SPIRITUALISTIC FRAUD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7017, 4 January 1910, Page 8

SPIRITUALISTIC FRAUD

The extraordinary hold that spiritualism has on 'wide sections of the German people was evinced by a remarkable trial opened at Dresden. The dpfendai t was a mar. named Berginann, the manager of toothpr.st3 works carried on under the title of "Bombastus." He was accused .of inducing wealthy residents of Dresden to invest in Bombastiisshares on tin- advice of spirits, among which was' the 'White Swan," alleged to be the ghost of Martin Luther. ■ As a result of, the seance, at which Ecrgmann plsved the role of "medium,'' bch< een XS(I,OOQ and .£35,000,: it is declared, sayti the "Daily Mail," flowed into the Bcmbastus treasury. The "ghosts" which Bargmann called up mode a speciality of Stock Exchange "lips." and waxed particularly eloquent on the possibilities of. Bombastus shares. The spirits of Martin Luther, Theophrastus, and Parcelsus appeared with admirablj regularity, and, after confiding the secrets of • the preparations manufactured at the Bombastus works as evidence that they hod_ "in6ide information," thi*v would, praise the investment possibilities of the shares in language worthy of a professional prospectus writer. One man who Tv-at. sceptical was. it is said, convinced by a "communication" from the spirit of his departed mother. Another said, "My capital is already tied up in other securities." "Sell them, and buy Bombastns," replied "Martin Luther." The advice was followed next day, the transaction representing, it is alleged, .£IO,OOO.