Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-10-26

began and prOseculed the "al uPoA eiie "
lers in New York and elsewhere, and the etii-
cient Mayor has Just taken in hand another
class of imPosters less numerous and extensive
in their operations, but no less robbers Of the
eredulous. They are the class of imposters
PECULIARLY termed " astrOlOgeTs and fortune
teIlers," and twelve OF the wi,ching beldames
were captured on Friday and taken to the lock-
up. 1t IS stated that there are about fifty pro-
iessional iortune-tellers and interpreters OF
dreams in New York, some of whom have been
in business for over twenty years. There are
also professional elairvoyanis who mainly con-
fine themselves to the treatment OF the sick,
and some who thrive upon the terrible trade OF
abortion. A colored woman, one of the Oldest
Of the fortune-telling tribe, is said to have made
fortune Of $4,000 by her black art practices,
and has retired from the cOnjurOr's business.
Mayor Tiemann confded the duty Of arresting
the imposters to Sergean''s Birney and Croft,
who first visited number Of their establish
menis to get their fortunes told, and without
exciting suspicion. The result was the subse-
quent arrest of the following persons:
Auretta W. Snow, aged 10, United States,
dress-maker, fortune-teller and clairyoyant.
Jamina Lane, aged 25, United States, for
tune-teller.
ualist
Mercy widger, aged As, United States, spirit
Alice Cares, aged %, England, AstrOIOsist
Caroline brewster, aged 40, United States,
astrolegist
Frances Hayes, aged 40, United States, clair
yoyant.
Lucy Asken, aged 4s, England, fortune
teller.
Ann Fleary, aged 81, France, astrOlOgist-
Mrs. Harris, aged 80, England, astrologist-
Sarah York, aged 20, England, imPoster-
Augusta Wood, aged %, United States, for
tune-teller.
The prisoners were arraigned before the May
or. Most of them looked very respectabie.-
The clairvoyants were very intelligent, and some
of them rather handsome They seemed TO
take it very hard. The Mayor informed them
that he was determined to suppress anything
ike the humbug of fortune telling, quoting the
law against such practices; and let them 90 on
their own recognizance until to-day, when they
are all to appear and give bail for future good
conduct
Mary Roe, the spiritualist, PTOfessed to be vls-
tied by spirits and to foretell events by the mo
wing Of The hands and the working on the brain
While revealing the future to tie officers she
had q girl medium on her hands and knees IN
closet opening into madan's room, in view Of
the subject, pretending to invoke some spirit tc
inspire her favored mistress. When the mum
mery had gone far enough the star OF otiic'
was exhibited, when madam Roe started bach
bewildered, exc,aiming to the girl: "That'll do
Jule; you needn't kneel any longer, for th'
Mayors Police are on US"
Madam brewster used TO keep marriage Of
fce-,hat Is, for bringing parties together by
means of the advertising system-but quit j
for the more lucrative business Of fOrtune-tell
ing The Tribune says:
Mad. brewster was very candid after her ar
rest, and admitted that her professions were all
n bumbug. "The FOOLS" she said, " were moi
alI dead She had found that out and no matter
how humbugs were exposed, the fools would
continue as numerous as ever. The ticket swind
Iers and all others had their turn, and she thot
the fortune -tellers might as well come IN for q
share of such patronage She was also
spiritualist, and spiritualism she said was also
humbug; she had done many wonderful things
but it was all electricity and not BY any aid
from spirits
/ An old woman who was present, awaiting
her turn. when the officer made the arrest, took
TO her heels and ran down stairs and into the
street.
Lieut.. Birney recOnnOiteTed the premises OF
Mrs. Harris, the astrologist. We quote
On inauiring for the oracle, he was ushered
| into 4 seeend.story room; off this was closet
/ in which she gets up inspiration. Fifty cents
was the fee. which was paid, and the Sergeant
sat as demurely as young maiden TO hesr the
revelations. He was soon surprised to heal
that he would have two wives, and was shortly
GOING TO Europe; he had lost money recently,
but would recover IL Ms. H then informed
the servant that there was nothing else under
ordinary circumstances remaining TO be told,
INT he mmioht ask her three more questions free
of charge. s.Will you," says Birney, 'tell me
of 4 hcky number in lottery oh,
have always SO cents extra for answering such
gnestiops as that" replied the Madame
:. Then tell me of lucky number in policy.
.. For that / must have % cents " well,
saws Birney, " tell me where my stolen proper
ty is secreted &" "0h, you must pay me 81
for that" replied Mrs. II. The Sergeant then
intimated that he would like to be introduced to
a young or married lady, and was told that for
such privilege he must pay SO
Finally. Mrs. Harris agreed to make the Ser
peant acquainted the following afternoon, with
a beautiful young girl, aged Is, with black eyes,
very wealthy, and of rare beauty. She had a
list of about twenty rare beauties awaiting
chances. Mrs H. also had charm against
danger foI So, and love powder for 81.
Lieut. Croft and squad visited magnificent
palaee kept by Miss A W. Snow, aclairvoyant,
Et No. SO Green street. Her mother met him
/ in the us-lor, and informed him that he would
have to pay tw0 dollars to be admitted to her
daughter's room, which Tss IN the second sto-
" She represented her daughter as tue most
gifted lady in the city. She had thought Of
raising her price to s5. Croft pad the q and
vas sdrnitted into the presence Of Miss Snow,
q very handsome young ~ofasn' VINO al the
time had curious machine, with bell attach
ed on her lap. She took no notice of the Ser
gsaut az tirst, being, as her mother said, IN a
! clairyoyant sleep, preparatory TO making rev
| elation. Croft had not time to wait tili the la
dy would wake, and said he would save her the
,rouble He shook her, and she still continued
to sleep until he mentioned something about a
warrant, when she instantly came to her senses
and was given into the custody of Officer
Quick.
The next place was No ITO Spring street, Oe-
cuuied BY Mrs Seymour. She went into a
| clairvovant state for Mr. Croft, but he had no
time to listen TO her, and tired to wake her up
but she insisted on sleeping until the warrant
was announced. This made her shake fearful
/ ", and she was not long awaking from her
slunber. The Mayor thought her case was
what might be overlooked for the present. and
discharged her on her owu recognizances. The
lady did not profess to tell fortunes, but used
her professed powers in cases of sickness and
disease.