FORTUNE FAKIRS.

NZ Truth, Issue 98, 4 May 1907, Page 5

FORTUNE FAKIRS.

THE PEELER AND THE PALMIST.

A Hand-handler Hardly Handled.

Fined £1 for Guessing the Sergeant was an Irishman.

I Now that the big show is concluded m Christchurch the nimble peeler is looking round for a chance to pounce upon the small fry law-break-ers and other debris. The city is chock full of dupes, aad there are always, plenty of sharpies who will play on their credulity, and take their dross, and take them down whenever they get an opportunity. In. this undesirable class are the palmists, and futurists, and astrologists and others of their characterless kidney who always come to light when peelerdom is lurking round for the fellow who is riding a li'ghtless bicycle, or who allows his chimney t o catch alight, or something of that description. These brazen baggages are responsible for a great deal of harm, both m a domestic sense, and m other ways, for they unsettle the minds of sensitive femininity who seem, to pay a great deal Of attention of what these oracles say about both the present and the future. . A massive woman named Mary Hyland, who runs a futurity joint m Manchester-street, Christchurch, fell m the other ni-eht. Mary travels under Ihe name »f Madame Hvland, and lives with her husband, who is sup^o^-M to have some connection with the business, arid who is vaguely suspected of having some sideline of his own which writer has seen advertised. M'adame advertises ' her wares at all events, like others m Christchurch who follow the same forecasting profession, despite what the Law says about the matter. This CROWD OF HAND HANDLERS have been making big money during the past six months or so, and as they have not been interfered with they have become bolder than ever, and their damnable dens are spreadall over the metropolis. A bobby and a friend went into Madame Hyland's parlor to listen to the good old tale at half-a-crown a time, and they made, a "fcase" of it. But only the bluecoaii tendered testimony, at Court; the name of <the friend wasn't divulged. On ■ Monday last Mary buzzed up to the lawyer's table and pleaded not guilty to a charge of practising palmistry, calculated to deceive and impose, by employing subtle craft on His Majesty's subjects. Lawyer Donnelly appeared for the lady, and burly Sergeant Bowman hoofed it to the witness box and told the tale of his night adventure. It happened at 10 p.m.. or thereabouts, for Madam does business at late hours if the nimble silver coin- is to be seen anywhere m the vicinity of Manchester-street. Bowman said that he found the woman's husband at the door and he and his friend were passed m. They went behind a mystic, screen, and found Madame Hyland there, and she had the generosity to offer him a chair, which ; he accepted with a ChesterfieVdian bow. Then she got right down to business. She grabbed his paw, and started to examine it with a magnifying glass. Then she recited her story. "She said I was fond of music," said the Sergeant. "Yes,' what else ?" asked Sub-In-spector Dwyer. She said I was fond of women. (Laughter. ) Anything - more ?— She told me I had GREAT POWERS OF PERCEPv TION. and would make a good detective. (Laughter.) What else ?— I was told that I was usually a very, quiet man, but when roused I showed a very bad temper. Further, that I was very fond of home and family life. What occurred then ?— When she had done I asked her what she chor&ecl for* all that information, and she replied, "Whatever you like, but my charge is half-a-crown." S o I paid the -lialf-croWn and then my frifciiu had a go, and he paid a similar amount. When we left a man a;id a woman passed m from outside and took our places. Mi Donnelly then started a somewhat amusinst cross-examination. You say that she intended to decfMve anil impose upon you. according to the information. *\ere you deceived m any way. Do you }>ke music ?— Well, yes I do. Then you- weren't dec 3l r ?d on that account > Are you an Irishman, Serc;eant ?— Yes, I am. Magistrate Day (lau^iiino;) • Are you fonl of women? (LauvvtvT.) Counsel : Seeing that you are an Irishman there isn't much need to ask that question, but are you fond of women anyway. (Laughter.) Well, yes I am. (Continued Laughter). Then you weren't dccc ved or imposed upon there ?— Perhaps not. Well, Mrs Hyland said you were ,a good friend ; you' don't dispute 'that ?— No. Then you weren't deceived or imAnd as far as being a bad enemy is concerned when people cross your track you" pursue them ?— Yes. And she told you you were quiet, but when you were aroused things happened. The S.M. : He admits being a» Irishman. (Laughter.) Counsel : You were also told that you liked home and family life ; now, do you ?— Yes. Then what have you got to complain about ? In what were you deceived ? I wasn't deceived at all ; I ltn^w what frauds they "were before I went into the place at all. Then you were told lint you had gre.it powers of perception and would make a good detective ■; you have ACHIEVED THE POSITION OF SERGEANT, wouldn't you make a pood detective ?— 1 can't say anything as to that. For the defence Mr Donnelly called no evidence ; he said that the facts were correct, but the case bordered on the ludicrous. He couldn't see j where a charge lay at all. The SerIgeant hadn't torn deGe>iv«d } -tfva wo*

man merely looked at his hand throuph a magnifying glass, but had judged him by Ms face and has noble brow before sayia.a; anything. There wasn't much palmistry about it at all. There certainly was a species of palmistry which tended to upset the minds of people, inasmuch as the opera-tors pretended to predict the future. , The S.M. : She said he might make a good detective ; that is going into futurity. Well, so he might so far as that is concerned, but palmistry is being recognised everywhere. The S.M. : But not by the Legislature. No. resumed counsel, but the sort that was practised by this woman was harmless and ludicrous, and the section of the Act under which , the charge was laid must be construed m the. light of modern timies instead of that of old times, when people suffered severe penalities for anything of the sort. Counsel then alluded t n the practise of phrenology ; that was telling character by the head, Hie other by the hand. He submitted that under the section there was nothing indicative of fraud, no subtle craft or cunning exhibited at all. What was done didn't come m the category of fraud. Anyway, she had met the Sergeant before at Timaru, a n d seeing what she told him about himself seemed to be m the nature of a joke. Mr Day held that an offence had been committed, and the fine would be £1 a»d costs.