Now that spiritualism in its various phases is so popular,
we may usefully direct attention to the ease of Stonehouse v. Masson, which was decided on appeal in the King's Bench on Tuesday by five judges, headed by the new Lord Chief Justice. The question was whether, if a person wore charged under the Vagrancy Act with professing to tell fortunes, it was neces- sary to find whether or not the defendant believed that ho or she had the power of telling fortunes. The five judges agreed that it was not necessary. Fortune-telling, according to the law, is a fraud and a deception and is an offence in itself, without regard to what the fortune-teller believes or pretends to believe. The Lord Chief Justice said that fortune-telling was a public mischief, injuring many credulous people, and ought to be repressed. It is well to have the true effect of the statutes made clear, for doubts have been raised by contradictory decisions, as Mr. Justice Darling admitted, and the police have been hampered in dealing with the many impostors who prey upon the weak-minded.
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