HOROSCOPE FOR HALF A GUINEA

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 115, 20 June 1914, Page 3

HOROSCOPE FOR HALF A GUINEA

The casting of a policeman's "horoscope" was the-basis of a prosecution at the Mansion House Police Court on May 6, when Alan Leo, Imperial. Buildings, Luj gate Circus, was summoned for unlawfully telling fortunes. ._ Mrs Besant was in court. Mr V eebery; Assistant City Solicitor/appeared for the prosecution. '-.'.. , Detective-Inspector M'Lean said that on February 26 last he wrote to the defendant, in" the assumed name W. Hammond," from Cleveland Road, Woodford, asking for a list of charges for a horoscope. lii reply he received a book entitled "The Stars and How. to Bead .Them," and was informed that the lowest charge was 5/- for a five'years' horoscope. A five-guinea horoscope dealt with a period of ten years hence. , He f-e'nt 10/6 for a horoscope, which he subsequently received, together with certain instructions, and an explanation of his future prospects. Among other things, the horoscope advised him to avoid accidents and to keep- his'-blood pure. (Laughter.) On April 20 he served the defendant with a summons at his office at Imperial Buildings. On reading the summons the defendant remarked: "This, after 25 years!" and added "I do not tell fortunes. I do not know you, and I have never told your fortune. 31 ' Cross-examined by Mr Warren, the witness said he did not know that the defendant was a man of independent means, living at Hampstead. He had seen a work of which the.defendant was the author, entitled "Modern Astrology," and lie understood that he v/as a teacher of astrology and a president of the Astrological Society. So far as the witness could ascertain, there had been no charge against him before. "Are you aware that the defendant has received testimonials from 20,000 persons, some holding the highest 'positions in this country?" "I do not know."

The Lord Mayor, after a long heariag, dismissed both of the 'summonses upon a technical objection. The decision was received with applause in Court.