The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-26
PALMIsTRY UP TO DATE.
A Case in London Court In Which an
Alleged American Figured.
lFrom tho London Chronicle.

(From the London Chronicle
James Krampa, So, Professionalism
ing man, with curly hair, wearing gold
speotaoles, soft felt hat, and theatrical
looking cape, described as an artist, liv-
ing in St. Marks road. Noting hill, was
charged betops Mr.. Hannay, at MARI
borough street police court, yesterday,
with pretending and protesting to tell
fortunes by means of palmistry at Hyde
park, and thereby deoeiving and impos-
ing on James Sinclair, carpenter of 81
Northampton square, Clerkenwell. B.
Abrams, solicitor, appeared for tho do
tense.
Detective Sergeant Baxter of the A
division deposed that owing to COM
plants received by the police he, in COM
pany with another officer, kept observa-
ton in Hyde park on Monday afternoon,
and saw the prisoner standing on chair
with the large red banner produced on
which was the picture Of a large hand,
the ''lineso of which were drawn very
clearly. Around him stood crowd OF
about 40 people, male and female. A
man went forward and placed his hand
in the prisoners for examination. Ao-
oused looked at the hand and then at the
SUBJECTS head, and remarked, "You
have a good head. You are mechanic,
are you not?" The man replied, ST
thought you could tell me that Ac-
oused answered, ono; 1 don't profess to
say what class of mechanic you are. Had
you adopted a profession you would have
done well. You have Travelled good
deal; you are fond Of traveling?' The
subject replied, 81 have been as far as
Harrow on the HILL" Krampa replied,
" If you have not already travelled you
will do so. Your line of fortune denotes
that at the age OF 81 you will meet with
a reverse, and will probably go .abroad."
The EsubjecG answered, That cannot
be, as | am As years of age" The pris-
oner said, 81 can't tell exactly without
mathematical Instruments. I can only
judge by the lines. -
He (witness) spoke to the subject Sin
clair. who left Krampa. Sinclair before
leaving Krampa, paid him something.
He (witnesS) saw several sixpenceS given
too the prisoner. A girl named Packer
had her palms examined. Krampa looked
at her face and told her that she had a
bad temper, and that she WIS spend
thrift, fond of life and fond of reading
novels, the girl denying that she was pos
sessed of any of these attrib He
also told her the way she would read
would be by looking at the last page of
the book to see if there were a marriage,
and If there were wedding, she would
read the book. (Laughter.) She would,
he added, neglect her husband. and allow
L. Il
stead OF cooking it properly, and that she
would live to an old age, and that she
was very cheeky. The girl replied,
"That's very different from what you
told me last week. She gave him six
pence and walked away, remarking to
the prisoner, Il have sufficient cheek for
YOU" Altogether 80 persons were exam
ined, their handsHin each case Ebeing in
spected. About half past o'clock the
witness told ths prisoner that he would
have to go to the police station, where he
would be charged under the vagrant act
with pretending to tell fortunes by means
of palmisGry. The prisoner said, "Will
you allow me to explain? I claim that
do not read fortunes. l read lines -
He gave his correct name and address.
In cross-examination the officer said
that hs did not caution the prisoner, who
did not say he was an American, and
was unaware that he was breaking the
law. All the people in the crowd were
amused and laughed heartily. They gave
the sixpenny pieces voluntarily Neither
the mechanic nor the girl was deceived.
for both said they did not believe what
Krampa said. When arrested, the pris-
oner said he read the character of people
by the ''lines" Of the hand. Fl 9 wanted
his (the witness's) hand. but he thought
it an unfavora bic opportunity. (Laugh-
ter.
After further evidence, MI. A brahams,
in defense. said he did not think his
client had brought himself within the
scope of the act of good King George Nv,
which said that the offense was "usinR
any subtle ceaft or device to deceive and
impose upon his maiesty's subjects" In
the time Of George Nv there were so-oRlIed
wizards and witches, and fortunes were
told by the stars, etc. The members of
Parliament at that time considered that
a hin should be passed to protect the
people, who were Dot so enlightened then
as they are now. He did not think any
body had been deceived in the present
case.
MIR. Hannay said it was clear that the
principal witness had not been deceived
but it was difficult to put bounds to the
folly and simplicity of the human race.
and there were many young persons in
the crowd who would easily hs imposed
upon. The prisoner might be an Aneri-
can and stranger to our laws but by
the appearance of his flag he had come
very we'll prepared for business. He
would not have to go TO prison, but q
substantial fine must be imposed He
would have to pay penalty of pounds
with the alternative of II days. impris-
onment.
Mr. Ahrahams-The fine will be maid.