The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-21
Her Jewels and $6, 900
Given Up by Mrs.
Lindsay.
THEN, FEARFUL,
SHE TELLS POLICE
John Fosgate, clairvoyant, and
Confederate Now in Jail at
Bristol, Captured While
Seeking to Make Their
Escape May Have
Other Victims.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.1
Bristol. Va, February 20.--A scnsn-
tional ease of what is believed to hive
been hypnotic influence was revealed
here to-day, when John FosEntc. re-
~ years old, and William Lewis, his
ALLEGED confederate, about the same
nEc, were arrested on complaint OF
Mrs. Minnie Lindsay, widow of Stuart
j.. Lindsay, who was clerk OF the
United states Court at Abingdon for
many yenrs.
nirs. Lindsay, being advised thnt
FOsgnte and HIS associate were about
to leave the city, n,nde known 10 the
police that she had InortEagcd real
estate In this city to the extent Of
over In cnsh to EOsEnfe, together with
gold wnch, n diamond ring and other
icwelry.
Captured at Point OF Gun.
Fosgate was arrested by a. detective
carly to-day. and Lewis. who hurried
~ left the city In the early morning
carrying all tho cash and jewels was
captured at a farm house near Vance.
Tenn. sia miles south of this city.
Policeman Samuel odcli, learning
from the conductor of the early train
Lewis had left the train at Vance, hur-
ried there. Covering Lewis with a
revolver. Officer Odell took possession
of his grip and found in IL tin box
containing $4,000 in currency. $1,000
in gold coins of Sc. $40 and $50 de-
nominations. In addition TO the money.
the box contained two gold Watches
pins, rings and diamonds valued at
probably $500.
10 IN ri az NJ "a ryn
and opened an office here. protesting
to be an expert in palmistry, mesmer-
ism. hypuotism and fortune-telling. HIS
confederate came later. Fosgate ad-
ycrtfsed as the "most renowned pro-
fessor OF hypnotic science in the coun-
try and his office was daily crowded
with society men and women seeking
to know what fortune held in store
for them. Fosgate paid all bills
promptly, and conducted himself in a
way to inspire confidence. When taken
to police headquarters to-day he frank
Iy admitted that he had secured $4,000
from Mrs. Lindsay, but declared that
she gave il TO him in accordance with
a marriage contract; that he was to
have been married to her and that
he would be able to prove as much by
Mrs. Lindsay and her daughters.
Kept 1t Secret.
1t was learned to-day that Mrs.
Lindsay spent ten days In an effort to
secure the money she gave the clair
voyant and succeeded only by mort
gaging valuable city property without
allowing her relatives to know any
thing about the transaction.
Mrs. Lindsay is daughter of the
late Isaac c. Fowler. who was for
twenty five years clerk of the Federal
Court at Abingdon. Virginia. and who,
nrior to that time. conducted news
naper in Bristol. The family is one
Of the best known and most highly
connected In Southwestern Virginia
Mrs. Lindsay has been so conservative
I'm tho management OF her business af-
fairs that her neighbors arc greatly
surprised that she has been made the
victim Of such scheme.
Fosgate claiE,s to have, come here
from Los Angeles. Cal" rut he has
operated in New York. He is a hand
some man of medium height, with
light brown hair and blue eyes. While
this matter was brewing he was busy
with the preparation of a lecture on)
church work. which he said he eX-
pected to deliver soon before the Bris-
tol Young Mems Christian Association.
In the possession of F'osgate and his
associate were found tools and appli-
.ances said by the police to pe well
suited for burglary. The case will be
Investigated in Police Court to-mor-
row, and Mrs. Lindsay, who.is reticent
to-day. is expected to tell her story
of tho affair.
Tho bond of each OF tho men was
placed by Recorder Burrow at $4,000,
and as he refused to accept the money
they are alleged to have fraudulently
obtained from Mrs. Lindsay for bail
they arc held in jail.
Catered Only to Wealthy.
FosEatc dressed we'll and drove au-
tomobiles. He wore Shriner's pin
worth probably $500 and nashy Elk
head, but tho local members of these
orders declare that he does not belong
to them. The exalted ruler of the lIlks
to-day examined Fosgato and pro-
nounced his pretensions at being a
member OF that order as fraudulent.
1t is said that other Bristol women
Of high social standing were involved
with the clairyoyant. who catered only
to the wealthy class of people. and es-
pecially aged and wealthy widows.
Fosgate carried a solid gold watch
which belonged to the former United
States court clerk and bore his non-
ogram, and other treasures Of tho aris-
tocratic Lindsay family.
tfsE -------O-----------