Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-15
RADIO "MENTAL|ST"
IS UNDER INQUIRY
Maj. Pratt Orders Probe Into
Activities of Gayle
Norman.

u Gayle Norman, radio psychologist
and mentalist," to whom scores of
Washington men and Women have con-
f1ded their innermost secrets and domes-
tic troubles and paid 81 for the mental
relief that he broadcasts oyer Station
VOL, is under investigation today by
the fraud squad of the Detective Bureau.
The inquiry was ordered by Maj.
Henry @. Pratt, superintendent of po-
lice, when transcript was submitted to
him of one of Norman's question and
answer periods conducted over VOL.
Mai. Pratt said before ordering the
investigation he conferred with Acting
Corporation Counsel Vernon West, who
told him that legal action against the
radio psychologist and mentalist" Is
possible If some of those who paid him
81 for answers to their questions would
appear as complaining witnesses against
him.
Prophesying the future for gain with
out a permit is q violation of the Dis
trict code, according to Maj. Pratt
Norman. in all of his broadcaStS, how
ever. has insisted that he did not pos
sess occult powers and that his answers
to questions were based on psychology
cal reactions.
The several weeks that Norman has
been broadcasting have been profitable
ones for him, it was said at VOL. His
contract, however, expires tomorrow.
Leroy Mark, owner and operator OF
VOL, issued the following statement:
prof. Norman approached the sta
ton for the purchase of time to broad
cast his feature, producing letters from
many reputable stations throughout the
country recommending him in the high
est terms These letters he left with
the broadcasting company and they
were shown to Mr.. Arthur Batcheller,
United States supervisor of radio, on
August z, who read them all very care
fully and stated that he could see no
objection to such a feature.
"The day Prof. Norman went on the
air Mr.. Mark called a prominent OIL
cial in the District government with
ample authority over the telephone,
told him the facts of the broadcast and
asked If it was necessary for Prof. Nor
man to obtain license, that he was
only going to be here temporarily,
probably two or three weeks, and If 1t
was necessary for him to be licensed he
would be glad to send him down there
to comply with the law; that he was
selling booklet for 81 and answering
questions. This official informed Mr..
Mark he did not think it would be nee
eSsary, owing to his short stay and its
being radio broadcasting. The broad
casting company then proceeded to put
on his talks.
'NTr. Mark said the broadcasting sta
ton is primarily interested in the sale
of its time.
Prof. Norman arrived here from Bal
timore, presented these credentials and
asked the broadcasting company the
price of their time on the air, signed
a contract for it, and with the tele-
phone approval of the official of the
District government he was put on the
air. And with the station taking the
extra precaution of bringing the matter
to the attention of the radio inspectors,
we are inclined to believe that VOL has
not broken faith with the public or
put anything over their microphone
that is not entirely in keeping with
the dignity of the station, which en-
joys the confidence of the Washington
public"