FORTUNE TELLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 August 1927, Page 7

FORTUNE TELLING

THE NAPIER CASES ACCUSED FINED. The case was concluded in the Napier Magistrate’s Court yesterday in which Catherine Brown was charged with fortune-telling, and James E. Willoughby with aiding and abetting the offence. The accused pleaded not guilty. Continuing in the afternoon evidence as follows was given. Sergeant Quayle stated that in companv with Constable Howell he visited Mrs Brown and informed her who he was. The policemen were kept waiting for some ten minutes before Willoughbv came into the room to ask what was the matter, and on being informed that the police had certain evidence as to telling fortunes. Willoughby brought in Mrs Brown. On the witness questioning Mrs Brown. Willoughby stated that he was responsible for anything Mrs Brown did. as she was empldyed by him. When asked hy the witness. Willoughbv stated that Mrs Brown was not to charge but was to accept donations, which, he said, ranged from fid to 5/-. To Mr Hallett: Witness admitted that Willoughby contended he had done nothing wrong. CASE FOR DEFENCE. For the defence Mr. Hallett stated that it was a question of the meaning of telling, the future and he quoted English and New Zealand cases. The defence would be that Mrs Brown at no time had professed to tell the future. She is what is called a trancemedium and would contend that when the interviews were made she would he in a trance. As regards Willoughby, he would endeavour to show that he had nothing whatever to do with the alleged fortune-telling.

NEVER BEFORE PROSECUTED. James Willoughby, the defendant, elected to go into the witness-box and stated that he was a minister of the Oosmon Faithist Church. Mrs Brown was a co-subordinate in his work. She accepted donations for giving spiritual uplift and never to witness’s knowledge had she told fortunes. All the donations went to Mrs Brown who paid for the room. He had been in New Zealand two years and five months, and during that time no police proceedings had been taken against him. Mrs Brown had been with him a little over a year. He had not been to the South Island. Witness met Mrs Brown at Auckland and she helped in the social work of the church. Witness denied that he knew what was said and done by Mrs Brown at the interviews Witness was a healer and had healed many since he had been in Napier. 'The church paid him no salary and he existed on the donations of the public. Senior-Sergeant Powell: How long has this church been in existence? ■Witness: Over 78.000 years. The Sergeant (with a smile); That goes a long way back A TRANCE MEDIUM. Mrs Brown in the witness-box stated she was a spiritual medium and her readings were mainly on health. Sometimes she went into a semi-conscious state and had no recollections of what she might have said when in that state. She denied that Willoughby took part in her readings at the house. She helped him on Sunday evening as a social worker but had nothing to do with his healing or work at the house. She paid her own expenses, and -e--ceived no wages from 'Willoughby. To the Sergeant witness stated that her husband and four daughters were in Dunedin, and that it was their wish that witness carry on with social uplift work. She had been doing it for over 30 years. Witness could not tell His Worship what it was that released her from the trance. Ethel Kate Graham gave evidence to the effect that the accused rented rooms from her. Each of the accused paid his or her rent. Mrs Brown did not have many visitors to receive, what witness nnoerstood to be spiritual guidance. Tn his summing-up His Worship contended that it was perfectly plain to him that Mrs Brown did tell the future. As regards ’Willoughby His Worship contended that the accused was o-niltv of aiding mid abetting. Both the accused were convicted on nil charges. Mrs Brown being fined C 3 and costs 10/- on one charge and dismissed mi the other. Willoughbv was fined £? and costs 10/- on one charge and discharged on the other.