SPIRITUALISM IN LIBEL SUIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 12

SPIRITUALISM IN LIBEL SUIT.

FORTUNE-TELLING AT CLUB DENIED. - DAMAGES IN LONDON CASE. A (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON. April 29. §5 *Tn the King's Bench Division yesterclay an action was brought by Lieutenjt Colonel William Joseph Roskefl, ?! of the Officers’ Reserve, New Cavendish Street, W., against Mr Arthur j* Ady, of Penton Place, Kensington. Colonel Roskell claimed damages and an injunction restraining Mr Ady from . further writing, communicating or circulating alleged libels upon him aftect- “ ing him in his profession or business. | £ -Mr Ady admitted publication, but j said that the words complained of were true and were fair comment. •V Mr Hawke, K.C. for Colonel Roskell, said that Ady left a club, of which ». Colonel Roskell was the proprietor, and * iri which spiritualism and kindred topics were discussed, and, it was alleged, * published a series of libels broadcast about Colonel Roskell. % The question was whether Colonel r Roskell was honest in asserting that he believed in spiritualism. In 1919 he U/ took over the management and became C proprietor of the International Club of Psychical Research, which had pre- “ xnises in Regent Street, and called it the Delphic Club. During the two JJs years Colonel Roskell ran the club * Ady persisted, it was alleged, in publishing libels. lie wrote things on k pieces of T>aper, and posted them up Iv in public places. He also put a stamp g on others, and sent them openly I t; through the post. .Colonel Roskell, said Mr Hawke, was r not out for damages. Ilis sale object was to end the persecution. The Delphic Club was used for occasional seances and for discussions and lectures r cn occult subjects. Colonel Roskell never consciously employed people who > had not the powers which they thought j they possessed and could exercise. He 5 acted in the sincere belief that there i* was truth underlying the principles disky tussed at the club. So far as he knew, £ no fraud or chicanery was practised, \W fend the women who went there were respectable. “NOTORIOUS WOMEN.” 5 The following was posted on the door cf the club, went on Mr Hawke:— e‘ “ A disgrace to his uniform. W. J. 5 Roskell, Lieutenant-Colonel in her Majesty’s Regiment, Queen Alexandra’s Green Howards. Has for fifteen months £ aided and the following notorS*' ious women in obtaining money from r the public by fortune-telling as proprietor of Delphic Club, 22a, Regent & Street, W.: Airs A. (described as dress\maker and milliner), sentenced at Marylebone Police Court on March 3, 3 917, to six months’ imprisonment for ' swindling: Rev Susannah 8., exposed on May 3, 1920, as an accomplished fraud and humbug; Mrs C., convicted six times for obtaining small sums of money by means of a trick.” Colonel Roskell gave evidence that women members of the International Club complain el of Adv’s conduct, and he ceased to be a member. Ady wrote accusing witness of aiding and abetting certain nefarious fory tune-tellers. Afterwards he sent libels - to officers on the Active List of his regi- ' meat, to officers of Queen Alexandra’s Household, to every officer of his own , .rank in the London District, and to i .members of his own family. In 1921 witf -.ness was ill, and he became heartily '»*tired of anything connected with psychic matters, so he sold the club, y Colonel Roskell said that Ady recommended Mrs A. as a member, saying that she was the best medium in Lonvdon. She had in fact been employed "by several reputable societies as a medand she was allowed to hold a seance and to give psvehoinetric readings. During the second ’fceancc, Ady accused Mrs A. of fortunek telling. Witness stopped the seance. -After Ady attacked her she acknowledged that she had been, convicted. ’fr... Colonel Roskell, continuing his evidence, said he asked a woman referred to as Mrs A. about INIr Ady’s allegaA tions against her, and she denied them. <Jnc woman lectured at the club on Theosophy. ' : ITe said that another woman gave exhibitions of psychologv. He ■ heard nothing against her character e::- ; cept that she was once brought before ii magistrate for fortune-telling, and the . case was dismissed. Colonel Roskell said one person lectured on symbolic dancing, while another person gave exhibitions of such dancing. Mr Justice Sankcy: What is that*— I cannot tell you. I was not there. Colonel Roskell added that another lecture was given on Astral healing. He believed that was what was now called pr-mm* “Coueisifi.” Mr Justice Sankey: It is nothing to do with the stars?—Not to my know- ; ledge. Cross-examined by Mr J. B. Melville, for Mr Ady, Colonel Roskell said that when he took over the International : Club of Psychical Research in 1919 he re-christened it the Delphic Club so that !i it should have a wider scope. 6u chose the name in order to make ft wider public appeal?- ! thought I I should be able to make it pay better. 1 :v . VOICES FROM A TRUMPET. On one occasion when the Rev Susannah B. was pretending to communii cate with voices from a trumpet, did not -Ady expose her?—No, when Mrs A. was accused of fortune telling bv* ; • Mr Adv, I said if she is a fortune teller so is Mrs B. He said “Oh, no, that is a 1. * mechanical experiment.” ; ! ‘. I suggest that at the seance where Mrs B. was performing Mr Ady put his !i. foot on the trumpet and closed it up. but the voice continued, and it turned * . out to be Mrs B ?—This is the first time I have heard of it. Did you ever make inquiries of the police about Mrs A?—There was no necessity to do so. Mrs A. admitted a conviction. \ ou knew she was a convicted swindler?—Yes, I knew that according to the law she was, but I explained about that to the Court yesterday. Did not Mr Ady tell you that unless you ceased to have people like Mrs A. , On your premises he would expose von publicly?—l don’t recall that. but. he .'-aid he would attack me if I turned him out of the club. Colonel Roskell said he allowed Mrs A to continue because he and others thought that she had genuine powers. She was popular, and there was a demand for her. He agreed that palmistry was practised at the club. Mr Melville: Did you think it advisable to mix up endeavours to communicate with the other world and palmistry?—The two thing* were net mixed i.p. Mr Melville: I suggest that youi club was used as a. platform, to deceive gullible, people?—Then the London .Spirituabstio Alliance and all llio otl.er societies are in the. same book. Mr Melville: What was the lecture

on “The Symbolic Dance Through the Ages”?—l do not know; 1 was not present. You surely did not miss “The Schcraatoniu Ballet,” to illustrate the lecture? (Laughter.)—l did; I was ill at tho time. Mas the dance symbolic of the union of tho sexes?—l do no.t believe it Mr Justice Sankey: Was it an indecent dance?—No. Mr Melville: Do you know anything about it at all? —I can only remember that som e members asked me to have it, and I am perfectly certain that there was nothing wrong, or they would not have asked for it. Colonel Roskell added tliat his mind has been gradually changing about psychic matters, and he sold the club for £650. Mr Melville : You came to the conclusion that these investigations and manifestations were unhealthy things? BORN IN A SHIP. Detective-Inspector Kirshner, of Scotland Yard, gavo detailed evidence regarding Mr Ally's past, saying that his proper name appeared to bo Jack Breslau Taylor, and that ho claimed to be an American. When lie called on him in Camberwell, he found, him preparing libellous circulars to be sent, to M.P.’s, peers, judges, and clergymen. He warned him, and Mr Ady said: “I have been well paid for two years to do this. You don’t suppose Ido it for nothing.” Mr Ady was on parole, and had to report to the police. He could not be deported to America or elsewhere, because apparently he was born on a ship in the Red Sea. (Laughter.) Mr Justice Sankey: Can’t you anchor him out there? (Laughter.) For the defence Mr Melville said that the substance and sting of tho words complained of had been amply proved out of the mouth of Colonel Roskell himself, so that it did not become necessary for him (counsel) to call any further evidence. Mr Melville contended that any trouble that had, come to. Colonel Roskell he had brought upon himself by liis reekless conduct at the club, by his efforts to popularise tho club with (he help of advertisements, intoxicants, and cosy house dinners. characterised the libel as one of the most atrocious that could be imagined. • I don't think you will think I am using too strong an expression when I say that the defendant is a lDlackguard,” he added. They all knew, went on his lordship that a good many humbugs and charlatans had professed to be spiritualists. It might well he that many people who pursued that science with all reverence. an<l with an infinite longing to communicatp with their dead, were peculiarly liable to I become the dupes-of rogues and vagabonds. The jury returned a verdict for ColoI riel Roskell without retiring. and