- 2 days ago
Mary Wells, a wealthy middle-aged widow, claims to have been defrauded of over £40,000 by Simon Purbeck, an alleged medium.
John Alkin, David Ashford, Christopher Gable and Joyce Heron star.
John Alkin, David Ashford, Christopher Gable and Joyce Heron star.
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TVTranscript
00:00:00Can the dead communicate with the living?
00:00:17Those who are bereaved sometimes long to make contact with those who have died.
00:00:22And there are those who deliberately prey upon grief and suffering,
00:00:27frauds and fakes who are only too eager to fleece those who have lost someone dear to them.
00:00:33Is Simon Purbeck a genuine medium or a fraud?
00:00:37Mrs Mary Wells went to his séances for comfort, but now believes he is a fraud.
00:00:42And today he faces charges under the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951.
00:00:48It is alleged that he conducted séances with the intention to deceive Mrs Mary Wells
00:00:53and received as a reward many thousands of pounds from her.
00:00:58Mrs Wells is the first witness to be called at Fullchester Crown Court
00:01:01in the case of Regina v Purbeck.
00:01:04THE END
00:01:06THE END
00:01:07THE END
00:01:09the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
00:01:39You are Mrs. Mary Wells of Bysdale, the Ridge, Hayley? Yes. When did your son die, Mrs. Wells? Four years ago. And what were the circumstances? He and a friend were in a private plane. They crashed on landing. Brian was your only son? Yes. How old was he when he died? Twenty-two. Have you no other children? No, Brian was my only child. You were very close. Yes, we were. You're a widow, Mrs. Wells? Yes, my husband.
00:02:09He died about ten years ago. He left you well provided for? Yes. Would you describe yourself as a wealthy woman? I don't know about wealthy. I'm fairly comfortably off, I suppose.
00:02:22And when did you first turn, for consolation, to spiritualism? About a year after Brian's death, when I recovered from my illness. What illness was that, Mrs. Wells? I had a nervous breakdown. And after you recovered from this breakdown, you began to go to seances? Yes.
00:02:38With different mediums? Yes. And with what results? Well, nothing. Nothing that convinced me. Oh, I got messages, all sorts of things, but I never had the feeling that Brian was there. I knew he'd try and make contact if he could. And when did you first go to Simon Purbeck?
00:02:57Just over two years ago. I went along with a friend. For a seance? Yes. But he refused.
00:03:03Mr. Purbeck refused to give you a seance? Yes. Did he give you any reasons for his refusal?
00:03:09Well, he said he didn't like giving seances unless there was a real chance of success.
00:03:12And did he indicate how these favourable circumstances might arise?
00:03:15Well, he suggested I attended his lectures once a fortnight.
00:03:19Did he actually say that if you attended these lectures, you would be successful in contacting your dead son?
00:03:24Well, not exactly.
00:03:25Well, what did he say exactly?
00:03:28Well, he implied that the lectures were a kind of preparation.
00:03:32For contacting the spirit world?
00:03:34Yes.
00:03:35Did he charge for these lectures?
00:03:38Oh, yes.
00:03:39How much?
00:03:40Two pounds a time.
00:03:42And were there any other charges?
00:03:43Well, one was expected to make a contribution towards the publishing costs.
00:03:47The publishing costs of what?
00:03:49His books.
00:03:50When you say you were expected to make a contribution, how did you learn this? Did someone tell you?
00:03:54Well, no one actually told me, but I saw other people putting money in a plate, and I inquired.
00:04:00And who did you ask?
00:04:01Miss Marcus, Mr. Purbeck's secretary.
00:04:04And what did she say?
00:04:05Well, she said that some people who had found Mr. Purbeck's little talks helpful had suggested gathering them together and publishing them as a book.
00:04:13For how long did you subsidise this publishing venture?
00:04:17About two years.
00:04:19Have you any idea how much you contributed towards the publishing costs?
00:04:22Oh, it must have been two or three hundred pounds. I don't know exactly.
00:04:27And when did you receive your copy of Mr. Purbeck's book?
00:04:30I didn't.
00:04:32No book?
00:04:33No.
00:04:34Has anyone ever received a copy of Mr. Purbeck's book?
00:04:37Your Honour, how can the witness possibly answer the question?
00:04:39She's in a position to know whether anyone ever received a copy of Mr. Purbeck's book.
00:04:43Yes, I agree, Mr. Lodderby.
00:04:46I will rephrase my question, Your Honour.
00:04:48Do so, Mr. Dealey.
00:04:49Mrs. Wells, to your knowledge, did anyone ever receive a copy of Mr. Purbeck's book?
00:04:55No, as far as I know, it was never published.
00:04:57Now, these lectures, what was to be their subject matter?
00:05:02Spiritualism.
00:05:03Spiritualism in general? Or did Mr. Purbeck want to concentrate on specific aspects of the subject?
00:05:08Well, mostly it was about how to contact one's loved ones on the other side.
00:05:12And how well...
00:05:13The other side passed over.
00:05:17Jargon, Your Honour. I believe the witness means dead.
00:05:20Ah. Thank you, Mr. Dealey.
00:05:25Mrs. Wells, how was this contact to be achieved?
00:05:28Well, Mr. Purbeck said that everybody had it in them to be a medium.
00:05:31It was just a question of training oneself.
00:05:35It was as if one was a radio.
00:05:36One had to learn how to tune oneself in to the proper wavelength.
00:05:40And were you successful?
00:05:41Not at first.
00:05:42So what did you do?
00:05:43Well, I asked Miss Marcus if I could attend one of Mr. Purbeck's seances.
00:05:48He held regular seances?
00:05:49For some people, yes.
00:05:51And what did Miss Marcus say?
00:05:53She said she would ask Mr. Purbeck if he thought I was ready.
00:05:56And were you?
00:05:57Well, I started going to the seances.
00:06:00What form did these seances take?
00:06:04Well, various forms.
00:06:05Well, did Mr. Purbeck go into a trance?
00:06:08Sometimes.
00:06:09And sometimes we'd use a glass.
00:06:12You know, everyone puts a finger on a glass and it spells out words from the letters of the alphabet which are arranged around the edge of the table.
00:06:20Did you receive any messages purporting to come from your dead son?
00:06:23Well, there were some, but at first they were very confused.
00:06:28Did Mr. Purbeck tell you that they were from your son?
00:06:30Yes.
00:06:31He said that these confused messages were actually from your dead son, Brian.
00:06:35Yes, but not exactly in those words.
00:06:40Well, what did he say?
00:06:42Well, he described the person who was trying to communicate.
00:06:46He described Brian.
00:06:47Did he know at the time what Brian had looked like?
00:06:50I don't know if he did.
00:06:51I had shown Miss Marcus a photograph of Brian sometime before.
00:06:54Did Mr. Purbeck explain why the messages were so confused?
00:06:57Well, he said perhaps there was too much psychic interference, too many souls trying to get through.
00:07:02Did he suggest a way of overcoming this?
00:07:04No, but I asked Miss Marcus about it.
00:07:07And what did she advise?
00:07:09Well, she said that some people managed to persuade Mr. Purbeck to give them individual seances,
00:07:14that he found this very, very tiring, and he didn't like doing it, but sometimes he would.
00:07:18And did she explain how they managed to persuade him?
00:07:23No, but I presume they paid extra.
00:07:26Did you pay that first time, Mrs. Wells?
00:07:28No.
00:07:30Mr. Purbeck wouldn't accept any money.
00:07:33Now, what happened at that first seance?
00:07:39Well, Brian spoke to me.
00:07:45But through Mr. Purbeck?
00:07:47Yes.
00:07:49At least I thought it was Brian.
00:07:52Now, I don't know.
00:07:54And what did this voice say?
00:07:58I'm here, Mum.
00:08:00And I felt him.
00:08:03He touched me.
00:08:07I'm sorry, Your Honour.
00:08:09That's quite all right, Mrs. Wells.
00:08:11Take your time.
00:08:13Would you like to sit down while you're giving your evidence?
00:08:15No, no, I'm quite all right.
00:08:17I'd rather stand.
00:08:18Has Mrs. Wells a glass of water?
00:08:19Yes, I have.
00:08:21It's all right.
00:08:22I'd like to go on.
00:08:25Very well.
00:08:26Mrs. Wells, you said that somebody touched you.
00:08:32May I correct, my learned friend?
00:08:34The witness said he touched me, meaning, as I understand it, her son, Brian.
00:08:39I'm obliged, my learned friend.
00:08:43Mrs. Wells, you said that you felt a touch during that first seance.
00:08:48Yes.
00:08:49On your arm?
00:08:50Your head?
00:08:50No.
00:08:51No, on my shoulder, as if someone was standing behind me.
00:08:54And was anyone standing there?
00:08:56No.
00:08:57Was the room in darkness?
00:08:59Oh, not what you'd call darkness.
00:09:00The curtains were drawn.
00:09:02So you couldn't see distinctly?
00:09:03No.
00:09:04Was there anyone else in the room besides you and the accused?
00:09:06Well, Miss Marcos sat over by the door.
00:09:08And did you watch Miss Marcos throughout the seance?
00:09:11No, I watched Mr. Purbeck, of course.
00:09:13Yes.
00:09:14Yes, of course.
00:09:16Mrs. Wells, what was your immediate reaction after you'd heard those words and felt that touch?
00:09:22I don't know.
00:09:23I couldn't believe it.
00:09:25I didn't know where to cry.
00:09:28Or laugh.
00:09:29You were deeply moved.
00:09:31Yes.
00:09:34Now, did you give Mr. Purbeck or Miss Marcos any money after that first seance?
00:09:40Yes, I made a contribution towards the centre.
00:09:43What centre?
00:09:44Well, Mr. Purbeck wanted to open a centre for the study of spiritual sciences.
00:09:48Did Mr. Purbeck ever explain these spiritual sciences?
00:09:50Or, indeed, how they were to be studied?
00:09:53Oh, yes, he...
00:09:54No, he explained, but I'm afraid I didn't understand.
00:09:59How much did you contribute that first time?
00:10:02£25.
00:10:03And the same on each subsequent occasion?
00:10:04Oh, no, no. Later I gave more, quite a bit more.
00:10:06How much more?
00:10:07Well, several times I gave.
00:10:09One, two, three hundred pounds.
00:10:12In all, how much did you contribute in cash over the two years of the seances?
00:10:16About £8,000, I suppose.
00:10:22Money wasn't all you gave, was it, Mrs. Wells?
00:10:25No.
00:10:26There was the house.
00:10:27What house is this?
00:10:28It's a house called The Pines in West Walsham.
00:10:31It was left to me by my uncle.
00:10:33It's far too big for me.
00:10:34Anyway, I have a house of my own.
00:10:36And what is it worth at today's valuation?
00:10:39£30,000 to £35,000, I believe.
00:10:42And you were induced to give this to Mr. Purbeck?
00:10:44Your Honour, this really is outrageous.
00:10:46Counsel is leading the witness.
00:10:47Yes.
00:10:48You will rephrase your question, Mr. Dealey?
00:10:51Yes, Your Honour, please.
00:10:54Mrs. Wells, did you give this valuable property to Mr. Purbeck?
00:10:59Yes.
00:11:00To him personally?
00:11:01No, no, to this trust he'd set up.
00:11:03What trust?
00:11:03Well, he set up a trust to run the centre.
00:11:06Your Honour, I shall be calling witness later on to give evidence regarding the nature of this trust.
00:11:12Now, Mrs. Wells, you have told us how your contributions towards Mr. Purbeck's various causes
00:11:19rose from £25 to hundreds of pounds,
00:11:23and, finally, to a house worth tens of thousands of pounds.
00:11:28Why did your contributions increase?
00:11:31It's hard to explain exactly, but the more I gave, the more time Mr. Purbeck seemed able to give me.
00:11:37The more contact I had with Brian.
00:11:40So, these alleged spirit communications seem dependent on the amount of money you gave.
00:11:46Yes.
00:11:46Now, how did you come to make the gift of the house?
00:11:52Well, Brian seemed to want me to do it.
00:11:55I mean, the messages I were getting suggested I should donate something big, not just money.
00:12:00And you took this to mean the house?
00:12:02Well, what else could it mean?
00:12:03I asked Miss Marcus, and she said perhaps that was what Brian wanted.
00:12:08What happened after you'd handed over the deeds of the house, Mrs. Wells?
00:12:13Was there a change in Mr. Purbeck's attitude?
00:12:16Yes, he seemed to have less and less time for me.
00:12:20And when I did have the seances, well, it just didn't seem like Brian anymore.
00:12:27Did you ever ask Mr. Purbeck for the return of your house?
00:12:30Yes.
00:12:31And what did he say?
00:12:33He told me not to be a fool.
00:12:34Do you now believe that these spirit communications were from your son, Brian?
00:12:41Well, no.
00:12:43They couldn't have been, could they?
00:12:47Thank you, Mrs. Wells.
00:13:04Mrs. Wells, what were your feelings towards Mr. Purbeck?
00:13:18Feelings?
00:13:19Did you like him?
00:13:20Well, yes.
00:13:22Would you say you were fond of him?
00:13:24Well, yes.
00:13:24Did you at any time indicate to anyone that you felt considerable affection for Mr. Purbeck?
00:13:29Oh, I may have done.
00:13:30He reminded me of my son sometimes.
00:13:32That's very understandable, Mrs. Wells.
00:13:34You felt maternal towards him?
00:13:37Well, yes.
00:13:37Yes, I suppose, sir.
00:13:39Mrs. Wells, you've said you were at one time convinced you were in communication with your dead son.
00:13:44What made you change your mind?
00:13:47Well, I...
00:13:47Did you talk it over with anyone, perhaps?
00:13:49Friends?
00:13:50Yes.
00:13:51Anyone in particular?
00:13:53Major Otway.
00:13:54Ah.
00:13:55The Major, he was, er, sceptical?
00:13:58Yes.
00:13:59Is the Major a relative?
00:14:00He's my fiancée.
00:14:04When did you become engaged?
00:14:05About four months ago.
00:14:07Did you know the Major during the time you went regularly to the seances?
00:14:11No.
00:14:12When did you meet him?
00:14:13Before or after you made the house over to the Trust?
00:14:15Oh, just... just after.
00:14:17Mr. Lotterby, is this relevant?
00:14:19As I understand the position, you will shortly have every opportunity of questioning Major Otway in person.
00:14:23Your Honour, I was merely seeking to establish that Major Otway has influenced Mrs. Wells just as much as it is claimed Mr. Purbake ever did.
00:14:31I follow your line of reasoning, Mr. Lotterby.
00:14:33I trust you will not be profligate with the court's time.
00:14:36I shall endeavour to be brief, Your Honour.
00:14:39Mrs. Wells, you described that first seance with Mr. Purbake, at which Miss Marcus was present.
00:14:45The seance at which you felt the presence of your son so strongly.
00:14:50Did you feel his presence on subsequent occasions?
00:14:53Yes.
00:14:54Was Miss Marcus present for all these occasions?
00:14:57No.
00:14:58Was anyone else present apart from Mr. Purbake?
00:15:01No.
00:15:02Major Otway a couple of times.
00:15:04Until you discussed the seances with Major Otway, were you convinced that these communications with your dead son were genuine?
00:15:11Well...
00:15:12Please answer yes or no, Mrs. Wells.
00:15:13Yes, I suppose I was convinced.
00:15:17And now you are totally and absolutely convinced, beyond any shadow of doubt, that these communications with your dead son were fraudulent?
00:15:25Well, I...
00:15:27I...
00:15:28Well, they must have been, mustn't they?
00:15:30Mrs. Wells, did Mr. Purbake or Miss Marcus ever ask you directly for payment?
00:15:36Well...
00:15:36Yes or no, Mrs. Wells?
00:15:38No.
00:15:38Did they ever at any time tell you that the communications with your dead son were dependent upon your financial contributions?
00:15:44Well...
00:15:45Yes or no, Mrs. Wells?
00:15:47No.
00:15:48Did they ever at any time ask you outright for the gift of your house?
00:15:52No.
00:15:53Well, thank you, Mrs. Wells.
00:15:57I have no further questions, Your Honor.
00:16:00You may stand down, Mrs. Wells.
00:16:05I should like to call Major Otway.
00:16:08Major Otway.
00:16:09Major Otway.
00:16:09What religion are you?
00:16:24Judge Vigdon.
00:16:25Take the testament in your right hand and read aloud the words on the card.
00:16:29I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth.
00:16:33The whole truth.
00:16:34There's nothing but the truth.
00:16:35You are Major Kenneth Otway, retired, of 14 beats, regarding Court Fulchester?
00:16:41I am.
00:16:41Major Otway, did you attend a number of seances with Mrs. Wells?
00:16:45I did, sir.
00:16:45Can you remember how many?
00:16:47Five or six.
00:16:49And what was your opinion of them?
00:16:50Pantomime, sir.
00:16:52I've never seen such pantomime of life.
00:16:54Could you explain, please?
00:16:56Well, darkened room and Purbeck rolling around, moaning and groaning and coming up with messages
00:17:03and different voices.
00:17:05I don't see how anyone could be taken in.
00:17:06Mrs. Wells seems to have been.
00:17:08Well, only for a bit.
00:17:10She's a sensible woman at heart.
00:17:12You're not a believer in spiritualism then, Major?
00:17:14Well, I wouldn't say that.
00:17:17I'm a sceptic, I admit.
00:17:19But there are more things than heaven and earth, Horatio.
00:17:22Quite.
00:17:23Sir, we may take it that Mr. Purbeck did not impress you as a medium.
00:17:27No, sir, he did not.
00:17:28A fake if ever I saw one.
00:17:29Now, the defence has suggested that you have a, well, a great deal of influence over Mrs. Wells.
00:17:36Would you agree with that?
00:17:37No.
00:17:38Oh, well, I suppose I have some influence.
00:17:42And if I do have any, it's a damn sight more healthy than Purbeck's.
00:17:45Your Honour.
00:17:46Confine yourself to answering the question, Major Otway.
00:17:49I'm sorry, Your Honour.
00:17:50And you will not use such language in my court.
00:17:54Major, did you convince Mrs. Wells that she was victim of a fraud?
00:17:58Well, she didn't take much convincing.
00:18:01Did you persuade her to ask Mr. Purbeck for the return of her house?
00:18:04Yes, I did.
00:18:05Without success, it seems.
00:18:08Did you yourself see Mr. Purbeck personally about the matter?
00:18:11Yes.
00:18:12And he's not an easy man to see.
00:18:14What was his reaction?
00:18:16Well, said he never had anything to do with business.
00:18:20Discoured his aura or something.
00:18:22Did you speak to Miss Marcos?
00:18:24Yes, several times.
00:18:25And what did she say?
00:18:26Well, long and short of it was, it was none of my business.
00:18:30She refused to discuss anything concerning the setter with a non-believer.
00:18:33Do you think she was acting on her own responsibilities, Major, or merely passing on the views of others?
00:18:39Oh, I don't know.
00:18:41She's a hard woman, that one.
00:18:43I shouldn't have thought she was anyone's puppet.
00:18:46And still, you never know.
00:18:48Who did you talk to in the end?
00:18:52The solicitor in charge of the trust of Mr. Kimber, of Kimber Craddock and Wake in Fulchester.
00:18:58And what did he say?
00:18:59Oh, a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo.
00:19:02I'm sure if it all was, no dice.
00:19:04They were going to hang on to that house, come what may.
00:19:07Thank you, Major.
00:19:12Major, you told us you attended several seances with Mrs. Wells?
00:19:16Yes, sir.
00:19:17Described them as pantomimes.
00:19:19Correct.
00:19:20By which you meant they were frauds, fakes?
00:19:22Yes.
00:19:24What did these seances consist of?
00:19:27Oh, trances, table wrapping, pushing a glass around a lot of letters, spelling out words, or usual nonsense.
00:19:35How many times did you see Mr. Purbeck in a trance?
00:19:38Twice.
00:19:39What happened at the other seances?
00:19:40He used the glass.
00:19:42Did you catch Mr. Purbeck guiding the glass himself?
00:19:46Well, no.
00:19:48Did you, in fact, catch Mr. Purbeck faking any of the phenomena that occurred at these seances?
00:19:52No, but...
00:19:53Was Marcus ever present at these seances?
00:19:55No.
00:19:55Was anyone else ever present?
00:19:57No.
00:19:57In fact, have you any concrete evidence that Mr. Purbeck faked anything?
00:20:01Well, I don't have a piece of cheesecloth, if that's what you mean.
00:20:04But I've no doubt if I'd have looked.
00:20:05But you did not look, Major Otway.
00:20:08So you have no concrete evidence that Mr. Purbeck faked anything.
00:20:12Is that correct?
00:20:13Yes, sir.
00:20:15Thank you, Your Honour.
00:20:17So, Major, in spite of having no evidence, you took it upon yourself to persuade Mrs.
00:20:23Wells that Mr. Purbeck was a fake.
00:20:25Well, it was obvious.
00:20:26Apparently not to Mrs. Wells.
00:20:28She appears to have derived considerable consolation from her communications with the spirit world
00:20:32until you came into her life.
00:20:35Where exactly did you come from?
00:20:38What do you mean?
00:20:39You retired from the army, I believe.
00:20:42Correct.
00:20:42Live on an army pension?
00:20:44Yes, sir.
00:20:44Do you have any other source of income?
00:20:47I have a job.
00:20:48Oh, yes.
00:20:50Secretary to a tennis and social club.
00:20:52Yes.
00:20:53Well, of course, there isn't much.
00:20:56Just about keeps me in cigarettes, you know.
00:20:58Well, one must keep busy.
00:20:59Will you continue with the job after you marry Mrs. Wells?
00:21:03Your Honour, I fail to see how the marriage plans of the witness can possibly affect the issue before this court.
00:21:09Nevertheless, the witness will answer the question.
00:21:12Well, if you want to know about my job, I shall be giving it up shortly.
00:21:16And what will you do then?
00:21:18Well, Mary, Mrs. Wells has asked me to help straighten out her financial affairs.
00:21:24They're a bit of a mess, as you can imagine.
00:21:25Oh, you're an expert on financial matters, are you?
00:21:29Oh, no, I wouldn't say that exactly.
00:21:32A keen amateur?
00:21:34Yes, yes.
00:21:36Yes, I rather like that, yes.
00:21:38Where did you gain this amateur experience?
00:21:42At the tennis club?
00:21:43Well, I have friends in the city.
00:21:46So you have no personal experience of handling complex financial matters?
00:21:50Well, I pick things up pretty quickly.
00:21:54Mrs. Wells will pay you for this amateur financial advice?
00:21:59Yes.
00:22:00Her idea?
00:22:00Well, yes.
00:22:01More than you're getting from the tennis club?
00:22:03Yes.
00:22:05What was it you described Mr. Purbeck as?
00:22:08Oh, yes.
00:22:10A fraud and a fake?
00:22:13Now, look here.
00:22:16I don't know what you're implying, but I'm damned if I'm going to stand here and allow you to...
00:22:19Major, what way?
00:22:22I'm sorry, Your Honor.
00:22:25Major, when you attended these séances, you did so as Mrs. Wells' guest?
00:22:29Yes.
00:22:30And did Mrs. Wells ever ask you to keep an eye on Mr. Purbeck?
00:22:32No.
00:22:33No, no, no.
00:22:34She thought he was marvellous.
00:22:36I didn't.
00:22:37Then, of course, I couldn't go dashing around accusing him of being a fake, could I?
00:22:40I just had to sit there through all that phony nonsense and will and bear it for our sake.
00:22:47Thank you, Major Otway.
00:22:50You may stand down, Major Otway.
00:22:53Yes.
00:22:57Your Honor, I would like to call Mr. Walter Kimber, who is the solicitor for the accused.
00:23:02Walter Kimber?
00:23:05Mr. Deedle, do I understand you correctly?
00:23:06You're calling Mr. Purbeck's own solicitor?
00:23:10Yes, Your Honor.
00:23:13Has Mr. Kimber been served for the subpoena?
00:23:15No, Your Honor.
00:23:17Your Honor, might I be permitted to explain?
00:23:19I should be grateful if someone would, Mr. Otway.
00:23:21Mr. Kimber handled all the legal matters connected with the setting up of the trust for the proposed study centre and for the transfer of the house.
00:23:27As my client, Mr. Purbeck, as anxious to show he has nothing to fear from the truth, he's willing to waive his right to silence on the part of his solicitor.
00:23:37Mr. Otway, is your client aware of the possible consequences of this action?
00:23:41I have endeavoured to explain them to him, Your Honor.
00:23:44Mr. Purbeck is waiving one of the fundamental rights which exists between a client and his lawyer.
00:23:49Secrecy.
00:23:52Mr. Purbeck, are you fully aware of the possible consequences of this action?
00:23:58By waiving your rights over your own solicitor, you expose both yourself and him.
00:24:03I suggest that you consider this course of action very, very carefully.
00:24:06I want Mr. Kimber to give evidence for the prosecution.
00:24:11I have nothing to fear from the truth.
00:24:19The case of the Queen v. Purbeck will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.
00:24:27Mary Wells, a wealthy, middle-aged widow,
00:24:57has been the principal witness in the case of Regina v. Purbeck.
00:25:03She claims to have been defrauded out of over £40,000 by Simon Purbeck, the alleged medium.
00:25:11Or is he, as some claim, the greatest medium of his age?
00:25:16We shall soon know, because today the prosecution complete their case and Simon Purbeck takes the stand.
00:25:24Saint or sinner, that's the question that may be answered today.
00:25:29The medium's own solicitor, Walter Kimber, takes the stand for the prosecution
00:25:34in today's proceedings in Fulchester Crown Court.
00:25:36Mr. Kimber, how do you view the prospect of giving evidence against your own client?
00:26:02With some trepidation, Your Honour.
00:26:05I've never been forced to divulge privileged information before.
00:26:09Mr. Purbeck is an honourable man for whom I have the greatest respect and admiration.
00:26:13If he wishes me to give evidence, then I feel I must bow to those wishes.
00:26:18Very well, Mr. Kimber, if you're quite sure.
00:26:21What is your religion?
00:26:22Church of England.
00:26:23Take the testament in your right hand and read aloud the words on the card.
00:26:25I swear by a mighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
00:26:31You are Walter Kimber, solicitor, partner in Kimber, Craddock & Wake of Fulchester?
00:26:36I am.
00:26:36And you handle the legal work for the Purbeck Trust?
00:26:39I do.
00:26:40And you also handle legal work for Mr. Purbeck personally?
00:26:43Whenever that is necessary, but if very rarely is, my client tests litigation.
00:26:48How long have you known Mr. Purbeck?
00:26:50Two and a half years.
00:26:51And when was the Trust set up?
00:26:52Two and a half years ago, that was how I first met Mr. Purbeck.
00:26:56So Mr. Purbeck came to you to inquire about the setting up of a trust?
00:26:59Yes.
00:27:00He wanted advice, and I gave it.
00:27:03Later, I drew up the instrument which established that trust.
00:27:06What is the nature of this trust?
00:27:08It's a non-profit-making organisation with certain specific aims.
00:27:12And what's its source of income?
00:27:14Well, some money is raised through Mr. Purbeck's lectures, but mostly through gifts and voluntary contributions.
00:27:20And what would you estimate are the capital assets of the trust at the moment?
00:27:24In financial terms?
00:27:25Yes.
00:27:26And including the house which Mrs. Wells donated?
00:27:29Including the house?
00:27:30Well, very roughly, 44 and a half thousand pounds.
00:27:3744 and a half thousand pounds, Mr. Kilburn?
00:27:39Well, of course, I may be a few hundred pounds out either way, Your Honour.
00:27:44And this has all been made in just two years?
00:27:47Yes.
00:27:48Marvellous, isn't it?
00:27:50Remarkable.
00:27:53Who are the principal agents of the trust?
00:27:56Mr. Purbeck, Miss Marcus, and myself.
00:27:58And what remuneration do you all receive?
00:28:00Oh, purely nominal.
00:28:02Mr. Purbeck and Miss Marcus get all living expenses.
00:28:05What kind of living expenses?
00:28:07Oh, everything. Food, clothing, accommodation.
00:28:09So Mr. Purbeck and Miss Marcus actually live at the centre?
00:28:12They do.
00:28:12Rent free?
00:28:13Oh, yes.
00:28:14And does Mr. Purbeck have a car?
00:28:15Well, there is a car supplied by the trust for use by Mr. Purbeck.
00:28:19What about you yourself, Mr. Kimber? What do you receive?
00:28:22Just normal legal expenses.
00:28:24Is that all?
00:28:26Well, there is something else, but it is a personal matter between Mr. Purbeck and myself.
00:28:31You've been very frank up until now, Mr. Kimber.
00:28:34Mr. Purbeck arranges for me to receive messages.
00:28:38Messages? From whom?
00:28:39My wife, Kathleen, she died 17 years ago.
00:28:42Ah, so you attend Mr. Purbeck's seances?
00:28:46Not so much now, no.
00:28:48Then how do you receive these messages?
00:28:50By phone.
00:28:52By the telephone?
00:28:54Yes, Your Honor.
00:28:55Mr. Purbeck records Kathleen's messages at various seances and then plays them to me over the phone.
00:29:02Just before I go to bed.
00:29:04I find them very comforting.
00:29:05And do you believe that these messages are genuine?
00:29:09Oh, yes.
00:29:10Of course they are.
00:29:11Indubitably.
00:29:13What is your opinion of Mr. Purbeck as a man?
00:29:17Well, he isn't one, really, is he?
00:29:22I'm sorry, Mr. Kimber, I don't understand.
00:29:25Mr. Purbeck isn't what?
00:29:26Well, just a man.
00:29:29Mr. Purbeck is chosen.
00:29:31He's holy.
00:29:33He's a saint.
00:29:34I have no questions, Your Honor.
00:29:43You may stand down, Mr. Kimber.
00:29:46That concludes the evidence for the prosecution, Your Honor.
00:29:50Mr. Losserby?
00:29:51My first witness, I call the accused, Simon Purbeck.
00:29:54What is your religion?
00:30:13I'm a spiritualist.
00:30:14Take the testament in your right hand and read aloud the words on the card.
00:30:18I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
00:30:27You are Simon Morris Purbeck of the Pines, West Walsham?
00:30:34I am.
00:30:35Mr. Purbeck.
00:30:35How old are you?
00:30:36Thirty.
00:30:37How long have you been a medium?
00:30:39For as long as I can remember.
00:30:40Even as a child?
00:30:42Oh, yes.
00:30:43From a very early age I was aware of things other people seemed unable to see.
00:30:47What kind of things?
00:30:48It's hard to explain.
00:30:49It's as if you have sharper eyesight than other people or better hearing.
00:30:54An extra sense?
00:30:55No.
00:30:56I don't think it's an extra sense.
00:30:58I think everyone possesses it, but most people don't seem to be able to use it.
00:31:03You think we are all mediums?
00:31:05Potentially.
00:31:06I don't like the word medium.
00:31:08I think sensitive is a better word.
00:31:11When did you find people would give you money for being sensitive?
00:31:15When I was ten.
00:31:16Ten?
00:31:17Yes.
00:31:18An aunt of mine had lost a brooch.
00:31:21She asked me if I knew where it was.
00:31:24And suddenly I did.
00:31:25I saw the place where it was.
00:31:27I described the place.
00:31:28My aunt went there, found the brooch, and she gave me a pound.
00:31:32Mr. Lotterby, I have been patient while you have questioned Mr. Purbeck
00:31:36on his theories of mediumship and the events of his childhood,
00:31:40neither of which, in my opinion, is relevant to the offences which he has charged.
00:31:43I must remind you that the court's time is not limitless.
00:31:46Your Honor, I was merely trying to show that Mr. Purbeck genuinely believes he has mediumistic powers
00:31:51and has, in fact, been aware of these since childhood.
00:31:53I think your point has been made, Mr. Lotterby.
00:31:57Your Honor.
00:31:58Mr. Purbeck, when did you first meet Mrs. Wells?
00:32:01Just over two years ago.
00:32:02She came along to a lecture I gave.
00:32:04Would you tell the court the purpose of these lectures?
00:32:06Well, very briefly, I tried to convince people that we all have psychic power which we can exploit.
00:32:14Now, did Mrs. Wells approach you after this lecture?
00:32:17Oh, yes.
00:32:18She approached me after every lecture, in fact.
00:32:20What did she want?
00:32:21To communicate with her dead son.
00:32:23What was your reply?
00:32:25The first time I pointed out that the purpose of my lectures was to enable her to do that herself.
00:32:31Was she successful?
00:32:32Apparently not.
00:32:34She continually came back to me.
00:32:36Did you say why?
00:32:37She wanted me to hold the séance for her.
00:32:40What inducement did she offer?
00:32:42Money.
00:32:43Did you accept?
00:32:44No.
00:32:45Why not?
00:32:46I never do accept money for séances.
00:32:48It's illegal.
00:32:50Is that the only reason why you refused to accept Mrs. Wells that first time?
00:32:54No.
00:32:55There was another reason.
00:32:58What was it?
00:32:59I thought she was likely to cause trouble.
00:33:02What do you mean by that?
00:33:06Mrs. Wells is a neurotic.
00:33:08You have to be very careful with clients.
00:33:10Otherwise, you can get involved in all sorts of emotional situations.
00:33:14But you finally agreed to the séance?
00:33:16Yes.
00:33:16Why?
00:33:17She kept on at me.
00:33:19Badgered my secretary.
00:33:20Miss Marcus?
00:33:21Yes.
00:33:22Did Mrs. Wells offer you money?
00:33:24Yes.
00:33:24How much?
00:33:26£25, £50, £100.
00:33:27She said money was no object.
00:33:28You see, she was convinced that I was the only person that could get in touch with her son.
00:33:34And you agreed to the séance?
00:33:36In the end, yes.
00:33:37Why?
00:33:39It seemed the easiest way out.
00:33:40She can be a very persistent woman.
00:33:42Did you accept money for the séance?
00:33:45No.
00:33:46I never do.
00:33:47What happened to the séance?
00:33:50Well, that was unusual.
00:33:53I thought if it wasn't successful, and very often it isn't the first time, she'd give up, attend more lectures.
00:34:01What happened?
00:34:02He came.
00:34:04Who?
00:34:05Her son, Brian.
00:34:05He was there.
00:34:06He touched her.
00:34:07How do you know this?
00:34:10Well, Mrs. Wells said so.
00:34:13You heard her in the court.
00:34:15Did you touch Mrs. Wells on the shoulder?
00:34:17No.
00:34:18Would it have been possible for you to have touched Mrs. Wells without anyone noticing you'd moved?
00:34:22No.
00:34:23I was sitting in front of her.
00:34:24She was looking at me.
00:34:26Was Miss Marcus in the room at the same time?
00:34:29Yes.
00:34:30Could Miss Marcus have touched Mrs. Wells?
00:34:32But she wouldn't.
00:34:33Why not?
00:34:34Why should she?
00:34:35We didn't want Mrs. Wells at our séances.
00:34:39Miss Marcus herself said she was too emotional, too unstable.
00:34:42She was likely to be troublesome.
00:34:44Would it have been possible for Miss Marcus to touch Mrs. Wells without your seeing her?
00:34:49I don't know, I suppose so.
00:34:51You weren't in a trance.
00:34:53Yes.
00:34:53You can't be sure Miss Marcus didn't touch Mrs. Wells?
00:34:56Well, I suppose I can't, but I am sure she wouldn't.
00:34:59Whose idea was it to set up this trust?
00:35:01Well, I'd always wanted a centre where people could come to study.
00:35:06Whose idea was it to found the trust?
00:35:08Well, I don't know, really.
00:35:10We talked about it for years.
00:35:12You and Miss Marcus?
00:35:12Yes.
00:35:14When you founded the trust, you and Miss Marcus and Mr. Kimber, what was the source of your income?
00:35:19I don't know.
00:35:20You don't know?
00:35:20No, I never handled the money side.
00:35:22Who did?
00:35:23Miss Marcus.
00:35:24You said earlier that you never accepted money for the seances.
00:35:29Yes, that's right.
00:35:30But people did give you money.
00:35:31Yes, but I never concerned myself with that side of things.
00:35:34I concentrated on giving the lectures and holding my seances.
00:35:38Did you on any occasion fake the results of these seances?
00:35:41No.
00:35:43In your dealings with Mrs. Wells, did you intend to deceive her?
00:35:46Of course not.
00:35:48But when she wanted a house back, you refused?
00:35:50Yes, I did.
00:35:52Why?
00:35:53Because she gave us that house of her own free will.
00:35:56We didn't ask for it.
00:35:57It was a voluntary gift.
00:35:59And by the time she and the Duke of Wellington wanted it returned...
00:36:01Mr. Purbick, if you mean Major Otway, say so.
00:36:04There will be no abuse of witnesses.
00:36:06Sorry, Your Honor.
00:36:07Well, by the time she wanted the house returned, it wasn't that simple.
00:36:11There were people to consider.
00:36:12Who?
00:36:13The people who contributed to the centre.
00:36:15The people who used the centre.
00:36:16I couldn't take it from them.
00:36:18Lastly, Mr. Purbick,
00:36:19do you genuinely believe that you have powers beyond our normal ken?
00:36:24Powers that enable you to communicate with the dead?
00:36:29I know I have.
00:36:31Thank you, Mr. Purbick.
00:37:02Mr. Purbick, when you first met Miss Marcos, what was your occupation?
00:37:08I sold encyclopedias.
00:37:14And how much did you make of that?
00:37:16It varied.
00:37:17Well, give us the average figure.
00:37:19About £25 or £30 a week.
00:37:22And how much do you make now?
00:37:24I don't know.
00:37:25You've no idea?
00:37:26No.
00:37:27Well, since the trust, according to Mr. Kimber,
00:37:31is worth about £44,500, made in a matter of two or three years,
00:37:36this would put your earnings at approximately £15,000 a year.
00:37:42If you say so.
00:37:43There's a big difference between that and £1,500.
00:37:47Obviously, yes.
00:37:49Would you describe yourself as a successful medium?
00:37:51Oh, I'm sorry.
00:37:53You prefer the word sensitive?
00:37:55Yes.
00:37:56Well, unfortunately, the act is called the Fraudulent Mediums Act
00:37:59and not the Fraudulent Sensitives.
00:38:00No matter what you choose to call it, I'm not a fraud.
00:38:07I didn't fake anything.
00:38:10Who touched Mrs. Wells on this shoulder during that first séance?
00:38:13Her son, as far as I know.
00:38:14Her dead son?
00:38:15Yes.
00:38:17Why do people give you money, Mr. Purbeck?
00:38:20Because they want to.
00:38:21Because they believe in the idea of the centre.
00:38:24And I'd have a gratitude for your séances.
00:38:26How could I say?
00:38:26You'd have to ask them.
00:38:27Mrs. Wells gave you money and a house.
00:38:31She did not.
00:38:35She gave them to the trust.
00:38:37She says she gave money and a house to the trust
00:38:41because it seemed to be what her dead son, Brian, wanted.
00:38:43Yes.
00:38:44But Brian, her son, spoke through you.
00:38:47Not entirely.
00:38:48Oh, come, Mr. Purbeck.
00:38:49Weren't you supposed to be the channel of communication
00:38:51between Mrs. Wells and her dead son?
00:38:52To some extent.
00:38:53Well, is there another medium working on the staff at the centre?
00:38:56No.
00:38:56Well, did not Brian Wells speak through you while you were in a trance?
00:39:00Yes.
00:39:01And is it not a fact that this disembodied voice suggested to Mrs. Wells
00:39:04that she make over her house as headquarters for your centre?
00:39:08Colonel, my lonely friend is in error.
00:39:10Mrs. Wells at no time said that any voice, embodied or disembodied,
00:39:14suggests that she give her house to Mr. Purbeck.
00:39:15What she did say was, and I quote,
00:39:22It seemed to be what Brian wanted,
00:39:24which I contain implies a presumption on the part of Mrs. Wells
00:39:26and not a direct request.
00:39:28Your Honour, my lonely friend is playing with words.
00:39:31I think not, Mr. Dealey.
00:39:33You will rephrase your question.
00:39:36As Your Honour pleases.
00:39:37Mr. Purbeck,
00:39:40were you surprised that Mrs. Wells gave her house to your trust?
00:39:45No.
00:39:46Nevertheless, you did not refuse the gift?
00:39:48No.
00:39:49She insisted we accept.
00:39:50How much did you pay for that suit you're wearing?
00:39:55Your Honour, is this relevant?
00:39:56The accused will answer the question, Mr. Lotterby.
00:39:59That suit, Mr. Purbeck, what did it cost?
00:40:02I simply can't remember.
00:40:06Sixty pounds, perhaps?
00:40:07And how did you obtain the suit?
00:40:09I bought it.
00:40:10What with?
00:40:11Money.
00:40:12And where did the money come from?
00:40:13From the trust.
00:40:14You always take money from the trust when you want something new?
00:40:18I can't live on air.
00:40:19Just answer the question, please, Mr. Purbeck.
00:40:22Yes or no?
00:40:24Yes.
00:40:24I was given the money from the trust.
00:40:26Money donated by more people who insisted that you accept it, no doubt.
00:40:29Well, I have no idea of the circumstances.
00:40:31As I said before, I had nothing to do with the financial side.
00:40:33But my needs are provided for out of the trust.
00:40:37It has also been stated in this court
00:40:40that some of these contributions were made
00:40:42to enable you to publish your lectures in book form.
00:40:45Yes.
00:40:46Has this book appeared yet?
00:40:48No.
00:40:48When will it appear, Mr. Purbeck?
00:40:52When I consider the time is right.
00:41:02Mr. Purbeck,
00:41:03in all the time you've been a full-time medium,
00:41:06have any of your other clients ever requested
00:41:07their contributions be returned?
00:41:09Not as far as I know.
00:41:11Have any of your clients in the past
00:41:13ever expressed doubt to see your capabilities as a medium?
00:41:15No.
00:41:17Have you ever been in a court before
00:41:19on any charge connected with a fraudulent medium's act?
00:41:23No.
00:41:24Thank you, Mr. Purbeck.
00:41:27Thank you, Mr. Purbeck.
00:41:28You will return to the dock.
00:41:30For my next witness, I call Miss Carol Marcus.
00:41:36Miss Carol Marcus.
00:41:40What is your religion?
00:41:53Church of England.
00:41:54Take the testament in your right hand
00:41:56and read aloud the words on this card.
00:41:59I swear by almighty God
00:42:00that the evidence I shall give
00:42:01shall be the truth,
00:42:03the whole truth,
00:42:04and nothing but the truth.
00:42:06You are Carol May Marcus
00:42:10of the Pines, West Walsham?
00:42:12Yes.
00:42:12How long have you known Mr. Purbeck?
00:42:14Five years.
00:42:15You are his secretary?
00:42:17Secretary, receptionist, cashier.
00:42:19I'm the general dog's body.
00:42:21You handle the money?
00:42:22Someone has to.
00:42:23Simon, Mr. Purbeck, won't.
00:42:26How about Mr. Kimber?
00:42:28Oh, he's one of the officers of the trust.
00:42:30He's not concerned with the day-to-day running of the centre.
00:42:32You are?
00:42:33Yes.
00:42:33You meet all the clients?
00:42:35Yes.
00:42:36You vet them first?
00:42:37Yes.
00:42:39Why?
00:42:41Because Mr. Purbeck is an innocent.
00:42:43He'd help anyone who came to see him.
00:42:46We have to be careful.
00:42:47Why?
00:42:48Because spiritualism attracts all kinds of people.
00:42:52Some are perfectly sincere,
00:42:53they've lost someone they love
00:42:54and they simply want to re-establish
00:42:56some sort of communication with them.
00:42:58But you also get sensation seekers,
00:43:00as well as the hysterical and unstable fringe.
00:43:03You try and weed out the undesirables?
00:43:05Yes, as far as it's possible.
00:43:08You accepted Mrs. Wells.
00:43:10I didn't, actually.
00:43:12She approached Mr. Purbeck personally after a lecture
00:43:15and just pursued him
00:43:17till she got him to agree to grant her a seance.
00:43:20You were against this?
00:43:21I was.
00:43:22Why?
00:43:23Did you regard her as undesirable?
00:43:24Not undesirable, exactly,
00:43:27but likely to be troublesome.
00:43:31Mrs. Wells is a wealthy woman,
00:43:33self-centred, spoilt,
00:43:35rather unstable,
00:43:38who'd lost her only son under tragic circumstances.
00:43:41She's one of those people
00:43:42who have to be the centre of attention,
00:43:44no matter what.
00:43:45That's why she had to have Simon to herself,
00:43:47why she gave us the house,
00:43:48a grand gesture.
00:43:49She made herself our patroness.
00:43:53According to Mrs. Wells,
00:43:54she discussed with you
00:43:55the possibility of giving the house to the trust.
00:43:57That's true.
00:43:59She says that you suggested
00:44:01it was perhaps what a dead son wanted.
00:44:03She's mistaken.
00:44:04What did happen, then?
00:44:06She just informed me
00:44:07that Brian wanted her to give us the pines.
00:44:10What was your reaction?
00:44:12Very great uneasiness.
00:44:13Very great uneasiness.
00:44:14Why?
00:44:16I thought we were putting ourselves
00:44:17far too much into her hands.
00:44:19Did Mr. Perbeck or Mr. Kimber agree with you?
00:44:22No.
00:44:23Simon had always wanted proper premises
00:44:24to set up the centre,
00:44:25and Mrs. Wells' gift
00:44:26seemed like a prayer answered.
00:44:28So I said we must do it all legally.
00:44:31A deed of transference,
00:44:32everything in black and white.
00:44:33You distrusted Mrs. Wells.
00:44:36I thought she was the sort of person
00:44:37who could change her mind overnight.
00:44:40Which is just what she did.
00:44:42She says that Mr. Perbeck
00:44:43seems to have less and less time for her.
00:44:46Is that so?
00:44:47No, he didn't have less time.
00:44:49He just couldn't give her any more.
00:44:51She'd become very possessive.
00:44:53She wanted Simon all to herself,
00:44:55her own personal full-time medium.
00:44:58Well, he had others to consider,
00:44:59people who'd been coming to him for years.
00:45:01These other people,
00:45:02these other clients,
00:45:03did they pay Mr. Perbeck
00:45:05to attend the seances?
00:45:06No, they paid only to attend lectures.
00:45:09Simon never charged for seances.
00:45:11But he did accept financial contributions
00:45:13and gifts.
00:45:15Yes.
00:45:16Miss Marcus,
00:45:17what were you doing
00:45:17when you first met Simon Perbeck?
00:45:19What was your job?
00:45:20I was a doctor's receptionist.
00:45:22Did the doctor whom you worked for
00:45:24specialise in any particular branch of meds?
00:45:26Yes, psychiatry.
00:45:28Under what circumstances did you meet Mr. Perbeck?
00:45:32He was a patient.
00:45:33What was wrong with him?
00:45:34A mild, depressive condition,
00:45:36nothing serious.
00:45:37How long was he a patient?
00:45:39About a month.
00:45:40Has he ever been back?
00:45:41Not to my knowledge.
00:45:43While he was a patient,
00:45:45he also worked as a salesman
00:45:47selling encyclopedias?
00:45:49Yes.
00:45:49When did he become a full-time medium?
00:45:52Shortly after that.
00:45:53Long before he met Mrs. Wells?
00:45:54Oh, a good two years before.
00:45:57Miss Marcus,
00:45:58you were present at that first seance
00:46:00with Mrs. Wells.
00:46:01Yes.
00:46:01Is that usual?
00:46:03No.
00:46:04But then Mrs. Wells
00:46:05was not our usual type of client.
00:46:07Mrs. Wells insists
00:46:08that someone touched her on her shoulder.
00:46:12I know.
00:46:13She told everyone it was her son, Brian.
00:46:15Was it?
00:46:16How would I know?
00:46:18Did you touch her?
00:46:20No.
00:46:21Did you see Mr. Perbeck touch her?
00:46:23No.
00:46:23Could you have seen it if he had?
00:46:25Yes, he would have had to
00:46:26got out of the big chair
00:46:27and come across to her.
00:46:28And he did not?
00:46:29No.
00:46:30So you genuinely believe
00:46:32that this was a genuine phenomenon?
00:46:34No.
00:46:38Could you explain, please?
00:46:41If you ask me,
00:46:43nothing and nobody
00:46:44touched Mrs. Wells on the shoulder.
00:46:47She's one of those people
00:46:48who have to do everything
00:46:49bigger and better
00:46:50than everyone else.
00:46:52It was a typical piece
00:46:53of self-deception
00:46:54so that Simon would devote
00:46:56more time to her.
00:46:57Your Honour,
00:46:58these accusations
00:46:58on the part of the witness
00:46:59are malicious
00:47:00and completely without foundation.
00:47:02Yes, to a certain extent
00:47:03I agree, Mr. Dealey.
00:47:05You're not here
00:47:06to make unpleasant comments
00:47:07on Mrs. Wells' character.
00:47:10Your Honour,
00:47:10all I said was that
00:47:11I thought she deceived herself.
00:47:14That's why a medium
00:47:15has to be very careful.
00:47:16Very well.
00:47:18So you say
00:47:18she deceived herself?
00:47:20Yes, Your Honour.
00:47:22Oh.
00:47:23Mr. Lott,
00:47:23if you may continue.
00:47:24No more questions, Your Honour.
00:47:25Thank you, Miss Marcos.
00:47:28Miss Marcos,
00:47:29I find your rationale
00:47:30very interesting.
00:47:32You suspect
00:47:33that Mrs. Wells
00:47:34deceived herself
00:47:35about what occurred
00:47:36at the séance.
00:47:37But did you suggest
00:47:38to her that she might
00:47:39be mistaken
00:47:39about the touch
00:47:40on her shoulder?
00:47:42No.
00:47:43Why not?
00:47:44I hadn't the heart.
00:47:46Did you later mention
00:47:47your suspicions
00:47:47to Simon Purbeck?
00:47:49No.
00:47:50Why not?
00:47:51Because it would only
00:47:52have upset him.
00:47:52Or perhaps Mr. Purbeck
00:47:54had already guessed
00:47:55what had happened.
00:47:56Oh, Simon was in a trance.
00:47:57How could he have known
00:47:58what was happening?
00:47:59But you did.
00:47:59Or at least you thought
00:48:00you did, Miss Marcos.
00:48:01Yet by your own admission,
00:48:03you told no one.
00:48:04You warned no one.
00:48:07Not on that occasion.
00:48:08Did you at any other time?
00:48:10I always used to tell
00:48:12every client
00:48:12that the important thing
00:48:13was to be as objective
00:48:14as possible.
00:48:16I used to say
00:48:16that a medium
00:48:17was rather like
00:48:18a telephone exchange.
00:48:19It's terribly easy
00:48:20to get a wrong number.
00:48:21But surely,
00:48:22after that first
00:48:22sensational séance,
00:48:24you can't expect
00:48:25any bereaved mother
00:48:26to remain objective.
00:48:29Depends on the mother.
00:48:30I put it to you,
00:48:31Miss Marcos,
00:48:32that by your silence
00:48:33you knowingly
00:48:33compounded a deception.
00:48:37No.
00:48:40I didn't know
00:48:41it was a deception.
00:48:43I couldn't be
00:48:44100% sure.
00:48:45Yet you were just now,
00:48:47while you were
00:48:47accusing Mrs. Wells.
00:48:49The case of the Queen
00:49:09versus Purbeck
00:49:10will be resumed tomorrow
00:49:11in the Crown Court.
00:49:12ORCHESTRA PLAYS
00:49:42Saint or sinner?
00:49:46Holy man
00:49:46or common criminal?
00:49:48Is Simon Purbeck
00:49:50a genuine medium
00:49:51with real powers
00:49:52or a fake
00:49:53and a fraud?
00:49:55That is the question
00:49:56facing the jury
00:49:57in the case
00:49:58of Regina versus Purbeck.
00:50:00Simon Purbeck,
00:50:02self-styled founder
00:50:03of the Centre
00:50:03for the Study
00:50:04of the Spiritual Sciences,
00:50:06the man the newspapers
00:50:07have nicknamed
00:50:08the Wizard of West Walsham,
00:50:10is on trial
00:50:10at Fullchester Crown Court.
00:50:12He is alleged
00:50:13to have defrauded
00:50:14Mrs. Mary Wells
00:50:15out of over £40,000.
00:50:19Today is the last day
00:50:20of the trial.
00:50:21We shall not have long
00:50:22to wait
00:50:22for an answer
00:50:23to the question.
00:50:24where were you born,
00:50:45Miss Marcos?
00:50:47Liverpool.
00:50:47And how old are you?
00:50:48Thirty-four.
00:50:50You said that you
00:50:51were a receptionist
00:50:52before you met
00:50:53Mr. Purbeck.
00:50:54Yes.
00:50:55Why did you give
00:50:56that all up
00:50:56and become his
00:50:57maid-of-all work?
00:51:01Because I believe
00:51:02in Simon Purbeck.
00:51:04As a medium?
00:51:06Yes.
00:51:08Nevertheless,
00:51:08isn't it true
00:51:08that your present job
00:51:09pays much better
00:51:10than being a receptionist?
00:51:12All we get
00:51:13is living expenses.
00:51:15You haven't answered
00:51:16my question,
00:51:16Miss Marcos.
00:51:17In financial terms,
00:51:19and you do handle
00:51:20the money,
00:51:20don't you,
00:51:21doesn't spiritualism
00:51:22pay much better
00:51:23than being a receptionist
00:51:24or selling encyclopedias?
00:51:27Is that a crime?
00:51:28Just answer the question,
00:51:30yes or no,
00:51:30Miss Marcos.
00:51:32Yes.
00:51:33It does pay better?
00:51:35Yes.
00:51:36Now,
00:51:37you're one of the
00:51:37three officeholders
00:51:38of this trust
00:51:39that controls
00:51:39the Centre for the Study
00:51:40of Spiritual Sciences.
00:51:42Yes.
00:51:43What are spiritual sciences?
00:51:46Those sciences
00:51:47connected with spiritualism
00:51:49and the spirit world.
00:51:50And how many people
00:51:51are studying
00:51:51at the Centre
00:51:51at the moment?
00:51:53What?
00:51:55How many students
00:51:56are studying
00:51:57at the Centre
00:51:58at the moment?
00:52:00Well,
00:52:01actually,
00:52:01none at the moment.
00:52:03But we hope
00:52:03in the course of time
00:52:04to have people
00:52:04using the facilities.
00:52:05What facilities?
00:52:07We have a library.
00:52:09How many books
00:52:09does it contain?
00:52:11I don't know offhand.
00:52:13Well,
00:52:13give us an approximation.
00:52:14Does it contain 50 books?
00:52:15I couldn't say.
00:52:16A thousand books?
00:52:16I don't know.
00:52:17You're quite sure
00:52:18there are some books
00:52:19in this library,
00:52:19Miss Marcos?
00:52:20Yes.
00:52:23What other facilities
00:52:23has this Centre
00:52:24to offer the
00:52:25Student of Spiritual Sciences?
00:52:29Mostly just
00:52:29accommodation at the moment.
00:52:31At the moment,
00:52:31how many people
00:52:32are making use
00:52:32of this accommodation?
00:52:34The Centre's only been
00:52:35in operation
00:52:35for about a year.
00:52:37Just answer the question,
00:52:38please, Miss Marcos.
00:52:40How many people
00:52:40are living
00:52:41at the Pines,
00:52:41West Walsh?
00:52:44Mr. Purbeck
00:52:45and myself
00:52:45and the Italian couple
00:52:46who look after the place.
00:52:48How large is the house?
00:52:52How many rooms are there?
00:52:55About 14, I think.
00:52:57Does that include
00:52:57a staff flat?
00:52:58No, there's also
00:53:01a small staff flat.
00:53:03The Pines,
00:53:04West Walsham
00:53:04could hardly be called
00:53:05overcrowded then,
00:53:07could it?
00:53:10Miss Marcos,
00:53:11in answer to my
00:53:11learned friend,
00:53:12you observed
00:53:12that spiritualism
00:53:13attracted all kinds
00:53:14of people.
00:53:15Some sincere,
00:53:16some mere
00:53:17sensation seekers.
00:53:18What I think
00:53:19you described as,
00:53:20um...
00:53:20What was the phrase
00:53:24you used?
00:53:26The hysterical
00:53:27and unstable fringe.
00:53:29What a memory
00:53:30you have,
00:53:31Miss Marcos.
00:53:33Nevertheless,
00:53:33isn't it a fact
00:53:34that you were trained
00:53:35to recognize
00:53:36hysterics
00:53:37and instability?
00:53:39I should like
00:53:40to think
00:53:41I could recognize
00:53:41an unstable personality
00:53:42when I saw one,
00:53:43yes.
00:53:44Which may account
00:53:45for the fact
00:53:45that until Mrs. Wells
00:53:46came onto the scene,
00:53:47we had no complaints
00:53:48at all from any clients.
00:53:50In fact,
00:53:50you personally
00:53:51vetted all the clients.
00:53:53Nearly all.
00:53:54And apart from
00:53:54those who you
00:53:54would describe
00:53:55as, um...
00:53:56Well, your word
00:53:57again, troublesome,
00:53:59what else did
00:53:59you vet these
00:54:00clients for?
00:54:03I don't know
00:54:03what you mean.
00:54:05Didn't you vet
00:54:05these clients
00:54:06in order to find
00:54:06out what they
00:54:07were worth?
00:54:08No.
00:54:09Oh, come,
00:54:09Miss Marcos,
00:54:10you surely
00:54:10don't expect
00:54:10the jury
00:54:11to believe
00:54:11that financial
00:54:12considerations
00:54:12did not come
00:54:13into your
00:54:13choice of client.
00:54:14Money played
00:54:15no part in it
00:54:16at all.
00:54:17All right.
00:54:19How did you
00:54:20conduct this vetting?
00:54:21Did you ask
00:54:21questions?
00:54:22Yes.
00:54:23What sort
00:54:23of questions?
00:54:25Mostly about
00:54:26the reasons
00:54:26why they came
00:54:27to see Simon
00:54:27in the first place.
00:54:28Was it curiosity
00:54:29or because
00:54:30they'd lost
00:54:30a loved one?
00:54:31And you asked
00:54:31them their name
00:54:32and address?
00:54:32Yes.
00:54:32And where they
00:54:33worked?
00:54:34Sometimes,
00:54:34if it seemed
00:54:34important.
00:54:35Well, I submit,
00:54:36Miss Marcos,
00:54:36given this information,
00:54:37plus the fact
00:54:38of having the
00:54:38person in question
00:54:39in front of you,
00:54:40a person of your
00:54:41experience and
00:54:42intelligence would
00:54:43have no difficulty
00:54:44at arriving at a
00:54:45fair assessment
00:54:45of the financial
00:54:46status of the
00:54:47potential client.
00:54:48Now, is it not
00:54:52true, Miss Marcos,
00:54:53that these private
00:54:55seances with Mr
00:54:56Perbuck were almost
00:54:57exclusively the
00:54:58privilege of your
00:54:58more wealthy
00:54:59clients?
00:55:01No.
00:55:03How many clients
00:55:04had private
00:55:05seances?
00:55:07Very few.
00:55:08And of these
00:55:08clients who had
00:55:10private seances
00:55:10like Mrs Wells,
00:55:12how many would
00:55:12you describe as
00:55:13wealthy?
00:55:14I couldn't say.
00:55:15We didn't ask to
00:55:16see their bank
00:55:17balances.
00:55:17Come, Miss Marcos,
00:55:18you vetted the
00:55:19people.
00:55:20You don't expect
00:55:20the jury to believe
00:55:21that you don't know
00:55:21the difference
00:55:22between rich and
00:55:22poor.
00:55:23Of course I do,
00:55:23but most of our
00:55:24clientele's drawn
00:55:25from the middle
00:55:25income bracket.
00:55:26And did all these
00:55:27people make
00:55:27contributions to
00:55:28the centre?
00:55:29When they could.
00:55:31How much did
00:55:31these contributions
00:55:32and gifts amount
00:55:33to in a year?
00:55:34I don't know.
00:55:36Didn't you keep
00:55:37any records?
00:55:38Why should I?
00:55:39They were gifts.
00:55:41Well, Mrs Wells has
00:55:44said in evidence
00:55:44that over a period
00:55:45of two years
00:55:45she contributed
00:55:46a house worth
00:55:48between £30,000
00:55:49and £35,000
00:55:50plus between
00:55:52£8,000 and £9,000
00:55:53in cash.
00:55:55Now this works
00:55:55out at approximately
00:55:56£20,000 a year.
00:55:59Now, I take it
00:56:00that this was not
00:56:01a typical contribution?
00:56:03No.
00:56:04Then what was,
00:56:05Miss Marcos?
00:56:06I don't know.
00:56:07But you handled
00:56:07the financial side,
00:56:09didn't you?
00:56:09Yes.
00:56:10Well, Mr Kimber
00:56:11has said in evidence
00:56:11that the total assets
00:56:12of the trust at the
00:56:13moment, including
00:56:14the value of the
00:56:15house, is approximately
00:56:17£44,000.
00:56:19Now, do you agree
00:56:19with this figure?
00:56:21If Mr Kimber
00:56:22says that, it must
00:56:23be right.
00:56:24And £44,000
00:56:25is almost exactly
00:56:26the total value
00:56:27of what Mrs Wells
00:56:29contributed.
00:56:30Now, what the
00:56:32court would like
00:56:32to know, Miss Marcos,
00:56:33is what has happened
00:56:36to the rest of the money?
00:56:38The money from the
00:56:39other clients
00:56:40who you so carefully
00:56:41vetted.
00:56:42It went on expenses.
00:56:44What kind of expenses,
00:56:45Miss Marcos?
00:56:46Living expenses
00:56:47for you and Mr Perbeck?
00:56:49Partly.
00:56:50The rest will have
00:56:51gone on hiring
00:56:52halls, accommodation,
00:56:53heating, lighting,
00:56:55printing posters.
00:56:56We didn't always have
00:56:57Mrs Wells' house
00:56:58to use for services.
00:56:59We had to rent
00:56:59accommodation.
00:57:00Being a medium
00:57:01can be very expensive.
00:57:02Obviously.
00:57:08Thank you, Miss Marcos.
00:57:13Firstly, Miss Marcos,
00:57:15regarding the
00:57:16centre's library,
00:57:18would you say it was
00:57:19adequately stocked
00:57:20at the moment?
00:57:23I would, yes.
00:57:25Now, you say
00:57:26you kept no record
00:57:27of gifts.
00:57:28No.
00:57:28Why didn't you?
00:57:29Because Mr Perbeck
00:57:32believes that
00:57:32spiritualism and
00:57:33bookkeeping don't mix.
00:57:36Miss Marcos,
00:57:37did any of your
00:57:37clients ever
00:57:39complain about
00:57:39the luxury
00:57:40in which you
00:57:41and Mr Perbeck
00:57:42lived?
00:57:42No, because
00:57:43there wasn't
00:57:44any luxury
00:57:44to complain about.
00:57:46Did Mr Perbeck
00:57:47ever turn away
00:57:48any clients
00:57:48because they were
00:57:49poor?
00:57:50No.
00:57:50But he did
00:57:51turn people away?
00:57:52Yes, but not
00:57:54because they
00:57:54hadn't any money.
00:57:56We turned away
00:57:56people whom we
00:57:57thought unsuitable
00:57:58or who wouldn't
00:57:59fit in with
00:57:59Simon's way
00:58:00of running
00:58:00saleses.
00:58:02That's all.
00:58:04Thank you,
00:58:04Miss Marcos.
00:58:06Thank you,
00:58:07Miss Marcos.
00:58:08You may stand
00:58:09down.
00:58:12I call
00:58:12Miss Rachel
00:58:13Sullivan.
00:58:15Miss Rachel
00:58:16Sullivan.
00:58:28What is your
00:58:31religion?
00:58:33Church of England.
00:58:34Take the Bible
00:58:35in your right
00:58:36hand and read
00:58:36out aloud the
00:58:37words on this
00:58:37card.
00:58:38I swear by
00:58:39Almighty God
00:58:40that the evidence
00:58:40I shall give
00:58:41shall be the
00:58:42truth, the
00:58:43whole truth,
00:58:44and nothing
00:58:44but the truth.
00:58:47Your name
00:58:48is Rachel
00:58:48Sullivan?
00:58:49Yes.
00:58:50Where do you
00:58:50live?
00:58:5137 A,
00:58:52Bury Street,
00:58:52Fulchester.
00:58:53What is your
00:58:54occupation?
00:58:55Well, I'm
00:58:56retired now,
00:58:57but I used
00:58:58to be a
00:58:58schoolteacher.
00:58:59Which school?
00:59:00I used to be
00:59:02principal Latin
00:59:02teacher at
00:59:03St Osweth's
00:59:04Girls School,
00:59:05Fulchester.
00:59:06Miss Sullivan,
00:59:07you are
00:59:07interested in
00:59:08spiritualism?
00:59:09Yes.
00:59:10Have you been
00:59:11interested for
00:59:12long?
00:59:13About 15 or
00:59:1420 years.
00:59:15It was my
00:59:16dear friend,
00:59:17she's dead
00:59:17now, alas,
00:59:18who first took
00:59:19me along to
00:59:20seances.
00:59:2115 to 20
00:59:21years?
00:59:22You must have
00:59:23attended a
00:59:23great many
00:59:24seances in
00:59:24that.
00:59:24Oh, yes,
00:59:25a great many.
00:59:26And observed
00:59:26many mediums
00:59:27in action?
00:59:28Yes, indeed,
00:59:29probably about
00:59:2930 or 40.
00:59:31And you are
00:59:31now one of
00:59:32Mr. Purbeck's
00:59:32regular clients?
00:59:33I've been going
00:59:34to Simon
00:59:34Purbeck for
00:59:36nearly four
00:59:36years.
00:59:37What is your
00:59:38opinion of
00:59:39him as a
00:59:39medium?
00:59:40I think
00:59:41without doubt
00:59:42that he's the
00:59:42finest natural
00:59:43medium I have
00:59:45ever seen.
00:59:46There's no
00:59:47act with him,
00:59:48no personality
00:59:49cult, if you
00:59:50follow me.
00:59:51Well, I mean,
00:59:52he's the only
00:59:53medium I've ever
00:59:54seen who will
00:59:54suddenly stop in
00:59:56the middle of a
00:59:56seance and say,
00:59:58I'm sorry, the
00:59:59power has gone, I
01:00:00can't do any
01:00:01more.
01:00:02It really is most
01:00:04unusual.
01:00:05I'm sure it is,
01:00:06Miss Sullivan.
01:00:06Is that why you've
01:00:07gone to him so
01:00:08regularly?
01:00:09Partly and partly
01:00:10because when
01:00:11Evadne, when my
01:00:13dear friend died, I
01:00:15tried to get into
01:00:16contact with her
01:00:16through various
01:00:17mediums.
01:00:18she was a Christian
01:00:20scientist and a
01:00:21spiritualist and I
01:00:23knew if it was at
01:00:24all possible she
01:00:25would communicate
01:00:26with me.
01:00:27But she didn't.
01:00:29I saw a lot of
01:00:31mediums, some of
01:00:31them genuine, some
01:00:32of them charlatans
01:00:34and frauds.
01:00:35And then I heard
01:00:37of Simon Purbeck and
01:00:38I went to see him
01:00:39and Evadne spoke
01:00:43to me.
01:00:45Did Mr Purbeck
01:00:46charge you for the
01:00:47seances?
01:00:47Oh, no.
01:00:48Oh, no, he makes
01:00:49no charge at all.
01:00:50But he must have
01:00:50paid something.
01:00:52Well, if you can
01:00:53afford it, you can
01:00:54make some small
01:00:55financial contribution
01:00:56but you're not
01:00:56forced to.
01:00:57And what happens
01:00:57if you don't
01:00:58contribute?
01:00:59Nothing.
01:00:59Nothing at all?
01:01:01Can you still
01:01:02attend the seances?
01:01:03Oh, yes, provided
01:01:04you've been a regular,
01:01:05of course.
01:01:06Well, I mean, for
01:01:06the past year, ever
01:01:07since I've been
01:01:08retired, it was
01:01:09on account of
01:01:11my asthma, you
01:01:11know.
01:01:12I've paid no
01:01:14contributions at all
01:01:15or I simply couldn't
01:01:16afford it on a
01:01:16small pension.
01:01:18I was going to
01:01:19give up going to
01:01:19the seances but
01:01:20Mr Purbeck insisted
01:01:23that I continue.
01:01:25Yes, I pay
01:01:25nothing.
01:01:26Thank you, Miss
01:01:27Sullivan.
01:01:31Miss Sullivan,
01:01:32am I correct in
01:01:33presuming that you're
01:01:34not a wealthy
01:01:35woman?
01:01:36I am certainly
01:01:37not.
01:01:37That you own
01:01:38no property?
01:01:38No.
01:01:39You have no
01:01:40private income
01:01:40or personal
01:01:41fortune?
01:01:42No.
01:01:42Even though you
01:01:43cannot afford it,
01:01:44Mr Purbeck still
01:01:44allows you to
01:01:45attend his
01:01:46seances.
01:01:46That is correct.
01:01:48What seances
01:01:49are these?
01:01:51I'm afraid I
01:01:52don't understand.
01:01:53Well, are these
01:01:54the public
01:01:54seances, Miss
01:01:55Sullivan, or like
01:01:56Mrs Wells, do you
01:01:57attend private
01:01:57seances?
01:01:58Do you see Mr
01:01:59Purbeck alone or
01:02:00in the company of
01:02:01others?
01:02:01I attend the
01:02:02public seances
01:02:03and occasionally
01:02:05one of his
01:02:05smaller ones.
01:02:06And how many
01:02:07people usually
01:02:07attend his
01:02:08public seances?
01:02:09A hundred.
01:02:10And the
01:02:10smaller ones?
01:02:11Half a dozen,
01:02:12a dozen.
01:02:13Have you ever
01:02:14had a seance
01:02:14with Mr
01:02:15Purbeck alone?
01:02:16No.
01:02:17Then as you
01:02:18said, Miss
01:02:18Sullivan, you
01:02:19have no property,
01:02:21no private
01:02:22income, and no
01:02:23personal fortune.
01:02:26Miss
01:02:26Sullivan, have
01:02:28you ever asked
01:02:29Mr Purbeck for a
01:02:30private seance?
01:02:31No.
01:02:32Do you know
01:02:32many people who
01:02:33have private
01:02:34seances with
01:02:34Mr Purbeck?
01:02:35No.
01:02:37Miss Sullivan,
01:02:37with your
01:02:37extensive experience
01:02:39of seances and
01:02:40mediums, and
01:02:41in all the time
01:02:41you'd be going
01:02:42to Mr Purbeck,
01:02:43have you ever
01:02:43caught him in
01:02:44anything fraudulent?
01:02:46I have not.
01:02:48Thank you,
01:02:49Miss Sullivan.
01:02:50Thank you,
01:02:51Miss Sullivan.
01:02:51You may stand
01:02:52down.
01:02:54That concludes
01:02:55the case for
01:02:56the defence.
01:02:56This seems a
01:02:57convenient time
01:02:58to adjourn.
01:02:59I will hear
01:03:00the speeches
01:03:00for the
01:03:01prosecution and
01:03:02defence
01:03:02after lunch.
01:03:04All rise.
01:03:05.
01:03:08.
01:03:08.
01:03:12Mr. Dealey, members of the jury.
01:03:42A case like this is deeply disturbing, not only because there is a very considerable sum of money involved,
01:03:49but because a case like this involves people's deepest and most profoundly held beliefs.
01:03:54Anyone who has lost someone they loved has wondered if perhaps somehow one day they can ever hope to see that loved one again.
01:04:02And some people believe that not only this is possible, but that in fact they can actually communicate here and now with those who have died.
01:04:10Now what is important here is that people find great comfort in these beliefs.
01:04:16But inevitably, human nature being what it is, there are those who will ruthlessly and criminally exploit those beliefs for their own gains.
01:04:25Now it was in order to protect the bereaved from these contemptible human predators that in 1951 Parliament passed the Fraudulent Mediums Act.
01:04:34And it is my contention, members of the jury, that Simon Purbeck is just such a predator,
01:04:40and that he deliberately and criminally exploited Mrs. Mary Wells to the tune of over £40,000.
01:04:48Now, let us consider the evidence, members of the jury.
01:04:53Mrs. Wells had lost her only son, and her desperate search for contact with him led her tragically to Simon Purbeck.
01:05:01Now, you may feel her quest was foolish, but foolish or not, she has every right to protection under the law.
01:05:10Now, fact.
01:05:14Purbeck had set up as a medium.
01:05:17Fact.
01:05:17A séance was arranged at which she gained the impression, and who can say how,
01:05:22that her dead son had touched her upon the shoulder.
01:05:25Well, she was ecstatic.
01:05:27At last her dream had come true.
01:05:29Now, who can blame her if she poured out her wealth on Simon Purbeck as a result of who knows what subtle pressures, hints and suggestions?
01:05:38Now, Simon Purbeck, I contend, is a shrewd man.
01:05:42No one's fool.
01:05:44Rather than accept Mrs. Wells' money personally, which would have left him wide open for prosecution,
01:05:50he sets up a trust for some centre for the study of spiritual sciences.
01:05:54Now, I ask you, members of the jury, have you ever heard of these sciences?
01:06:00I have not.
01:06:02And I tell you that this centre is as much a fraud as the rest of his operation.
01:06:08Ask yourselves, shouldn't a centre for study contain some students?
01:06:13But this centre turns out to be no more than a free private home for Mr. Purbeck and his assistant.
01:06:21And if such a centre was in earnest, shouldn't its finances be a model of probity?
01:06:27But Miss Marcos has told us that they kept no records of all the monies given to them by clients.
01:06:32Now, Miss Marcos also states that she believed that Mrs. Wells was deceiving herself.
01:06:41And she also claims not to have discussed this with Mr. Purbeck,
01:06:45which seems hard to accept considering the closeness of their relationship.
01:06:49Yet, knowing this, they allowed Mrs. Wells to attend seances
01:06:54and to make vast contributions of money for over two years after that first seance.
01:07:01Now, I ask you, members of the jury,
01:07:04could you, believing that someone was deceiving themselves,
01:07:09accept over £20,000 a year from that person?
01:07:14I doubt it.
01:07:15It is my contention, members of the jury,
01:07:19that Simon Purbeck, with intent to deceive,
01:07:21set up as a spiritualistic medium for which he received reward.
01:07:27And I trust, therefore, members of the jury,
01:07:29that you will find him guilty of the charges against him.
01:07:37Mr. Latterby.
01:07:38Your Honour.
01:07:40Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jury.
01:07:41We cannot fail to sympathize with Mrs. Wells
01:07:45in her need to contact her dead son.
01:07:48We can understand her joy when she believed she had made that contact.
01:07:52We can understand how bitterly disappointed she must have been
01:07:55when it was put into her head that that contact had been a fake.
01:08:00Because there is no doubt, ladies and gentlemen,
01:08:02that before she met Major Otway,
01:08:04Mrs. Wells believed she had achieved the one thing in life
01:08:06that held most meaning for her,
01:08:08contact with her dead son.
01:08:10So grateful is she that she
01:08:12pours out her money,
01:08:14uninvited and unasked for,
01:08:16to help set up a centre
01:08:17to study those same spiritual sciences
01:08:19which had brought about her happiness.
01:08:22And then she becomes greedy.
01:08:25Now, this is a lady
01:08:26who believes that her money
01:08:27will get her anything she wants.
01:08:29And what she wants
01:08:30is more and more of the medium's time.
01:08:34Mr. Purbeck cannot or will not give it her.
01:08:36Then the Major enters her life.
01:08:41Off with the old,
01:08:42on with the new.
01:08:43She is told that what she had yesterday
01:08:45is useless and valueless
01:08:46and therefore the person from whom she bought
01:08:48is a criminal.
01:08:48She must take back
01:08:50all that she had so freely given.
01:08:53Ladies and gentlemen,
01:08:54we might well doubt
01:08:55Major Otway's motives.
01:08:57Now, about the motives
01:09:00of the accused,
01:09:00Simon Purbeck,
01:09:02I contend there is no doubt.
01:09:03He genuinely believes in himself
01:09:05as a medium
01:09:06or, as he prefers it,
01:09:08a person sensitive
01:09:09to spiritual forces.
01:09:11We have heard the evidence
01:09:12of a witness
01:09:13with considerable experience
01:09:15of mediums and seances
01:09:17who tells us that Simon Purbeck
01:09:20is the finest natural medium
01:09:22she's ever seen.
01:09:24Certainly no one,
01:09:25not even Major Otway,
01:09:27has seen anything fraudulent
01:09:29in the conduct of his seances.
01:09:32The reward
01:09:33that Simon Purbeck received
01:09:35was to see his ideas and beliefs
01:09:38studied
01:09:38and advanced
01:09:40for future generations
01:09:40to help other people
01:09:41like Mrs. Wells.
01:09:43You will note
01:09:44that he was given a house
01:09:45worth 30 to 35,000 pounds.
01:09:47Well, he didn't sell it
01:09:48and make off with the loot.
01:09:49He set up a study centre.
01:09:52Now, the prosecution
01:09:53complains that this study centre
01:09:55is not yet in operation.
01:09:57Well, ladies and gentlemen,
01:09:58my learned friend and I
01:09:59both went to the same university,
01:10:01a university
01:10:02which for the past two years
01:10:03has been planning
01:10:04to set up a school
01:10:05for theoretical astronomy.
01:10:07In two years' time,
01:10:09they hope to receive
01:10:10their first students
01:10:11for the new course.
01:10:13Well, no one has accused
01:10:14the university authorities
01:10:15of fraud.
01:10:18Ladies and gentlemen,
01:10:19neither can we accuse
01:10:20Simon Purbeck.
01:10:21I suggest you have
01:10:22no alternative
01:10:23but to find
01:10:24Simon Purbeck
01:10:25not guilty
01:10:26of the charges against him.
01:10:32Members of the jury,
01:10:34I do not propose
01:10:37to repeat
01:10:38Councillor's arguments
01:10:39which have been
01:10:39cogently
01:10:40and forcefully put.
01:10:42Instead,
01:10:43I propose
01:10:44to try and clarify
01:10:45the legal issues
01:10:46as I see them.
01:10:48Now,
01:10:49the Fraudulent Mediums Act
01:10:51is a fairly recent
01:10:52piece of legislation
01:10:53and it has been
01:10:55comparatively little used.
01:10:56What I am going to do,
01:10:57therefore,
01:10:58is to read
01:10:59those sections
01:10:59of the Act
01:11:00which concern us.
01:11:02Now,
01:11:03the Act states
01:11:03quite clearly
01:11:04that any person
01:11:06who,
01:11:07A,
01:11:07with intent
01:11:08to deceive,
01:11:10purports to act
01:11:11as a spiritualistic medium
01:11:12or to exercise
01:11:14any powers
01:11:14of telepathy,
01:11:15clairvoyance
01:11:16or other similar powers,
01:11:18or B,
01:11:19in purporting
01:11:20to act
01:11:20as a spiritualistic medium
01:11:22or to exercise
01:11:23such powers
01:11:23as aforesaid,
01:11:24uses any fraudulent device,
01:11:27such a person
01:11:28shall be guilty
01:11:29of an offence.
01:11:30under the foregoing
01:11:37unless it is proved
01:11:39that he acted
01:11:40for reward.
01:11:41And for the purposes
01:11:43of this section,
01:11:44a person should be deemed
01:11:45to act for reward
01:11:46if any money
01:11:47is paid
01:11:48or other valuable
01:11:49thing given
01:11:50in respect
01:11:51of what he does,
01:11:52whether to him
01:11:53or to any other person.
01:11:56It's clear
01:11:57that you,
01:11:58members of the jury,
01:11:59have to decide
01:12:00on two matters.
01:12:02Firstly,
01:12:04whether Simon Purbeck
01:12:06purported to act
01:12:07as a spiritualistic medium
01:12:09with intent to deceive.
01:12:12And secondly,
01:12:13if he did so act,
01:12:15whether he acted
01:12:15for reward.
01:12:16Now,
01:12:17the question of reward
01:12:18is not really difficult
01:12:19at all.
01:12:20For as I see it,
01:12:20it makes no difference
01:12:21whether these various
01:12:22monies in the house
01:12:24were given
01:12:24to the accused
01:12:25or to a trust.
01:12:26And I direct you
01:12:27that the phrase
01:12:27to any other person
01:12:29be construed
01:12:31to include
01:12:31an abstract entity
01:12:32such as a trust.
01:12:33So then,
01:12:35we come back
01:12:36to the question
01:12:37with intent
01:12:38to deceive.
01:12:40Now,
01:12:41the question
01:12:41of whether or not
01:12:42there was any intention
01:12:43to deceive
01:12:44is for you,
01:12:46members of the jury.
01:12:48And only you can decide.
01:12:51Now,
01:12:51you will now retire
01:12:52and consider your verdict.
01:12:53All stand.
01:13:03Members of the jury,
01:13:12just answer this question,
01:13:13yes or no.
01:13:15Have you reached a verdict
01:13:16upon which you are
01:13:16all agreed?
01:13:17Yes.
01:13:18Do you find
01:13:19the prisoner of the bar,
01:13:20Simon Morris Purbeck,
01:13:21guilty or not guilty
01:13:23of the charge
01:13:23brought under
01:13:24the Fraudulent Mediums Act
01:13:251951?
01:13:27Guilty.
01:13:28That is the verdict
01:13:29of you all?
01:13:30Yes.
01:13:33Judge Bragg
01:13:41sentenced Purbeck
01:13:42to 12 months' imprisonment
01:13:43and also fined him
01:13:45£400.
01:13:48Next week,
01:13:49a chance for you
01:13:50to join another jury
01:13:51in assessing the facts
01:13:52when our cameras return
01:13:53to watch a leading case
01:13:55in the Crown Court.
01:14:03of you
01:14:15in actions
01:14:20in actions
01:14:21in actions
01:14:21in actions
01:14:23in actions
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