Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-02
SPOOkSTERS' SMOOTH
GAME is DEFEATED
FAIL IN EFFORT TO EvADE
ORDINANCE
Members of Semi Tropjc Association
Unable to SHOW Supervisors Ex-
ception Should Be Made In
Their Cases

AT the morning session of the board
of supervisors yesterday the question
of the amendment to the county law
as proposed by representatives of the
Semi-Tropic Spiritualistic association
week ago, was taken up.
The proposed amendment exempts the
association, directors and employees
from the $50 month license provided
in the ordinance.
Robert L. Hale of 1912 Santee street
was present at the meeting and OPP
posed the amendment. Mr.. Hale, one
of the most active in having the origi-
nal ordinance passed, is a member OF
the National Spiritualistic association,
and also is president of the Anthrax
ers society. He said: "The Anti-Fak-
ers society of Los Angeles has no COM
plaint to find with regularly ordained
mediums of the state or national asso-
Citations, knowing these mediums must
go through rigid examinations prior TO
being ordained. The Semi-Tropic asso-
citation, which seeks to be exempt from
the county license, was a party to the
cause of the present ordinance, as the
members fostered the presence or fak-
ers in their alleged association.
"The'Reverend' Hugh r. Moore, who
was driven out of New York city for
his dishonest work there, was caught
in his nefarious work in Los Angeles
and was arrested by the local police
and his license revoked. =.
"He then went to Edendale, the end
of the scent car line, and the SENT
Tropic association accepted his pres
ence there and likewise another faker,
Mrs. Roberts, who ran church at
Edendale called the Church OF the
SOUL was caught taking there. Sne
attempted to rob man of $500, ana the
Semi-Tropic association was siiehl
about all of these matters.
"A. ]. Spinks, one of the officers or the
Semi -Tropic association, was caught In
a seance on Central avenue OF this city,
the seance being conducted by Mr.: ano
Mrs. Baxter, and at the trial or the
couple, after the officers produced the
paraphernalia, A. J. Spinks took the
stand In defense of the Baxters' VINO
were found guilty.
"Some months ago A. j. Spinks pre-
sided at a reception held IN the Bur
bank hall for the benefit of the motor
ious faker, Elsie Reynolds. l came III
for a good share of abuse at the recep-
tion, but I considered the source"
MIR. Hale read letter to the boarc
which is said to have been written ps
Elsie Reynolds, dated Los Gatos, Jun'
l.. 1903 The letter follows:
"Dear Laura-Yours only received
Yesterday evening, almost at the De-
| ginning of our Saturday night seance
/ don't know what to say about piack
| 1t is dangerous. But If you can't az
any better you Will have 10. But Iol
| Gods sake be careful. Why don't yo'
get Mr.. Allen? Have your seances or
the evening he can be there. Give hin
a dollar every time; he Is perfectl!
safe. A little, short one always comes
TO him by the name of Minnie VIII
lIams. She calls him her big uncle
Then step back, draw the lace owe
enough to cover your hair. Make your
self look tall by standing on your I'll
toes (Oh, God, If anyone should SCI
this) and Jump out as his mother
close YOUR arms around him and cal
| him my dear boy.
There were sixteen pages of closel!
written matter, and Mr.. Hale, to Prov
the letter genuine, produced letIe
from the district attorneys once oe
manding the return of the letters salC
to have been written by Elsie Reyno1as Key ,,s J
Mr.. Hale visited the attorneys offic'
in answer to the letter The distric
attorney advised Mr.. Hale to hold th'
letter because it was of criminal ma
| ture. -.
He said: "It is we'll known that Elsi
REYNOLDS is in hiding now in this cit!
and is only waiting for this amendmen
| to he passed so she can play and do he
uncanny work again.
| "As guardians of the county or Lo
Angeles the members of the Anti
Fakers organization of this city full!
understand you do not wish to caus
any injustice, but should this amend
ment be passed as it is expected to b.
stringent laws passed in our cit.
against the takers and In favor of tn
honest mediums then the Semt-Tropi
association. according to past evidences
| would become a cesspool for faker
here on the border of our city.
''Why | take the stand l do Is wei
known. as deception is sweet to an.
man. but afterward he finds his moutf
has been filled with gravel. Until th'
lust will separate themselves from tn,
unjust you may expect difficulty at al
times from men who can find time t.
| think"
The amendment proposed by thu
Semi -Tropic association was laid on tn,
| table by the board of supervisors.
Hartley Shaw, deputy district attor
ney. presented an amendment to th
board without recommendation. Thi
was not as broad as the one suggested
/ by the Semi -Tropic association. 1
| exempted only duly authorized ant
active teachers lecturers, pastors
! mediums or ministers of a church o
|