Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-07
SAYS SPOOKIST is
BUNCO STEERER
CAPTAIN AUBLE HAS SEANCE
WITH FAKER
Woman Declares "DeImas" Treated
Her BrutalIy, Reports Attempted
Swlndle to Police and Medium
Leaves the City


Steps to rid Los Angeles of that clas
of spook takers which in the past ha
reaped rich harvests from the gullibl
in the city are being taken by the po
lice department, and already one o
them, prof" Delmas. said by Cap
tain of Police Walter Auble to be
former bunco steerer, has been prac
tically run out of town by the depart
ment.
1T was reported to me that Delma
was doing a business which was fal
without the law, and 1 sent for him t.
come to my Office" said Captain Aublt
yesterday. when he came 1 recos
nized him as an old bunco steerer and 6
man that 1 forE-erly haG trouble with
I told him that he would have to GU
out the business he was doing or leave
town. He told me he would do so, anC
a few days later moved from 1091!
South Broadway, where he had rooms
to the Hotel Brewer on West Seventh
street. l have been informed that he
has now left the city.
Says Man Admitted Charges
"The woman who complained to me
was Mrs. r. E. lie Olive o. 124 South
Olive street. She claimed that she Wis
tied Delmas for the purpose of getting
a 25-cent reading from him. and that
after telling her a few things he tried
to force her to give him $3.50, and when
she refused used language which was
to say the least improper, and even
resorted to threats. When 1 questioned
Delmas he admitted a few Of her
charges"
II was the vi Tim of an assault at
the hands of Prof. L Jlmas, the so-called
medium and fortune teller, in his rooms
at 1091a South Broadway" said Mrs.
De Olive yesterday, and to me it ap-
peared to be an tempt at robbery
more than ANYTHING else 1 can mention.
"I had read in certain Los Angeles
papers that this man lelmas was CIV
ing readings for 25 cents and decided
to go and see him. 1t was merely a
matter of curiosity with me more than
anything else, as do not believe it pos
sible for anyone to communicate with
the spirit world
Has Punk Stick Handy
'As 1 entered his apartments I met
Delmas and he ushered me into an ad-
joining room. He then pulled down
the window curtains and locked the
door.
"'You give readings for 25 cents?' 1
asked him, and he replied that he gave
test readings for that sum. He then
told me to sit down in chair and took
hold of my hand.
ct can make you rich, he said, and
will do so If you will pay me $3.50.
That is, 1 will show you how you can
make several hundred dollars within a
few days and you can pay me the $3.50
out of the money when you receive it.
You are, of course willing to do that.
Long Beach; yes. that Is the place for
you to buy property. I can plainly see
that Here, smell this and he placed
q vile smelling turning stick near my
nose
"'Now, you give me the $780, he
continued, and will lay in some chem
1cals need to carry on this work and
then you come back and see me tomor-
row morning
why, l won't give you any $3.50
told him, and he sprang from his
chair and demanded > know if I re-
fused to pay him. 1 told him he had
not done anything for me and I could
not see why 1 should give him that
much money.
Reports Case to Police
Ou can leave IIllS room until you
pay me- he shouted. and walking over
to the door turned the knob to show me
1t was locked.
81 was, of cour-e. greatly frightened,
but made up my mind I would do all
in my power to get out of paying the
money before l gave it too him
L ought to kick you into the street
for refusing to pay my fee' Delmas
shouted and shook his fist at me. At
last he decided that was not going to
give him the money, so turned on me
and said:
Here, you give me the % cents any
way and get out of my office. If you
ever come in here again 1 will kick you
out
Enlightened. 1 threw the quarter on
the table and rushed from the room.
went direct to the police station, where
/ saw Captain Auble and demanded
that Delnias be arrested. Captain Auble
listened to my story and then promised
that he would take the matter up.
II was greatly frightened by the man
and do not intend that the matter
shall drop
ut appears strange that men should
be able to act that way to defenseless
women when they call in answer to
and I cannot think of
any punishment TOO severe for them.'
At the Hotel Brewer, 412 West Sew
enth street, it was said yesterday that
Prof. Delmas moved to Paso Robles
several days ago and was liyi~g there.
Delmas is said to have given for his
reason for leaving Los Angeles that he
was suffering with rheumatism and
that he thought the change would ben
eft him.
Since the fight against the spooksters
was inaugurated many of them have
been driven from their former haunts
and have taken up a house o-house
in the residence district. Many
of them are making practice of call
ing at different houses and Introducing
themselves as soothsayers and Offering
to tell fortunes for 25 cents. The police
have been notified, but so far none of
these takers have been arrested. The
matter will be taken up by the police
commission at it's next meeting and 1t
is probable some steps will be taken to
put stop to this form Of taking.
nj ANKcAHITIl nnnnnIrrAn