SALUTARY SENTENCES FOR NATUREPATHS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6665, 19 July 1928, Page 8

SALUTARY SENTENCES FOR NATUREPATHS

INSTITUTE ONLY A FEAUD AND A DECEPTION, SAYS MAGISTRATE. The well of tho Magistato’s Court, presented quite an animated appearance ycstciuay morning, when Frederick John Huddleston and John Berenston, the alleged druglcss healers, took tueir stana in the aock to receive tneir sentences from Mr. J. L. Stout S.M. . On Monday, after a hearing lasting practically tne whole day, Huddleston and Berenston Were adorned to bo rogues and vagaoonus within tne meaning of, tho Boiico extenders Act, 1027, in that,they imposed upon ouo Olive Ida Wilks by a certain raise represea tation, to wit by falsely stating that there was iu Australia au Australian Naturopathic Association, thereby obtaining tho sum of £2l 10s. Tho case is one which has aroused considerable interest in Palmerston North. Monday’s evidence brought to fight the fact that, although only one charge was brougnt against the two accused, they had been conducting au extensive business in the town as tho Natural Health Institute (Manawatu) Limited, with elaborate offices in 0. Smith’s buildings, Broadway, and treatment rooms in the Zealandia Hall. The accuseds’ second appearance to receive sentence was due to, the wish of the Magistrate to consult the report of the probation officer before imposing .punishment. Berenston’s Previous Record. Before sentence was pronounced, however, aceuseds’ counsel, Mr. J. Grant, asked leave to submit a few facts on their behalf. “These two men, Your Worship,’ said Mr. Grant, “have been found guilty of an offence under tho Police Offences-Act. It is difficult to make a comparison . between them but I would like to say, in connection with Berenston; ‘that ho apparently _ came into the concern, not knowing its exact nature, and that ho was mislead as to the existence of the man, ‘Lowbatchcwsky,. ” “When he discovered that ‘Lowbatqhewsky’ was Huddleston, ho insisted that the name bo dropped. Berenston is a Norwegian by birth and has some extremely good references.: He was for some time in Hong-kong with a Norwegian shipping firm, from whom he received good testimonials. After that he went to Shanghai whore he was with the Customs Department and acted as secretary to the Norwegian Consul there. He has, he said, travelled in China but not with ‘Lowbatcheiysky’. - After leaving Shanghai, where he obtained a letter from the Governor commending his work in connection with a strike, Berenston went to Borneo and thcnco to Sydney. Leaving Australia he came to New Zealand; whore he had a position with a well-known electrical firm. Later he joined the man ho knew as ‘Lowbatchewsky’, purely and' simply iu the capacity of salesman. Purely A Salesman.

“When ho discovered that 'Lowbatehewsky’ did not exist he insisted upon that namo being dropped, and went into partnership with Huddleston, his part in the firm being purely that of a salesman. Berenston married in New Zealand about IS months ago, and his wife is now living in Palmerston North. He has one child, an infant, about two months old. I suggest, sir, that his former excellent career be taken into account and that only a nominal penalty be imposed. He has had no previous convictions and has a good record. Further, I would like to point out that he was not aware of the non-existence of the Australian Naturopathic Association, nor was he present at the meeting supposed to form that association.’’ v Misdirected Ability. “As far as Huddleston is concerned, he is only a young man, and has also had no previous convictions. Ho was born, in Australia but has been in New Zealand since he was two years old, and indeed, I believe, went to school in Peilding some years ago. ’ He undoubtedly has ability, but in this ease it was misdirected.’’ A Fraud and A Deception. “Huddleston seems to me undoubtedly to have been the ringleader,” said His Worship “and to a certain extent ho duped Berenston, at least at first. - '

“You, Huddleston, know this institute could not benefit the public, as you knew that it was only a fraud and a deception. It is quite possible that if your Institute had gone on there might have been many deaths at your door. You have no qualifications or training or indeed anything to benefit your fellow man. As far as I can see there is nothing to be said for you at all. You deliberately set oat> to defraud the public. You arc not qualified to teach them anything because you do not know anything yourself. You have started very young, indeed tho report before met suggests that you defrauded a man in Nelson and bolted some time back. You will be sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding 18 months. Six Months For Berenston. “As far as you arc concerned, Berenston,” His Worship concluded, “up till the time you came in contact with this man you had been leading a useful life in various parts of tho world. However, you did not withdraw from this institute when you discovered that it was a fraud. You also wrote letters which you know to bo untrue and aided in defrauding Miss Willis. It does not seem to be a case in which you can bo given probation, I am afraid. You will bo sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding sis mouths.” THE WORLD KNOWS LITTLE OF ITS GREATEST MEN. In view of tho sudden eclipse of the “famous” Lowbatchewsky, the following panegyric which constitutes the introduction to a pamphlet scattered

broadcast by Huddleston when ho first started in Palmerston North, is interesting—and instructive. Who is Lowbatchewsky. Bernard Lowbatchewsky was born in Russia in 1882, being a grandson of the famous mathematician of the same name, to whom Einstein owes his information of Non-Euclidian Geometry, the mathematical basis of the theory of relativity. “After a brilliant career, the younger Lowbatchewsky emigrated to America at the ago of twenty-six. At this time and for some- years afterwards he carried on many researches in various branches of science. At the ago of 32 he turned his attention to pathological physiology, and made many interesting discoveries that were however, condemned by the orthodox medical profession. Immediately upon encountering this unfair opposition, brought about by convention and moral cowardice he turned his vast scientific knowledge to the treatment of disease. _ He readily let himself in with the principles sp/nsored by Dr. Bcnidict Lust, Dr. Kcllog and Bernard McFadden. From that day to the present he has experienced nothing but success with every case coming under his care. “Perhaps not one part of the civilised world remains that Lowbatchewsky has not practised in. His adaptability of rapidly acquiring new languages, a gift found as a rule in few scientific men, readily paved a. way for him in any foreign country he found himself.. His many writings have been printed in a varied and heterogeneous assortment of languages. We trust that the few years he spends in Australasia will be as rich in new developments as the previous years of his life.”