Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-18
FORTUNE TELLER
GETS SENTENCE
JUDGE IMPOSES HEAVY FINE
OR IMPRISONMENT
Mazzini Ordered to Pay $3.50 or Go to
Jail Ninety pays--creates Con-
sternatlon In Fakers'
Camp

miranda was sentenced yesterday by
Police Judge Chambers to pay fine
of $3.50 or go to Jail fop three months
on charge of practicihg clairvoyancy
without license
Mazzini presented a pitiful spectacle
as he sat on bench in the cheerless
courtroom, deserted and alone His
pose was one calculated to arouse
sympathy
The mediums friend, G.. A. Plaisance,
the real estate salesman, hurried out
on search for some one to go on his
bond. The dismal prospect of the long
Jail sentence took all the jauntiness out
of the little fortune teller and he sat
stopped with his head in his hands, a
detected, disheartened figure.
Attorney Hyatt made plea for len
iency on the ground that the jury was
prejudiced.
Judge Chambers, after deliberation,
announced the sentence and Mazzinl
sat down with a gesture of despair and
there was CONSERVATION among the
three or four faithful ones who still
chung to their crushed leader.
GiggIy Girls Are Absent
There were none of Mazzinis femi-
nine followers in court when he ap-
peared for sentence. Those who sat on
the benches yesterday and abused WIZ
nesses and made insulting remarks
about the judge and prosecutor were ah-
sent. The crowd of beetlebrowed men,
gullible women and silly girls who gig
ged at the faker's witty remarks
stayed away from the court room.
The sentence imposed on the medium
created CONSERVATION among the
swindlers who are operating In Los An
geles without a license.
Evidence sufficient to convict score
of these takers is available and more
proofs are easy to obtain.
City Prosecutor Guy Eddy was con-
graduated yesterday on his success
with the case. His method of bringing
out discriminating admissions from the
smoothest faker in the ranks of the
tricksters was most admirable. Inc
hot shot of questions fired at the Wris-
Cling faker took the breath away from
his victim. 1t was only when he was
allowed to plunge into long lectute,
cribbed from some translated Work,
that the little cockney was at ease.
Eddy Shows Cleverness
Prosecutor Eddy had little difficulty
in entangling the erstwhile hostler
when it came to question of disposal
of money derived from fortune telling.
1t is said further investigation along
dimes wheedled from the 20 >kcts of the
feebleminded dupes finl their way 10
the till of a Spring street thirst resort.
The only rift in the leaden clouds or
the sad day for Maginnisanda was
when the clerk returned to him the you
bail which was shaken from the pock-
cts of the toilworn dupes at Burbank
hall the night the phoney fortune teller
was arrested by Patrolman Storey.
Mazzini pocketed the coin with an
avaricious leer, probably thinking how
simple it was to rake in the cash from
the easy marks who flocked to see
Slater do his schoolboy stunt at ballet
reading.
Black Magic Failure
Black magic was at a heavy discount
while Maginnis sat in the court room
wondering whether his friends would
succeed in raising the bail. The prison
lars. behind which he had once been
locked loomed like spectre before the
spook boosters eyes. After an inter-
minable time Mrs. Margaret Johnson,
the fortune teller's landlady, who swore
Yesterday that she don't allow no for
time tellers nor palmists" in her house,
came to her tenants rescue.
Mrs. Johnson gave bond for MaZzini,
who took an appeal.
Police Are Delighted
Delighted with the fact that con-
viction was secured against MaZzinl,
the local police department will con-
tinue the active campaign against the
takers Of all classes which was started
several weeks ago.
Chief of Police Kern has in his pos
session a vast amount or evidence
against a number OF the lake iheuiuiiis 10
and fortune telling robbers and 1t is
the intention of the department to nave
complaints sworn out against them on
the stregnth of this evidence at once
The story of Mazzini's conviction
spread rapidly and all yesterday after
noon telephone messages We're received
at the police station asking If 1t were
true that the archfaker would indeed
be compelled to pass days as mem
her of the chain gang or behind bars.
IN all the messages received not one
Expressed pity for the man whose
faults and wrongdoing have found him
out but expressions such as WELL
hope this will teach the fakers les
son" were frequent.
against the takers by The Herald pri-
yate agents have been at work secur-
ing evidence against them, and this
has all been turned over to the police.
In a number of the fakers' offices they
have been refused admission, the me-
diums claiming tha&Hbey would not
practice again until after they learned
how Mazzini came out with his case.
The fact that he is convicted will with
out doubt cause a great many OF them
To fold up their tents and search for
greener fields.
In almost every office to which the
detectives were admitted they succeed
ed I'm gaining the wished for evidence,
and II was only those whose greed for
money overruled their better judgment
who admitted them.
Must Pay License
The conviction of Mazzini will serve
to bring others of his ilk to the bar
unless they procure their licenses at
once.
License Collector Johnson some time
ago caused his books to be overhauled,
and on discovering the many special
permits existing through the franks is
sued in the mayors office called Mayor
Harper's attention to the abuses which
D.d;atod "A. anekisnn In ,Cufo Of paraIvSiS