Jail For Medium For Securing £2000 By False Pretenses

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 July 1950, Page 2

Jail For Medium For Securing £2000 By False Pretenses

July 6 Charles Glover Botham, aged 56, a self-sty Fed spiritualist, medium, was sentenced to 21 months’ impiisonment at the Old Bailey after being found guilty on three charges of obtaining 12000 by false pretences from Lady Florence Emily Wilson, aged 70, widow of the late Sir Roy Wilson, former Conservative member of Parliament for Lichfield. Lady Wilson said in evidence that Botham had for many years conducted seances for her. She believed that when Botham was in a trance her husband spoke to her through him. Botham, professing to speak lor her husband, told her to place various sums of monc> be!< nd a cushion, where they would be tak.n possession ,o by spirits and used fir t e bonefilot’ hii‘ nnit.y, 2 ar i u aily tl.c cure o leprosy Botham admitted taking some the money though he 'maintained he had kept it “for use by the spirit people.” Pronouncing sentence, the Recorder, Sir Gerald Dobson, said. "You have clone a great disservice to spiritualism, which is something held in great reverence by many devout people.”— Special (N.Z.P.A. Correspondent).