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THE NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England 15 May 1917 (page 2)
IN MASONIC REGALIA.
EXTRAORDINARY FORTUNE TELLING CHARGE.
THE FLYING CORPS BROTHER.
At Marlborough-street Police-court to-day, Mrs. Mary Davies, described as a psychist, was charged under the fortune-telling section of the Vagrancy Act.
Mr. Muskett, for the prosecution, intimated that part of the case would also be heard under the section dealing with the using of “subtle craft and device by palmistry and otherwise to deceive and impose.”
Inspector Curry said that last evening he went to, 93 Regent-street, where prisoner occupied rooms. On the glass panel of the doors were the letters “M.M.M.,” which meant “mysteria, mystica, maxima,” and was supposed to refer to the Order of the Temple of the Orient. In a room on the third floor witness saw prisoner with ten other persons—five men and five women.
She was seated on a sort of throne chair, and was wearing the Masonic regalia of a Worshipful Master, while her companions all wore Masonic aprons. Witness told Mary Davies he had a warrant for her arrest. She replied, “I have done nothing wrong. This is a Masonic Lodge. You have no right here.” Witness said: “The founder of this order was a man named Alisti [sic] Crowley, who is a traitor to this country.” When informed what the warrant was about prisoner said, “I don’t tell fortunes. There is some mistake.”
Blanche Daisley, a young married lady, described a visit she paid to prisoner at the request of the police. Witness gave the name of Mrs. Fitzhughes and asked prisoner if she could tell her whether her brother in the flying corps was safe and well and if he would come through all right. Prisoner closed her eyes, and in the course of her observations said, “I am afraid I can give you no hope he will come through, but his spirit will.” “Two spirits,” she later said “were hovering around” witness’s alleged flying corps brother. Witness gave her half a guinea for the interview.
The case was adjourned, prisoner being granted bail. |