Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-30
Why Fortune
7eNers Dread
The Future

a a
n n that forture-tcllers astroogers -claryoyau-4
~ sdGms mind readers, palmists and crystal eaz,rs
non-esscnal the effort and that the practon
ers Of these arts were don-deferAble in the draft
would offhaud that i'm TINS uncertain and che
otto world people who could fofcsee what was going TO-
happen, and when might nave some Falue lh' "H.F
trouble that those "he claim sach mysterious -af.
marvellous powers can't produce.
AS far back the Middle Ages the law has acaael
these gazors into the future not only nor-esstnta tt
downright speriuous and has always tired 70 pat them
out Of business notwithstanding the hrhfalutin names
these foccastes have appropriated 70 themselves the a
has dubbed them "vaEabonds" "rogucs Migrants and
"disordcv persons Every the Union has laws
TO curb tncir- revelations and activities.
A recent decision the New York courts put thus
ANY prediction Of future events for hire prohibited The
Legislature expressed its disbelief in human power
prophcsy human events
Take the case Of the Great ramcr" whose career is
cmbamed In the law reports Of the state Of Michigan 10
described himself. modcsly enough. Modern Day
Seer Clarvoyant, Trance Medium and Healer
Before his arrival Ionia, Michigan a brief
tho demands Of his time too great for pro
Iongcd stay Elmer nut advertisements in the local papers
He possessed hc explained marvellous power whereby
could give You a peep through keyholc al ays
ferrous future by which you may obtain the key 81 your
future life and success lie could be consulted he ar
nounced all conceivable affairs OF human destiny
he used his divine gifts only 10 benefit the human
He guaranteed positive results matters arising
business transactions lawsuits wills mortgages specs-
latons pension claims and financial difficulties
Nor that all, for love of the Doctors
specaltics that score hc announced.
affairs OF the heart love interest YOU
he gives you astonishing revelations Of courtshl
marriage divorce and domestic troubles Restores lost a
lection peace and confidence lovers and dscordan
families positive guarantee Tells your
future husband wife and marriage Locates lost
stolen and buried property. 80 money until goods
your possession Also friends and relatives SO
charge until you find them
Then Elmer listed a number Of things could DO with.
out going into trance but just by looking at you These
included telling your mothers maiden the day and
the you born the of the street and the
number your house much money you have your
pocket what You have eaten in the last "a hours
There nothing Elmer eouldn't foresee except the
that within days OF his arrival at Iona hc would
be picked up and convicted of disordery conduct.
appeal TO the Supreme Court Of Michigan Elmer
argued that he had never called himself forune-teer
and that his conviction should be aside But the
held that difference what he termed himself
fact, the said unanimously that he pro-
claimed himself possessing the power 20 predict the ta
ture made him fortune-teller and dsoIdely person
some time there +A-+tt- louis 'Vhere-t
woman sued a railroad for injuries sustained IN
accident She alleged that She had suffered great dam
ages because OF her inability pursue her occupation that
of a fort1ueeller. and asked for $4,000 damages
Tho attorneys the railroad their defense placed
the plaintiff i'm "a very awkward position Either she could
they said could ten fortunes. II she could then
she must have accident and therefore
position TO avoid it and the company wasn't responsible
for what happened 70 her ON the other hand she didn't
know what going happen, then she very poor
fortuuc-tercr and wasn't entitled to the damages She
claimed Rather than take the witness stand ana be cross
examined plaintiff settled for nominal sum
The courts entertain somewhat Contemptuous opinion
of asrolorv and palmistry England a gentleman
called Neptune" mail order house that unfoded
the future people who sent IN their date and hour OF
birth plus fee Neptune was less eHtraVagant in H.
claims than his confreres in that he said he could
only reveal the future events for span OF five years 70 his
subscribers declared that couldn't be beyond
that point Moreover the amount he dged varied with
amount OF the fee sent III Neptune soon was CON
vcted "A 'Vagahond
OF mediums, cairvoyants. and others, who operate in
scauces 80 bigger takes the law takes more
serious view When they caught they usually
booked for ain oncnse more serious than misdemcanors
namely larceny.