THE DERBY DAILY TELEGRAPH

Derby, Derbyshire, England

22 May 1917

(page 3)

BOGUS FREEMASONRY.

THE MYSTERIA MYSTICA, MAXIMA CASE.

THE DEFENDANT DENIES TELLING FORTUNES.

MERELY GAVE PEOPLE ADVICE.

The mysteria, mystica, maxima case was resumed at Marlborough-street Police Court to-day, when Mary Davies, described as an authoress and preacher of Regent-street, was charged with pretending to tell fortunes. At the previous hearing evidence was given of the accused sitting on a kind of throne chair wearing regalia similar to that of a Master of Freemasons, with other people wearing Masonic aprons. It was alleged that a society called the Order of the Temple of the Orient was carried on, and evidence of fortune telling was given. Inspector Curry recalled for cross-examination, was asked if he found appreciative letters from Sir Oliver Lodge as to accused’s mystical powers as a spiritualist. He said one of the letters was appreciative, but not from Sir Oliver Lodge. A lady police officer said the accused gave cheering talk and prayer. Counsel suggested that the accused gave advise such as a clergyman might have done. “She charged ten and six for it,” said the magistrate. (Laughter.) Bertha Brondel consulted the accused about her child’s supposed heart disease. The accused gave certain instructions, and said she would throw out her spirit to meet witnesses’. Another witness asked advice about a husband in the Essex Regiment. The accused said: I see him rushing on. He rushes on with others, and falls back among them. The defendant, giving evidence, said she was the wife of William Robert Davies, a pensioner in the Royal Navy. She got her living as a preacher, authoress, and medium. She never told fortunes. When giving advice she generally closed her eyes in silent prayer. She had been giving folks spiritual comfort for twenty years. Cross-examined, she denied telling fortunes by means of crystals. She made £3 10s. per week by giving these interviews.