TROUBLE WITH A MEDIUM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8705, 20 August 1906, Page 3

TROUBLE WITH A MEDIUM.

, ■ . - ♦ SPIRITUALISTS IN COURT. * At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Mrs Alma Woodleigh-Taylor, spivitualistip medium and lecturer, sued the Christchurch. Spiritualistic Association for £4 13s, in connection with her four months' engagement to the Association in her professional capacity. Mr Ftesher appeared for plaintiff, a-nd Mr Graham for, defendants. The claim was for passage moneys spent in coming; from Sydney at the invitation of the Association. The Association urged in defence that she did not keep her engagement, and was, therefore, not entitled . to claim under the terms of her contract. ! ■ Mr Flesher' said Mrs Taylor was. unable to appear, having been called to Australia to see 'an injured daughter. Mr Flesher called the Association's manager, J. H. Fabling, and proved a n umber of letter© in connection with the. four months' engagement of -Mrs Woodleigh-Taylor. The terms of the engagement were that she was' to be brought over free of expense to herself, and have half the takings from all the* meetings. The letters promised every assistance prior to taking over a four months' engagement. Witness said that Miis Taylor did not ask for her fare, and it was not repaid to her, because it was customary in/ such oasefl to repay travelling expenses at the closs of an engagement, and earlier payments than this had never, to his knowledge, been made. In the letters it was stated that the takings amounted to as much as £5 on Sundays and £6 on week nights, when a. regular charge of one shilling was made. Plaintiff duly arrived on May 11, and opened her engagement. The? Association had nover refunded Mi's Taylor's passsage moneys, because it was intended not to do so until the engagement was completed. Witness said that complainant's platform manner was not such as was acceptable to the audiences. His Worship : I cay that has nothing to do with the case. The question is simply did Mrs Taylor break the contract or not. I don't know anything about her success or her platform manner, .and I don't want to. Witness said that on June 25 complainant wrote to him that, as her remuneration was not so gcod as she had expected, she would be unable to fulfil her engagement. She had expected at least £3 a week ; and 6he asked for £7 10a travelling expenses. She severed her connection! with the Association and at once started in opposition, and was more successful than she had previously been. Witness wrote asking her to meet him and go into the whole matter and to favourably consider any reasonable grievanbe. but she did not do bo. She had one day received £1 9s out of £2 13s. but complained of not getting her fair share. She was annoyed because members of "the Association were admitted for 6d instead of Is, as this was not done before in her experience. . v . The treasurer of the Association, R. H. Emerson, swore to giving her halt the takings, and 6he had complained sneeringly and insolently, implying that she was being robbed. p , His Worship gave judgment for defendants, with costs. ■ ■ "V .* The'bogß of Ireland ©over 52,800,000 acres,