable. . The Alagistrate said that men the stamp of the. accused had a gieat influence with the female sex ami tie community hud to be protected fu> ’ '.heir impositions. A fine would be inflicted—£39— that would make, the ay cus(; d remember that he must keep within the bounds of the law.