THE LEEDS MERCURY

Leeds, Yorkshire, England

23 May 1917

(page 3)

“MYSTIC MUMMERY.”

LONDON MEDIUM WHO

HELPED SOULS IN TROUBLE.

The hearing of the case in which Mrs. Mary Davies, psychist, is charged with professing to tell fortunes, was resumed at Marlborough-street Police-court, London, yesterday.

When the police raided her premises in Regent-street she was discovered seated in what Detective-Inspector Curry described as a “sort of throne chair,” and wearing Masonic regalia representing the Worshipful Master. Ten people who surrounded her wore the aprons of Master Masons.

The letters “M.M.M.” on the glass panel of the front door were interpreted by Mr. Musket, representing the police, as “Mysteria, Mystical, Maxima.”

Detective-Inspector Curry, in cross-examination by Mr. Sharp, did not agree that “M.M.M.” was a Masonic lodge. The “throne” was just an ordinary Masonic chair. The magistrate said that he had thought that “M.M.M.” might stand for “Museum Mystic Mummery.” (Laughter.)

Mr. Sharp: Did you find a number of letters from eminent people? Yes.

Just to mention two—Sir Oliver Lodge and General Smith Dorrien? Yes.

Were they appreciative letters of her mystical powers as a Spiritualist? No.

Mrs. Blanche Daisley, of Southfields, who was sent by the police, denied that what defendant did was to have “a little cheering talk and to pray for her.”

The Magistrate: You were told about your brothers in the R.F.C. Have you a brother in that regiment? No.

In the witness-box defendant described herself as a preacher, authoress, and medium. She was the wife of a naval pensioner, and her son was “a great hero,” who had been decorated.

Her doctrine was Spiritualism. She denied that she ever told fortunes. Describing her interview with Mrs. Daisley, a police witness, she said: “I closed my eyes for a moment or two, as I always do, for blessing and direction. I always commence every interview, whether in church or chapel, with prayer.”

The Magistrate: You keep a shop in Regent-street? Oh no; not a shop. I put it to the same use as a clergyman puts his vestry.

And charge half a guinea? They have their stipends. I use my room to help and advise souls and people in trouble in the same way as a clergyman does. They want my help, and I can give it. I do help, and have for twenty years given my life to it.

She explained her mistake about a man in the Flying Corps by saying that her mind was plastic, and that was the vision the woman was trying to produce on her.

The Magistrate: Have you ever told anyone what is going to win the Derby, or whether shares are going up or down? No, and I would not do so.

After further evidence, defendant was fined £20 in each of the two cases, and ten guineas costs.