Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-05

Detective Charley" Lee. Of tho vice
squad and a corps of detectives are serving
notices upon the gypsy fortune telcrs that
they must leave the city by next WcdncS-
day. The respective kings" representing
the Brazilian. Hungarian. Serbian and Rus
sian tribes, are comforting today at various
fortune-telling parlors to decide just where
they will GO
Husbands of tho gypsies under arrest say
they will remain here until the charges
against their wives have been disposed Of
Others say they must remain here because
they have paid their rent from two to three
months in advance
A careful survey OF the zone where the
fortune-telling ''parlors' are operating dis
closed today that one very important par
lor" was overlooked. 1t may have been an
accident As information for the police
this 'parlor" is at 3937 Lancaster avenue.
II is Just opposite the Thirty-ninth street
and Lancaster avenue police station. TINS
station is commanded by Lieutenant Savage.
The 'parlor" is operated by Joe EphrOn,
who at the detective Bureau is known as
the king Of the Canadian faction of the
gypsy foTtune-teler3 now in Philadelphia.
Ephrons wife was busy reading palms
last Saturday afternoon. Mothers. fair
maidens and youths visited the place. Not
only was NfS EpIfDn kept busy, but ntF
daughterin-aw. who is sixteen years old,
assisted.
PURCHASED $4,000 WIFE FOR son
This daughter-in-aw was purchased as a
wife by Ephron for his fourteen-year- old
SON. several months ago. The price paid
by Ephron for the bride was $4,000. lie ad-
mits this just as calmly as he admits that
he owns $500 automobile. The car was
bought by Ephron a few days ago at a
81 lp
place. Ephron has been here only two
months.
The home of the Ephron family which has
seven children, many cousins, many friends
is in a store at the Lancaster avenue ad-
dress. The place rents for S2J a month.
Ephron admits being a rich man, but
laughs heartily ana says mo, No, I no
king" when asked whether he is the king
Of the Canadian gypsy faction
Fortune telling is an art according to
Ephron. He says his wife is talented in
that profession lie denies that any person
was ever robbed in his place. As for the
leaving of jewelry and money with his wife
by innocent persons, Ephron says that is a
part of the business.
But anybody who leaves anything with
my wife can get it back" said Ephron.
'they leave II behind so that the devils
won't get 1T If you have your fortune
told and should decide to leave your money
here, you can do so and you can get it
back should you care to come"
A WANDERER, But WORTH $4,000
Detectives Freund and Beckman. who
know Ephron and who helped him to re-
cover his siXteen-year-old daughter in law
when she was kidnapped by a gypsy band.
ssy that EphrOn is the recognized head Of
the canad an faction of the gypsy fortune
tellers here. The police say he displayed
10 tnem bank book showing that he had
S25.000 on. deposit in Il Chicago bank.
Ephron is also interested in purchasing
horses for the Canadian Government.
Ephron and some Of the men who live with
him were among those who crowded Cen
tral station when the eighteen women were
srraigned there last Saturday.
II don't have other places" said EphrOn
when reporter called on him. II am a
very poor man, and have little mOney-yes.
] did buy automobile for $500, But all
the American people have automobiles, So
that is nothing strange"
said he came 10 this country when a lad.
In Canada he married. ON the honeymoon
he discovered that his wife possessed
talent--so he says--the kind of talent which
ought to develop her into good fortune
teller. He said that since then he and his
family have been travelling around the coun-
try. But Ephron doesn't read palms. lie
gives his occupation as that of a copper
smith.