FORTUNE TELLER'S FRAUDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22714, 29 October 1935, Page 2

FORTUNE TELLER'S FRAUDS

Complaints made to the/chief constable of Brighton, England, by a professional man resulted in the appearance before the local magistrate of Boy Halma, aged 29, spiritualist medium, of Brighton, who was lined £5 with £2 costs for pretending to tell fortunes. Evidence was given by Detective-in-spector Polling, who told the court: — This professional man's wife had been going to Halma. Apparently she believed what he told her, and it had such an effect on her mind that the domestic relationship was absolutely estranged. Mrs Elsie Florence Plank, a detective's wife, of Brighton, described how she visited Halma, and how he looked into the crystal and said he could see her husband. "He said there was a great space between us because my husband did not understand me," continued Mrs Plank. "He said that my husband was a fool, and told me that another man was in love with me, and my husband was the obstruction. He said the obstruction would be removed by death. He said an aunt of mine would die in December of this year." Mis Plank added that she paid Halma and he asked her to recommend him to her friends. "Is there any space between you and your husband?" inquired Mr T. G. Barr, prosecuting, and Mrs Plank replied. " None that I know of." Mrs Doris Davies, Mrs Plank's sister, declared that Halma told her that her mother-in-law would die in December. He also stated that he did not like her husband, and warned her to watch other women, as they were her enemies. Going into the witness-box. Halma explained that he was a medium for the Spiritualist Society connected with St. John's Spiritualist Church. North street. Brighton, and the Jewish Society for Psychic Research, of Baker street, London. He gave lectures on spiritualism, but if people came to him privately he gave advice after first telling them that no one could foretell the future. He had always displayed in his room a notice saying'that the readings he gave Mere for amusement only. In the course of cross-examination Mr Barr asked Halma, "Have you ever considered the damage you might do to a happilymarried couple bv saying there is a space between them? You sow this little germ in their minds." Halma denied using the remark attributed to him, and observed, " I would not do that."