The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-12
sPIRITUALIsM TRIUMPHANT
A Fair ClairvOyant Prosecuted
In Connecticut.
Story OF Her Trial-What She Professed-De.
cision Of the court-His Honor Reviews
tho Case and Orders Her Dis
oharge-Grsat Applause

THIS trial OF Miss Lottic Fowler whose operations
as ciairyoyant and test medium have occasloned
SO much excitement particularly since she predicted
the explosion at the cartridge factory in East Bridge
port the circumstances OF which were fully given
In thursdays HERALD. was concluded on the after
noon OF that day. The decision or his Honor Judge
Bullock, reserved until Saturday morning, was
given at nine O'clock, as follows:-
The case Is novel to our courts, not only IN It's
nature and the issues involved but in the ensre alb
sence OF connict OF testimony Thirteen witnesses
Tor the prosecution have been examined, who state
accused-intervlews In each case sought by
them, and predcated directly indirectly upon the
advertisement Of the accused as business clarvoy-
ant ana Test medium. That each these witnesses
had such interviews and that they truthfully relate
what was told by the accused al their respective
6lttngs are undispured lacts IN the case The State
also offers In evidence the advertisement OF the
cused, wherein she declares herself TO the world as
buslness calrvoyant and test medium. On the
other hand six witnesses appear for the defence,
each OF whom swear 10 have had from ten TO twenty
years OF personal study and Investigation OF
calrvoyance animal magnetism and kindred sub
JectS. From divers experiences durngsJhose' years
with clairvoyants and mediums they claim to have
f0und mat there IL science OF said carvoyancy or
animal magnetism winch Il In no way connected
with fortune telling, and that persons Possessing
this power are In no wise fortune teers. and that
the accused Is. a. she III her advertisements claims
70 be- to wit, genuine clalrvoyant. The claims OF
these witnesses Is not met by the state, and their
testimony also stands unc0ntiadtcted. But
the state says that even II the accused
Is clalrvoyant as she pretends to be,
when she passes the Legitimate sphere OF
such claryOyant and preIends TO reveal the future,
then she becomes fortune teller and alnenable to
the statute, and has thus become liable. The court
regards TINS claim well founded. and whatever
views ~ may entertain Of clalrvoyancy 1t regards
this as the burden OF the case. Has the accused
far pretended TO reveal future events TO render
herself liable upon the statute rs fortune ellerl 1t
thus becomes necessary to examine the statute. 1t
Is claimed by the defence that the statute having
been passed before test mediums We're known
| IL was not conceived TO cover such q
case. 1t Is not 10 be supposed that the trainers OF
the statute intended 10 apply IL only those
fortune telers practising arts then known, but also
to future fortune Uelers practising whatever devices
the future might indicate as long as the sta6ute
should stand. Hts Honor then read the statue, ana
centlnued:-This seems to apply not to- any par
ticuar class OF Migrants or idle persons but 10
whole fraternity known as professional bunlmers,
ana that this Interpretation is Just Is indi-
Gated by The punishment imposed. IL Is not
line or Imprisonment as each case may
for certain time Hence apprehend by the class
fortune tellers that the statute intended to apply
TO such class OF professional fortune telers VINO
hold themselves out 70 the world such, and pre-
tend and profess to reveal the future lives OF indi-
viduals. Applying this Interpretation OF the
to the case IN issue, do not think the testimony
VIII warrant the conviction OF the accused. there
lore discharge ner.
Scarcely had these words been pronounced when
tumultuous applause went up breaking the usual
silence OF the court room. Congratulations OF
numerous admirers, members OF the bar and press
were showered on the fair prophecies, who, all
through the trial. had proved herself equal TO the stu-
ation and gracefully acknow lodging the attentions
OF her friends, with smiles withdrew from the court
escorted by her counsel. The decision Is regarded
by believers as victory for SPirluallsm and wiil
no doubt, as precedent or lest case, all
cairvoyants from future molcstation. AL the At
lanJlc HoteL where she IS stopping, crowds daily
throng TO consult her, and the attempted pclsecu-
ton Will result in securing Increased patronage.