Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-17
Mazzini Found Guilty
of Breaking City
Ordinance
Mediums Flock to Court
Surrounded by
Their Dupes
Verdict Returned Promptly-Strkes
Terror to Hearts of Fakers and
swindIers Who Prey Upon
the Gullible

Leo Mazzini, alias Mazzininanda,
with half dozen other aliases, was
convicted by jury in Justice Cham
pers court yesterday on charge of
practicing clairvoyancy without
license.
The jury's verdict struck terror to the
hearts of hundred takers who have
been openly violating the ordinance
which was passed with view to keep
ing In check the impostors and swind-
lers who masquerade under the mantle
of spiritism and prey upon gullble and
feebleminded persons.
Mazzini is looked up to by these para
sites as a demigod. They firmly be-
lieved the phony Persian would work
his gobus black magic on Judge, jury
and witnesses, even to the hand shivell-
ing stunt before he would allow him
self to be convicted.
The spooksters gathered in force
when police court was opened They
were about half divided between medi-
ums and dupes. The gullibles were
easy to distinguish from their masters.
The low brow, the lackluster eye and
the general makeup of those who love
10 De. noouWlnked was unmlStdkaDl Ole.
Mazzini insincere
Arthur L. Howe, president of the
State Spiritual association, was there
to lend his moral support to the cause
of the pseudo seer. MazZini sWore he
was not a spiritualist medium and de-
MED he was in league with the spooks
Witnesses gave evidence to the effect
that the fortune teller talked of the
spirits and their alleged communica-
tions; that he pretended to go into a
trance and went through all the TOM
myrot the other mediums go through
when they seek to impress their dupes.
1t was easy to see at the outset that
the defense would set up a plea that
MaZZni was preacher and that his
mummery was a religious ceremony,
but the jury was not impressed.
MaZzini was inclined to deliver long
lectures in reply to questions pro-
pounded by the lawyers. The spookists
on the spectators bench enjoyed this
immensely but the jury seemed i'm
measurably bored.
When asked his full real name MAJ
zini caught IA long breath and spat out
something that sounded like Leo
Etienne Ketchum Skinnum Fakerino
Spookheimer Macaroni Maginnis,
Swamee soulinhator horse and horse
Thingumabob Windjammer Mazzini-
nanda."
The spookists giggled and the jury
looked disgusted.
Another witticism which showed the
mental caliber of the great teacher
came out when Prosecutor Eddy sought
to find the nationality of the fortune
teller:
''If a man is born hin a stable that
don't make i'm 'orse, does it?"
This burst of Whitechapel abuse Of
the kings English pleased the follow
ers of the Youdorem cult.
Hopes They Will Pay
When the Swami was called to the
stand the eyes of a score of his fol-
lowers, mostly women, swept toward
the little man as he gathered himself
together as gracefully as possible IN the
witness chair.
Prompted by the questions of At
torney Hyatt, his counsel, Swami said
that he was a teacher of philosophy
who occasionally dabbled in medium
ship in giving manifestations of psychic
phenomena His teaching embodied
the psychic and spiritual.
How old are you?" asked counsel.
Eighty" said Swami, endeavoring to
look as composed as possible While the
unregenerate onlookers looked at each
other and smiled.
Swami was asked to explain how in
his pursuit of wealth he CHANGED to
for alvice a card bearing the name
Brother G. "A. Plaisance, care H. Nc
Cord g. Co., S12 South Broadway, Los
Angeles"
This lady came apparently on a
business call and 1 answered her ques-
tions," said Swami. "She said she
was from the east, from Boston, and
remarked that she wanted to find out
something about property. Seeing
business card on the table l pointed
to 1t and said;
These are as good people as any,"
"And the man whose name was
thereon was one of your parishion-
ers?' was asked.
YES" said Swami.
rs the membership of your church
large enough to warrant them paying
you a salary?"
I'VE hope 1t will be some day"
Doesn't Go into Trance
In installments some data was
Cleaned from Swami as to how he
rakes in shekels.
II obtain my living principally
through the students classes which /
teach. If those who are interested
choose to donate to the cause we turn
the moneys over to the church.
II do not believe that 1t Is necessary
to go into trance as one witness said.
My attitude In the chair on the occa-
sion testified TO was not unusual l
always lean back when | talk and at
times l lean forward, merely to rest
iContinued On PAGE Threel