The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-03-28

swers. In that description | include
the ladies' with the gentlemen who
practice the art. There are as many
women practicers of these evil meth
ods as there are men, and a vastly
greater number of their victims are
ladies.
In 1898 woman was convicted of
having stolen jewels worth $500 be-
longing to her mistress, a Liverpool
lady. The prisoner had been a lady's
maid for four years. She was young
only twenty-three, intelligent, honest.
In the Easter of '9S she accompanied
her mistress to Eastbourne. where, at
one of the chief hotels, the girl met
woman with whom she became friend
ly. The stranger narrated how she
had her fortune told by a marvellous
woman, and the maid naturally longed
to have q peep into her future. She
accordingly went to the fortune teller,
being introduced by her companion.
This woman was a mere accomplice
of the "seer," sharing the profits of the
business, and living at the hotel in
order to meet victims. The maid, after
her conviction, and while working her
sentence, confessed all, and gave an
account of what took place at the in
terview. The seer had subtly sug-
gested the robbery TO her. had limited
that it would be successful, and had
pointed out that the money which
might be realized through it was sorely
needed If the girl was to make certain
of the affections of the young fellow in
love with her, who, the fortune teller
stated, was wavering beneath the
temptation of a marriage with another
girl who was better off, but who would
make him miserable The maid fell
into the trap laid for her. She stole
the jewels and was quickly discovered.
The suggestion of crime or indiscre-
tion for the purpose of subsequent
blackmail is part of the business Of
most fortune tellers. The chief epi-
denies OF secret poisoning by women
have almost invariably been found to
have their origin in the foul den of the
pretended seer-male or female.
In a case which came before one of
the law courts some time ago the meth
DDS of the fashionable fortune telling
preyer We're revealed in a startling
fashion. A gentleman of very consid-
cradle wealth, his young and pretty
wife and her maid were staying at
Mentone. Among the persons they
met at the hotel was a very delight
full lady, who, by the fascination of
her manner and elegance of her cos
tune, quickly won the admiration of
the young wife. They decided to visit
palmist in the town.
The delightful stranger. an accom-
plce of the fortune teller had, of
course. instructed him in all the infor-
nation he required respecting the vic
tim before the meeting.
you are married." he told the lady,
"and are moderately happy Your
husband has faults"-the victim had
confided them to her lady friend in
the course OF many chats-"more faults
than you know, You might have mar
rled better. There is gentleman here
now-rlch, titled, prepossessing in ev-
cry way-who loves you passionately.
He is related to q royal family"
The young lady was startled, fat
tered and curious, but more the swim
dler pretended he could not tell her
then. and the lady and her companion
left him. She was naturally excited to
know who the royal person might be.
Her companion undertook to try what
she could do to drag from the fortune
teller further particulars.
In few days she brought the news
was fond of dancing. and would be
at masked ball to be held a night or
two later. So much the seer had dis
covered, but he would say no more
than that If the lady went to the ball
the prince would doubtless see her and
reveal himself. The tempta ton to
learn who he really was was too great
to be resisted.
1t was trap TO enable the fortune
teller to blackmail the young wife af-
terward, and the vllliany was only dis
covered when the lady was proceeded
against by money lender for sums
borrowed to satisfy the bloodsuckers.
when at last she confessed her foolish
ness to her husband.
The system of employing as decoys
fascinating and well dressed women,
who take their places at the best ho-
tells as visitors and inslnuate them
selves into the confidence OF ladies
whom 1t is deemed worth victlmizing,
is a comparatively modern develop
ment in the art of blackmailng