UNLUCKY THIRTEEN

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3446, 22 March 1932, Page 3

UNLUCKY THIRTEEN

STRANGE STORY OF FORTUNETELLING.

A strange story of fortune-telling was told to the Magistrates in the remote village of Llanfawel, Carmarthen, Wales, recently.

Lily Jones, aged 50, and Violet Jones, aged 22, mother and daughter, both of Merthyr Tydvil, were charged jointly with unlawfully pretending to tell fortunes. The mother admitted the charge, but the daughter pleaded not guilty, saying that she merely accompanied her mother. Evidence was given by a farmer, Morris Jones, of several visits paid to him and his wife by the women. Mrs. Jones told him that he had a relative abroad who was going to leave him a large sum of money. As it happened, he had an uncle who had emigrated some years ago. Witness said he was invited to do some crystal gazing. Mrs. Jones wrapped the crystal in a black cloth up which she sprinkled some salt. She uttered a prayer-like incantation. Gazing into the crystal he saw the words, "Overcome evil by good," and there was some other reading which he could not decipher.

Mrs. Jones explained that that was an indication that he would have difficulty in getting the money.

Looking again, the farmer saw the figures £SOO, and she assured him the money would come to him very soon,

but an evil spirit stood in the way, and a burned offering would have to be made.

At the woman's bidding the farmer produced a £1 note and a golden halfsovereign, which Mrs. Jones wrapped up with great ceremonial in the black cloth, which was laid on a plate, over which were drawn two strips of paper in the form of a cross. She lighted a match and set fire to the paper cross.

The farmer had afterwards to stand on the plate, which broke into thirteen pieces. When the woman left the farmer examined the burned offering, but could not find any trace of the money inside. Mrs. Jones was fined 30s. The case against the girl was dismissed on payment of costs.