MEDIUM’S FARTHING DAMAGES

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20225, 19 June 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

MEDIUM’S FARTHING DAMAGES

Woman Spiritualist’s Slander,

A woman spiritualist medium Who was awarded a farthing l damages In the King’s Bench Division for slander, later told a reporter of her ‘‘great and lasting friendship” with her husband’s former wife. Mrs Irene Gladys Edouln, of Bayswater, who carried on a spiritualist centre at Brlxton, alleged that her former friend, Mrs Hilda Bartlett, of Worthing, had said she was not married to the man with whom -she lived. Mrs Bartlett denied having spoken the words. During the hearing It was stated that Mr Edoutn’s former wife attended Mrs Edouln's spiritualist "circle.” "Her attitude Is, ‘I did not make him happy, and I am gla dto see somebody has.’ ” -said Mrs Edouln after the case ended. "She Is a very charming woman. Bhe married my husband when she was 18. They could not get along quite smoothly, so the marriage was dissolved. This happened before I met Mr Eduoin.” For Mrs Edouln, Mr F. H. Lawton said that In 1923 *<he married Mr Frederick Edwin Gummerson, who for a long time had been known as Mr Edouln. Ever since, they had been known as Mr and Mrs Edouln. The alleged slanders were made to a Miss Ethel Harris, who had beon Introduced to the circle by Mrs Bartlett, a Mr Dalgleish, and a Mrs Theodora Ahmed. Letter From Daggle. Mias Ethel Harris, Brighton, denied that she said she would do everything

she could to rajure Mrs BartletL Mr John Gordon Dalgleish, who gave ' an address at Horsham, said Mrs Bartlett told him: "They call themselves Mr and Mrs Edouln, but they are not married. His real wife sits In the ‘circle’ with them." Cross-examined, Mr Dalgleish said that onoe when Mrs Bartlett was ill, he wrote her a letter In which he stated: "Don’t be sore with me sister. I look forward to a cake-walk with you on Victoria platform before very long." The letter was signed "Daggle.” Mr H. H. Maddooks, for Mrs Bartlett: Mrs Bartlett objected to your lounging about In the spiritualistic olrcle?—Mrs Bartlett said that. Is It true that you,, are on affectionate terms with Miss, Harris —I am. Miss Harris wants to prevent Mrs Bartlett from doing medium’s work In Brighton?—No.. Trouble at Brighton. Miss Lydia Bartlett, Mrs Bartlett’s daughter, said that In 1935 there was some trouble In spiritualistic oiroles in Brighton and it was suggested that she had made a slip in referring to a Mrs Heath as a drunkard. She had really spoken of another woman as the person who was a drunkard. The Jury found the statement had been made to Miss Harris, and awarded one farthing damages. Judgment was entered accordingly for Mrs Edouln, without costs. On the other two alleged slanders they found for Mrs Bartlett, and she was given Judgment with oosts.