THE PEOPLE

London, England

27 May 1917

(page 4)

“TEMPLE OF THE ORIENT.”

WELL-KNOWN PSYCHIST FINED £40.

A fortune telling case which presented several remarkable features in which defendant was a well-known West-End psychist, was decided by the Marlborough-st. magistrate this week.—Defendant, Mrs. Mary Davies, was charged with professing to tell fortunes. When the police raided her premises in Regent-st. she was discovered seated in what Det.-Insp. Curry described as a sort of throne chair and wearing Masonic regalia, representing the Worshipful Master. Ten people surrounding her wore the Masonic aprons. Mrs. Davies then declared that it was a Masonic Lodge, but the officer informed her that he did not recognise that claim, and understood that she called it “The Order of the Temple of the Orient.” The letters “M.M.M.,” which the officer said were on the glass panel of the front door were interpreted by Mr. Muskett, representing the police, as “Mysteria, Mystical, Maxima.”

Comforted Many People.

—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, and she had published a book called “My Psychic Recollections.” She denied that she ever told fortunes. “I have comforted thousands of people,” she declared.—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.—The magistrate said he would take it that defendant acted quite bona fide, but there must be a conviction.—Fines £40 and 10gs. costs.