§ Mr. MARTINasked the Home Secretary whether Rupert Scott Blair, known as Professor Zodiac, sentenced on 4th November, 1911, to six weeks' imprisonment, for having pretended or professed to tell fortunes by palmistry, with intent, by Mr. Plowden, at Marylebone, served his whole 1011W term; and whether this man, who is now carrying on the said business of fortune telling in the West End of London with the full knowledge of the police, and openly advertising his said business by means of sandwichmen, comes within the rules acted upon by the Department of Home Affairs as to prosecution, in view of the remarks made by Mr. Plowden on sentencing him, to the effect that he (Professor Zodiac) had pleaded guilty to an act of vulgar imposture which stamped him as a rogue and vagabond, and that he had previously been convicted as a thief, and for obtaining money by fraud, and that he had cheated poor people to the tune of about £600 in fifteen months; and whether the plea made by Zodiac that he was no worse than many other persons who were openly carrying on fortune-telling in London to the knowledge of the police is influencing the Home Department not to prosecute him, and whether Professor Zodiac is, to the knowledge of the police, cheating poor people out of money every day?
§ Mr. McKENNAI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to his question on this subject on 1st May last. Blair served the sentence imposed on him in November, 1911. I am informed that he is again carrying on business in the West End and advertising freely by means of sandwichmen. The police have received no complaints, and are in possession of no information that poor and ignorant people or young and impressionable persons are being imposed on.