FORTUNE TELLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 4

FORTUNE TELLING.

CHARGES BEFORE THE COURT.

TWO WOMEN CONVICTED,

In the City Police Court on the 29th ult., before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., two women were charged—one of them on two informations—with fortune-telling. Madame Clair was first charged mat on October 4 she did undertake to tell fortunes at 72 St. Andrew street. —Defendant pleaded not guilty.—Constable Geddes said that on October 4 he visited defendant’s house at 7.30 p.m., being admitted by her daughter. He asked to have his fortune told, and the defendant said ‘ All right,” and after inviting him to take a seat examined his hands and started to tell his fortune. She said ho was a farmer and would get on well in business, make a lot of money, and have very few accidents in life. Ho was going to get married to a girl in Scotland. Ho would have some trouble in life, and iiis father would die in a very short time. Witness then gave her 2s 6d, which she said was her charge.—Defendant, who maintained that she merely gave the constable advice, was lined £2.

The other defendant, Madame Bethune, was then charged with having told fortunes on October 4 and 6.—She was defended by Mr Scurr, and pleaded not guilty.—Constable Geddes said that on October 6, at 9 p.m., he went to defendant’s house in 8 St. Andrew street, together with Constable Boer. He saw Madame Bethune, and told her that he had come to get his fortune read. She said “ ill right,” but told him that his friend could not come into the room, a%it would affect the reading. Constable Beer then left the house. Madame Bethune told him that she did not use any crystal or cards, but that it was merely a gilt. She took his hand and told him that he was a young man who would get on well in business, and that he liked the country bettor than tbo town. God was looking over him and keeping him on the right path. She also tolii him that his father and mother would die in the same year, and that ho himself was going to got married. Ho asked her when, and she replied: “In-about two years.” He gave her 3s on going away. — To Mr Scurr: It was more of a religious sermon than a fortune-telling. He asked her what her charge was, and the replied that it was not much; only 3s. She did not offer to charge him nothing because he was “ a lad from Scotland.”—Constable Beer also gave evidence as to the visit. —Mr Scurr said the defence was that the woman did not tell fortunes. She proceeded by physiognomy. There were no crystals or cards or other usual paraphernalia of the fortune-teller. Madame Bethune was well qualified to give advice to young people, and that was all she had done. —Madame Bethune (Catherine Beaton) gave evidence, in the course of which she stated that she merely gave friendly, advice to the constables who had given evidence.—The Magistrate said he could place only one construction on the defendant’s allowing only one man in the room. It was to obviate corroborative evidence. The constables’ evidence had been straightforward, but ho could not place much reliance on that given by defendant. Ho intimated his intention of recording a conviction. —In regard to the charge concerning October 6, Mr Sourr said that considering the view taken by his Worship of the first charge, he would ple,ad guilty.—A fin© of 20s and costs was inflicted on each charge.