SPIRITUALISTS IN SLANDER SUIT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 August 1937, Page 8

SPIRITUALISTS IN SLANDER SUIT.

“GOOD AND SINCERE” FRIEND TO PAY id.

Damages of one farthing without costs were awarded to a spiritualist medium who brought a slander action in the High Court, London, against a former friend, also a spiritualist. Mrs Irene Gladys Edouin, of Westbourne gardens, Bayswater, who. carried on a spiritualist centre at Lorn road, Brixton, S.W., sued Mrs Hilda Bartlett, of Teville road, Worthing, alleging Mrs Bartlett had said Mrs Edouin was not married to the man with whom she. lived.

Mrs Bartlett denied speaking the-' words complained of. For Mrs Edouin, Mr F. H. Lawton said that in 1923 she married Mr Frederick Edwin Gummerson, wlio for a. long time had been known as Mr Edouin.

In 1934 Mr and Mrs Edouin established a centre, the Gateway, at BTixton. Mrs Bartlett joined this circle.-

Mr Edouin was divorced from his

former wife, who was on comparatively friendly terms with Mrs Edouin, whose “circle” she, too, attended. Mrs Bartlett provided £lO towards the furnishing of the circle, and later lent Mrs Edouin £25. In 1934 a Miss Ethel Harris was introduced to the circle by Mrs Bartlett, who travelled with her from Brighton. Mrs Edouin alleged that on one of those train journeys Mrs Bartlett said, in effect, to Miss Harris that Mr and Mrs Edouin were not married.

Another person interested in spiritualism was a Mr balgeish.

In 1935 Mrs Edouin noticed a falling, off of attendances at her circle.

About eighteen months later, when* they called on Miss, Harris in Brighton,. Mr belgleish was there. As a result of the conversations they had they saw a. Mrs Theodora Ahmed.

Mrs Bartlett denied having made the-, statements, and suggested that the allegations were made to avoid payment of the balance of the loan she had made. Mrs Edouin’s solicitors wrote enclosing a cheque in settlement of the debt and asking for an unqualified apology.

In evidence Mrs_ Edouin said she had looked upon Mrs Bartlett as a “good and sincere friend-”

Mr John Gordon Dalgleish, of Albionterrace, Horsham, said that just before Christmas’ 1934, Mrs Bartlett was taking some toys to be given to a poor children’s party, arranged; by Mrs Edouin, and Mrs Bartlett said-:

‘■‘They call themselves Mr and Mrs, Edouin, but they are not married. Hisreal wife sits in the circle- with them.”

Cross-examined, Mr Delgleish agreedthat on October 7, 1935; when Mrs Bartlett whs ill, he wrote her a letter in which he stated:

“Don’t be sore with me, sister. I. look forward to' a cake-walk with you pa Victoria platform before very long. ” The letter was signed “Daggie. ” The jury found -the statement had. been made to Miss Harris and awarded one farthing damages. In regard to the other two alleged slanders they found for Mrs Bartlett.