Spiritualists in Slander Suit

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 182, 3 August 1937, Page 8

Spiritualists in Slander Suit

•‘GOOD AND SINCERE” Fr.IEND TO PAY id. Damages of ono farthing without costs wero awarded to a spiritualist medium who brought a slander action in the High Court, London, against a former friend, also a spiritualist. Airs Irene Gladys Edouin, of Westbourne gardens, Bayswater, who carried on a spiritualist centre at Lorn road, Brixton, S.W., sued Airs Hilda Bartlett, of Teville road, Worthing, alleging Mrs Bartlett had said Airs Edouin was not married to the man with whom she lived. Mrs Bartlett denied speaking the words complained of. For Airs Edouin, Mr F. H. Lawton said that in 1923 she married Air Frederick Edwin Gummerson, who for a long time had been known as Air Edoulin. In 1934 Air and Mrs Edouin established a centre, the Gateway, at Drixtou. Mrs Bartlett joined this circle. Air Edouin was divorced from his former wife, who was on comparatively friendly terms with Airs Edouin, whose “circle” she, too, attended. Airs Bartlett provided £lO towards the furnishing of the circle, and later lent Mrs Edouin £25. In 1934 a Aliss Ethel Harris was introduced to the circle by Airs Bartlett, who travelled with her from Brighton. Airs Edouin alleged that on one of those train journeys Airs Bartlett said, in effect, t 0 Aliss Harris that Air and Mrs Edouin were not married. Another person interested in spiritualism was a Mr Dalgeisli. 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 Delgleisli was there. Asa result of the conversations they had they saw a Mrs Theodora Ahmed. Airs 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. Airs Edouin’s solicitors wrote enclosing a cheque in settlement of the debt and asking for an unqualified apology. In evidence Airs Edouin said she had looked upon Airs Bartlett as a “good and sincere friend.” Air John Gordon Dalgleish, of Aibionterrace, Horsham, said that just before Christmas, 1934, Airs Bartlett was taking some toys to be given to a poor children’s party, arranged by Mrs Edouin, and Airs Bartlett said: “They call themselves Air and Mr 3 Edouin, but they are not married. His real wife sits in the circle with them.” Cross-examined, Air Delgleish agreed that on October 7, 3935, when Airs Bartlett was ill, ho wrote her a letter in which ho stated: “Don’t bo sore with me, sister. I look forward to a cake-walk with you on Victoria platform before very long.” The letter was signed 4 ‘Baggie.” The jury found the statement had been made to Aliss Harris and awarded one farthing damages. In regard to the other two alleged slanders they found for Airs Bartlett.