Fortune-Teller Not Wanted in N.Z.
CHRISTCHURCH, This Day,
An unusual case came before the Christchurch Magistrate Court when George Samuel Thomson, known as the Rev. G. S. Thomson, and as Professor Thomson, pleaded guilty to two charges of fortune telling. Wearing a clerical collar, and describing himself as a priest and metaphysician, Thomson said he was an accountant in Dunedin some years ago, and twice stood for Parliament 'there ;as an Independent. He said he was president of the anti-Conscrip-tion League, once, and went to gaol then because ho was unable to pay a fine of £SO. Ho left for Australia to start again, and in 193 G he was ordained, consecrated and annointed as a priest of the Liberal Catholic Church in Melbourne.
Horoscope Readings. Thomson w'as charged with having told the fortune" of Police Matron Ruby Anabel and Constable Cyril Gearge Gadsby. They gave evidence that he answered questions about their future, and offered to give them horoscope readings. Thomson told the Magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levvey, after the evidence had been heard, that he realised that he was liable to conviction on the statements of the witnesses, and said he w’as willing to undertake to stop his type of work, which he descibed as “hack” work. He complained that he had been prosecuted, whereas another man in the city was allowed to go free.
The magistrate told him that if he was willing to leave New Zealand no obstacle would be placed in his way. He said that provided Thomson left the country within say 30 days he would not be fined, but would be ordered to come up for sentence if called on within two years.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19380613.2.106
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 13 June 1938, Page 8
Word Count
280Fortune-Teller Not Wanted in N.Z. Northern Advocate, 13 June 1938, Page 8
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the Northern Advocate. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.