MORE FORTUNE-TELLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16674, 19 October 1917, Page 7

MORE FORTUNE-TELLING

TWO WOMEN SENTENCED,

A PATRIOTIC ENGAGEMENT.

CRITICISM BY MAGISTRATE. Two moro r fortune-tellers were convicted by Mr. F. y.Frazer, S.M., at tho Police Court yesterday : arid sent to prison. ",> Madame Hyland,..tho first defendant, did ■ not appear, - but pleaded . guilty through Mr. Singer, who said his client was too ill to appear. ..Ho handed to the magistrate a work on astrology by a " professor of Universal Brotherhood." -. :. "';-

<Mr. Frazcr said the chart in tho book apparently started ,at the cradle-'and ended with the grave, while side tracks led to cramp; financial trouble led to divorce, and divorce led to despondency. Mr. Singer: That is not' my experience with divorce work. There must be something in it. .'■•,• '."'- '■-.'.'■ Mr. Frazer, turning to read tho report: Well, we'll seo what she made out of it. ' Mr. Singer: Two and sixpence. (Laughter.) :■;. ■ •< ..-.' \: . '-':. * .'• Tho report of Miss Campbell, assistant police matron, was to tho effect that she visited the defendant, who asked whether she wanted palmistry or clairvoyance, or both. Miss Campbell said "both." Madame then held the matron's hands, uid said she would live a long life; she was fond of flowers; Bhe would make a good nurse; and would have many admirers. She added that Miss Campbell would marry, be rich; and have seven children. "Looking at your hand one would say you are married aro you?" questioned the fortune-teller. Miss Campbell said "No." . . Wound in Little Finger. Madamo then told her to pick a nine from a pack of cards, and told her to wish. Sho said she would net her wish and get money, and that sho had a great admirer in a lawyer. (Laughter.) The defendant also told Miss- Campbell that her brother would return from the front wounded in the little finger.' Miss ' Campbell' paid 2s 6d and left. Mr. ! Frazer; There is a wonderful unanimity about tho fees. It is about the only. thing on which they agree. Mrs. Mackle, the police matron, reported that several others were leaving when "sho visited the defendant, who looked at her loft hand and said that she would make a good nurse. Her hand was one, "you did not see every day." Sho oamo from, a good family;' was fond of children, and a good judge of cattle. . She added that tho matron would marry a pleasant-faced man; that she would never ".chase" men, but they would all like her, Counsel said" defendant was>an elderly woman, and had . been engaged' by \ the Patriotic ■'Society to tell fortunos for patriotic funds. As' a*matter of fact sho had an engagement for next week. ~ Mr. Frazer: Sho cannot bo so, very sick then.: '■'■("$ -, '■-■~ ' ' .<.'•'■■■'..;■..

n Counsel: Fortune-telling is not so very arduous. v, ;,;.;:> ;■'■.-' '•■■;•.' ''■'■'(

■ Chief-Detective McMahon said defendant had been in business, in Upper. Queen Street for many years. She had been convicted for the : same offence in 1908, at Hawera.V He was of opinion that women of this stamp should not bo engaged for patriotic purposes. ■■. .•.',.•.•■>.„ , / V", ■"".'= ' Encouraging Fraud. '-

'■■' The magistrate said he agreed with the chief detective's last remarks. He did not wish ' to : criticise the : work 'of • the , various associations in raising funds for patriotic purposes,' but it seemed ■>. to. be ■ a ';.shortsighted \ policy to encourage.-, such frauds as- these; women. : The patriotic societies might just as well 1 arrange:/ with the Mount Eden authorities for a ■high-class l burglar to give an exhibition of housebreaking.' '. No doubt \it ■ would ;.be' just as interesting, : providing all valuables '. were put - out of : the -way.. ; ■ •"■/,* •' '.' •• 5 The ; case / was ; adjourned I for ' a "■; report from •: the gaol >;Burgeon as to '• defendant's health, i. Subsequently Dr. Stride certified that : defendant was unfit to undergo hard lauour,and - the ' magistrate imposed a sentence of 14 '■ days' imprisonment, without hard labour. -- .■ ' .

.:. Madame, Bennette was also charged with telling' fortunes. Defendant did not appear. In entering-a plea of guilty, Mr. Singer said; that .tho ■, defendant , was more of an astrologer than a fortune-teller.' Counsel handed ; in a statement to ; the ■ effect that astrology was "an /exact' science," : and taught people '; " what '; they, should -do,;' to control their natural tendencies." Tho statement 1 referred to astrologers flourishing in' the past . and ; being referred S to : in the i Bible. - i , '\.

; Mr. Frazer read Miss Campbell's report, which. showed that ; when 6ho \ visited '• the defendant; the latter looked into her face and said:"You are ' not married. '.; You do not : look it?'' - Miss Campbell said " No." " Madame ;■ said she would ~ do V ; well : . in business and attract the opposite sex. Her brother : would return from the ; front, but would be sick first.- 1 She would not have much illness, : but " must not eat pork or crayfish." v ' (Laughter.) '■■ ■',: • ,'; With respect to Mrs. Hackle,'.- tho .defendant'-; said ; she would i have a lot of worry; that she felt uhkindness keenly; and ■/■ that she would , / leave Auckland shortly'; ' also that , sho : should not : sign papers without, consulting a solicitor. She would meet a gentleman .who " would say a lot, . but ■ she ; would . merely . laugh at him." '.;,.•< •/

■Si- Mr. ; Frazer : Another. woman said she would accept him. - . \ '••.■' j'.ln! this case .the fee was 2s 6d. i '

v ln , sentencing -defendant to 14. ) days' imprisonment with',hard, -labour,'; the magistrate said astrology ■■;';.was/ \ just ■; as much , humbug'; as ■ palmistry or any '. other form of ' fortune- telling, and j perhaps more dangerous) becaus_o of its "pretensions, to scientific ;■ origin. "' A reference had \ been made to the Bible, but he seemed . : to remember, that Daniel bested all tho soothsayers. Even in those . days there were humbugs as now. ' ■ ', Another defendant will come before tho Court to-day. -:•'■' :■■'..;' ;; ' ;■'.::.: