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


miranda was sentenced yesterday by
Police Judge Chambers to pay u fine
of $3.50 or go to Jail fop three months
on charge of practicihg clairvoyancy
without a license.
Mazzini presented n 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 tho little fortune teller and he sat
stopped with his head in his hands,
detected disheartened figure.
Attorney Hyatt made u plea for len
iency on the ground that the jury was
prejudiced.
Judge Chambers, after deliberation,
announced the sentence and Mazzinl
sat down with gesture of despair and
there was CONSERVATION among the
three or four faithful ones who still
chung to their crushed leader.
Giggly Girls Are Absent
There were none of Mazzinfs 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 tne
swindlers who are operating in Los An
geles without q 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 Wrig-
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 wo:k,
that the little cockney was at ease.
Eddy Shows cIeverness
Prosecutor Eddy had little difficulty
in entangling the erstwhile hostler
when 1t came to a question of disposal
of money derived from fortune telling.
1t is said further investigation along
that line would show that many OF the
dimes wheedled from the 90 >kors of the
feebleminded dupes finl their way 70
the till of Spring street thirst resort.
The only rift in the leaden clouds OF
the sad day for Maginnisanda was
when the clerk returned to him the Soo
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 heavy discount
while Maginnis sat in the court room
wondering whether his friends would
succeed in raising the bail. The prison
Iors. behind which he had once been
locked. loomed like a spectre before the
snook 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
tune tellers nor palmists" in her house'
came to her tenants rescue.
Mrs. Johnson gave pond l"r Ma%ziili'
who took an appeal.
Police Are Delighted
Delighted with the fact that con-
yiction was secured against Mazzlnl,
the local police department Will con-
tinue the active campaign against the
takers of all classes which was starteu
several weeks ago.
Chief of Police Kern has in his pos
session a vast amount of evidence
against a number of the fake mediums
and fortune telling robbers and 1t is
the intention of the department to have
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 were received
at the police station asking II II were
true that the archfaket would indeed
be compelled to pass days as mem
ber 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.
hone this will teach the takers a les
son" were frequent.
Since the opening of the crusade
against the takers by The Herald pri-
yate agents have been at work secur-
ing evidence against them, and TINS
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 in gaining the wished for evidence,
and II was only those whose greed Tor
money overruled their better Judgment
who admitted them.
Must Pay License
The conviction of Mazzini will serve
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 I'm the mayors office called Mayor
Harper's attention to the abuses which