MADAME SONIA A FORTUNE-TELLER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 1

MADAME SONIA A FORTUNE-TELLER.

WINTER SHOW STALLHOLDER FINED £5.

PREDICTED ROMANCE FOR YOUNG POLICEMAN.

Madame, Sonia, a fortune-teller, who has been conducting a stall at the Winter Show, was fined £5 and costs by Mr E. p. Mosley, S.M-, in the Magistrate's Court this morning'. The : charge was that she did use means, to wit palmistry-, to deceive and impose upon his Majesty’s subjects.

Madame Sonia did not appear. Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said that Madame Sonia v.-as informed yesterday that the case had been adjourned until to-dav, but she had declined to attend, or to produce a doctor’s certificate to the effect'that she was ill. Madame Sonia had been doing great business at the Whiter Show during the past week. Displacing a card: "Scientific Readings for Health and Business,” she attracted large crowds who paid 2s fid to have some absurd story told of their future. Constable Abbott said that after paying 2s 6d he had his fortune told by defendant, who took his right hand and looked at it through a magnifying glass. She said that he had had three broken engagements, but he would soon meet a voung iadv whom he would marry, and have lour or five children. lie would receive a legacy, and would make a trip to sea. He was wasting his time walking the streets and ought to be a detective. (Laughter in the Court). He would be able to find gold and silver bv means of divining power. Although he had been disappointed in his affections in the past he would soon marry the girl he was now going with, and would have two children. This was the future predicted for Constable Wilson. He said that he was told that he should be an inventor. He was rather rash, but everything came out all right in the finish. He had great divining-power. If when walking along, he felt pains in the shoulders, he would find water or gold underneath the spot where he was standing. ... Constable Wilson said that defendant looked through a magnifying glass at the palm of his hand and at the backs of his fingers. In answer to the Magistrate, SubInspector Fitzpatrick said that Madame Sonia had been before the Court previously. She had obtained a stand at the barracks for the Winter Show, and the show authorities were not evidently concerned with her further. The crowds had rushed her stand, and she had done great business. The readings were almost identical. “ She is a pure fortune-teller,” said Mr Moslev. “ She would, no doubt, impose on the credulous. There are some people who would be taken in, but, I hope, not many.” Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said that defendant evidently followed up this line throughout the Dominion. She adopted various names, and was hard to find. “ If she comes before me again, she goes to gaol,” said Mr Mosley. “ The public must not be imposed upon in this waj*. The Act provides for only a small fine, but fortunately there is a clause providing for a month’s imprisonment.” Defendant was fined £5 and costs, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.