TEA CUP READING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 August 1932, Page 11

TEA CUP READING

(PROSECUTIONS AT WELLINGTON MAGISTRATE’S RULING The display of notices to. the effect that l.ea: cup reading is tor fun and merriment, and that no alenipt is made to tell fortunes or the future, is not sufficient to protect tearoom proprietors 'from the acts that are subsequently performed by tea cup readers, according io tho decision of Mr E. Page, Y, . ’’ at the Magistrate’s Court at Yvellmgton yesterday. The Magistrate s ruling was the outcome of cases against Kathleen Buchanan, otherwise known as Madame Queen, who was charged with three offences of undertaking to tell fortunes at the Lyric Tearooms, and Tabacaru Andrews, who was charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of the offences. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, the defence/ being that there had been no undertaking to tell fortunes, and that Madame Queen had merely given interpretations of the signs in the cups. In support ol their argument, it was stated that notices had been prominently displayed in tho tearooms by the proprietor, Andrews, informing patrons that the tea cup reading was for fun, and that no attempt was made to tell the future. After hearing the evidence of two constables and a police matron who visited the Lyric Tearooms, and had their cups read by Madame Queen, the Magistrate said he was satisfied fortunes had been told by the usual tea cup reading nieIhods. He fined Andrews £3 and costs, and convicted and discharged the defendant Buchanan. Through her counsel. Alice Beale, otherwise known as Madame Glyn, pleaded guilty to two charges of undertaking to tell fortunes, and the proprietor of the “Quick Step In” Tearooms on Lambton quay, Alfred George Hanson. admitted two charges of aiding and abetting her. Counsel stated that the offence had been committed prior to the' recent prosecution, and since then the practice had been discontinued Hanson was fined £3 on the/ first charged and ordered to pay the costs, 10s, on the second. The female detendant was convicted and discharged