Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-22
2 Friday Morning, April 22, 1881.
FoOLIsHNEss AND CRIME.

A remarkable story of the credulity of weak woman has just been told in the central criminal court in London. The woman is a Mrs. Hart-Davies, whose mother died in 1876, leaving to her about $50. GOO worth of jewels, laces, silks, Indian shawls, etc. In June, 1879, Mrs. Hart-Davies being out of health, the services of John William Fletcher of Boston, Massachusetts, a magnetic doctor" then in London, were obtained. When Mir. Fletcher first saw Mrs. Hart-Davies he discov- cred that she was possessed of great psychic force" Taking hold of her hand he went into trance, and while in that condition had a message" from his patients dead mother. This greatly delighted her, and thereafter as often as she wanted 8 message MT. Fletcher would see that she had one. In few weeks he introduced her to Susie Wills Fletcher, his wife. Mrs. Fletcher revealed to Mrs. Hart Davies that she felt strong attraction for her, as if they might become sisters, and the three, MT. Fletcher being one of the party, went to a Spiritualist meeting at Crystal Palace, where Fletcher delivered lecture in 8 trance.
 After this the messages from the spirit world were frequent and definite. Mrs. Hart Davies mother, through the Fletchers, ex- pressed great anxiety for her daughters wei fare, and warned her against wearing often the jewelry she had left her, because the magnetism" in it was so strong that it might take her into the spirit world prema- turely. The daughter swallowed this with out difficulty and then Susie had a message directing that a set of amethysts and dia- monds should be given to her to wear for af- fection's sake, as if they were her own. Mrs. Hart-Dayies was also ordered to call Mrs. Fletcher ''Sister Bertie," and MT. Fletcher Brother Willie," and the Fletchers were directed to call her "Sister Juliet" Another message written by spirit controlling the hand of Sister Bertie induced Sister Juliet to do as she had been instructed, and the ame- thyst and diamond set were handed over. All the other jewels, required in the same way, soon followed. On the occasion of their de- livery MT. Fletcher went off into a trance and transmitted the mothers blessing, Sister Juliet falling down on her knees and laying the jewels in his lap as though performing an act of obedience The mother said that Juliet was to impress upon Bertie that she was to wear the articles and to regard them as her own, and to have no compunction. Bertie had no compunction about wearing and regarding the jewels as her own, nor had she and her husband any compunction about taking nearly the whole of an extensive and costly wardrobe, all the furniture, cases of wine, and other valuable things.
 II. I. yenient cooperation of the spirits and of Mrs. Hart-Davies' unquestioning obedience of their messages, the Fletchers were little doubtful as to the way in which the unspir- itual law might view their operations, and so they induced their dear Sister Juliet to make over the property to them formally. The deed of gift was executed on the 25th of August, only eleven weeks from the time of the first message" Juliet went to Tours and passed the winter, and while there re- ceived and obeyed instructions to burn all the letters she had received relative to the gift of the property. Returning in May, 1ssO she remained in London three months and was then taken away by the Fletchers to America. During the voyage they treated her very cruelly-not at all as 8 sister and brother should treat a dear sister. From New York the party went to Greenfield, Mas sachusetts and attended Spiritualist camp meeting at Lake Pleasant. There Sister Juliet met another magnetic doctor, who told her she had been humbugged, and has since helped her to recos CT some of her property. It may reasonably be doubted, however, wbathar she will hold if lonp
 The most satisfactory part of the whole affair is that 'tBertie' has been convicted by the English court and sentenced to in1prison- ment at hard labor. It is pity that her husband does not share in her punishment but he escaped the clutch of the law.