CLERGYMAN IN COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11411, 6 January 1923, Page 7

CLERGYMAN IN COURT

ALLEGED' FORTUNE-TELLIN G. WHAT THE CONSTABLES HEARD* “PROGRESS AND A SPIRITUAL . .. » . ■ -FACE.”' rs'iVi.--C A somewhat unusual case was before the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when trhe Rev.' Reuben Webb, pastor of the Spiritualist Church, was charged with fortune-telling! There were four charges preferred ' against him, Mr E! G. Jellicoe appeared on behalf of the accused, and Sub-Inspeotor Cummings prosecuted. \ Sub-Inspector Cummings said the accused gave meetings on Sunday evening in the Kent terrace Spiritualist Church. The charges' laid, whte in oon- ■ nection with the Wednesday - evening meetings; which were held, at No. 1, Home street. Everybody attending this meeting was asked to pay Is. Articles such as handkerchiefs, watches; keys, fountain-pens, etc., were plated oh a table in the house, and later Mr Webb read these articles. ARTICLES READ. Constable Millar said he visited No. 1, Home street, on Wednesday, December 15th. It was a private residence, situated at .the. rear of the Kent terrace Spiritualist Church. Ho was admitted on the payment of Is to the man at the door. The man who received the money was not tbe. defendant. About two (or three people were present when he and Constable Smith entered. The meeting opened with the singing of a hymn.- A short address on spiritualism was then delivered. . As the people came in they placed an article on the table. His article was a bunch of keys. The first article read (a photo) was that of Constable Smith’s. Mr Webb described the. subject of the photo. He also' said Smith would' make a change in life. A lady put up a brooch, saying she wished to know about somebody’s health, and to ask his (Mr Webb’s) advice. Mr Webb said this woman also wanted a change. He also described the woman who was ill. He said she would benefit by taking certain Herbs; but, above all, what was desired was a change. He told others they would make certain changes in life. PROGRESS IN THE CONSTABLE. “He then took up my article,*’ said the constable, “and gave what'was a fairly good description of the owner. He said my life would be free from any great changes; but that I would make steady progress. He next took up the article of a lady, and she had a friend who was at present very ill. She would recover from this illness; but would never he the same as before the illness.” “The meeting,”', said Constable Jdillar, “concluded with a hymn.*’ “Did you understand that the collection was taken up at the door by one of the church-hearers?” asked Mr Jellicoe of the witness. ; “I do not know who the gentleanm on the door was,” answered the constable. “Did the defendant make a promise to you whereby he would tell you anything relating to the future in return for a sum of money?”—“He read my article, anyway.” WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE LOW. Constable Smith was then called, and gave evidence on similar lines to Constable Millar. He said he the meeting With Millar, and paid Is to gain adimttance. The lights were

turned low while the reading was taking place. His article, which waa the first read, was the photo-of a woman. Mr Webb said it was a magnetic and spiritual face. She was contemplating a change; but he (defendant) did not advise this step. She thought of others before herself, he said, and' could be very witty on occaamns. HANDCUFFS. ; . Tim witness said a woman noct. him kept oh repeating the word “handcuffs.’* He thought ahe was some kind of a’medium. “Was the shilling paid to an officebearer?” asked Mr Jellicoe-of-the-wit-- ■ -ness. ' “I do not know,” answered the constable. “It was not paid to Mr Webb, was it?”—“No.” At this stage the proceedings werr adjourned until II o'clock today. •