Cups Read in Tearooms

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 15

Cups Read in Tearooms

CHARGE OF FORTUNE-TELLING. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night, As a result of a visit by a police matron and her assistant to the Tavern Tearooms, Queen street, on the afternoon of January 22, a married woman, Ellen Neary Alurray, xippeared in the Police Court charged with fortune-tell-ing. A charge of aiding and abetting offence was preferred against the proprietress of the tearooms, Airs Winifred Ethel Matthew. Tho police matron, in evidence, said that, when she and an assistantmatron went to tho tearooms for afternoon tea on January 22, she saw Mrs Alurray going round the tables reading cups. Eventually she came to witness’ table and took witness’ cup. “She said I would havo some very pleasant news at 9 o’clock that night,” said witness. ‘‘l would also get some money from a will and there would be a complete change in my circumstances in Alarch, and there -would be a further change at tho end of tho year.” Witness said sho paid a shilling for afternoon tea and there was no extra charge for the cup-reading. Mr Purdie (for defendants): When you got your cup read, were you in a receptive stato of mind and were you going to believe what you heard? Witness: Hardly. In answer to a further question, witness said that Airs Alurray seemed to bo quite serious when she was speaking. The assistant-matron said Mrs Alurray told her that she -would receive £l2 10s on February 13. Sub-Inspector Fox: Did you? Witness: I am afraid not. Continuing, the witness said sho was told sho would have a complete change of occupation by the end of tho year and that something pleasant was going to happen that evening. On February 19 witness accompanied a police sergeant to the tearooms and pointed out Airs Alurray, who was cup-reading. Air Purdie: When you had your cup read, did you believe what you were told? Witness: I never do. Witness added that, on her first visit to the tearooms, she had not noticed a sign above the cash desk stating that cup-reading was done for entertainment only. After evidence was given by tlis Sergeant who visited the rooms, Air P K. Hunt, S.AL, adjourned the case.