New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-09
A FORTUNE-T ACTING As A
DETECTIVE OFFICER.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.
PHILADELPHIA, May Z, 1857.
The business of fortune telling, planet reading
necromancy, &C., is carried on to great extent in
this city, as well as with great bOldness. Their
business qualifications and wonderful powers are
paraded in the newspapers, and their signs and
banners are hung upon the outer walls, so that All
NAV read. Some of them in this city have made
splendid fortunes by predicting good fortunes for
others, and now live on prominent thOrOughiares,
and have their buildings furnished in the most fash
ionable style; but to the facts which have to give
for the benefit of your numerous readers in this
city as well as in NewIork.
Several DAYS since gentleman from Virginia, and
supposed 10 be one of the +. f., while stopping at
one Of our fashionable hotels had fine gold watch
stolen from bis room. The theft was one that could
not well have been committed by any one except an
inmate of the house at least such the opinion OF
one of the detectives whose advice was asked
in reference to the matter. A couple Of days
passed without any tidings of the watch when one
of the servants in the house, who was IN the habit
Of answering the bell when 1t was rung by the Nr-
gilman, in conversation with the representative OF
Virginia chivalry. suggested that II ne 1.-THE Vir-
oinan) would 20 10 a certain fOrtune-teler in the
lorer section of the city. he might get infor-
nation which would lead TO the recovery of his
watch.
The Vireinsn consulted the detective, and be
was recommended tO take the servants advice,
which he did during the same day. The Vlrginian
entered the house Of the ortune-teer more to sat
isfy his curiosity than with any expectation of again
heboldipp his losttime keeper, but the first words
uttered by the planet reader rather startled him.
They were these 'YOung man, you have come to
"consult me about the loss of some property, the
description of which is a gold watch valued at
about $50"
The Virqnian acknowledged that such was his
Intention and that he would be under great obiga-
tons to her if she could give hra some trace OF 1t.
The fortune teller after great deal of talk, telling
him how long be had been in the city, his habits Of
me-. &c. came Ia the grand point e. how much
he would he willing 10 pay for its recovery. He told
ber IN name her own price, which she did by saying
that he would have to pay S25 down. and S25 more
when he got the watch in his possession.
The Virpinian having had SO many facts related to
him gave her the S25 without any hesitation, and
then received the information that the watch had
been taken by of the servants IN the house, but
NOT by the one who was in the habit of attending 10
b;s room and that if be would look behind certain
cssL in the yard the watch would be found, it hav-
mo bean nsced there by the thief for safe keeping
until he tbe owner of it) should leave the city.
The Viroinan. on his return 10 the hotel, made
the search as directed and 10 his astOnshment the
watch was found. The perfect knowledge of its
whereabouts by the fortune teIer' caused MN 70
think that there must De '',ne SoLeslon between aer
and the servant in the ho'ei ana Her conversation
With the detective resolved To have the twain ar
rested which resolution WAS carried out. The Viz
ginan' not wishing to remain in the city TO prose-
cnta the cas-. before a Court, compromised the mat
Ter after receiving back bis 25, and learning what
be had suspected before, that the fortune teller and
the servant assisted each other in this kind OF bust
ness, the plumber being divided between them. In
this enlightened age II appears range mat people can
La fnn5 so ,rednous as Ia believe the stories told
bv these cbaratans. or waste their time BY visiting
them. That they do an immense amount Of mischief
no one will deny. and the press should on all occa-
SONS expose the folly and absurdity of the system