On Tuesday summonses against Miss Mercy Phillimore, Secretary of the
London Spiritualist Alliance, and Mrs. Cantlon, a medium, were dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act, but the defendants were ordered to pay costs, the magistrate holding that they were "guilty " of telling fortunes. We cannot help feeling that the police-women who were instructed to gather evidence for this prosecution could have spent their time very much better. Whatever view one may hold about Spiritualism it is a fact that many sincere people find in it either a help to faith or a method of scientific investigation. Much fraud is, of course, attributable to dishonest mediums ; Browning could find plenty of new Sludges ; but if a Spiritualistic society is to be held responsible for all the errors of a medium a ban will virtually be placed upon the association of the outside public with psychic investigation. Surely the Home Office has better ways of spending time and money.
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