FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - At Guisborough on Tuesday, three lady palmists, who have practised at Redcar, were summoned on charges of pretending to tell fortunes. The case against Mdlle Vera was first taken, and evidence was given by the wife of Police-constable Walker, of Warrenby, to the effect that she visited the defendant with the wife of Police-constable Daykin. The defendant told her she would soon be married to a seafaring man and she would have £150 left to her in about five years. Mrs Daykin said the defendant told her she would be married twice and have four children. The defence was that the Act under which proceedings were taken, passed in the reign of George IV, was simply meant to put down rogues and vagabonds, who went about imposing upon weak-minded and ignorant persons. It could not apply to the carrying out of a practice which was a recognised feature of almost every garden party and bazaar, and formed a great attraction at seaside resorts. Mdlle Vera was called and said she had spent many years in studying the science and fully believed in it. She did not tell fortunes, but merely said what was indicated, and persons could believe it or not as they pleased. After a lengthy consultation in private the magistrates decided to dismiss the case.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - The slogan, "Fortune favours the brave" certainly applies to three Darlington young ladies who left their homes on July 7 for a hitchhiking tour of France and Switzerland. There was not the slightest hitch and only the minimum of hiking in the tour which, in fact devolved into a series of lorry rides with only an occasional train journey. Virtually the only exciting experience of the tour occurred on Geneva station, when the girls in their anxiety to board a train as it was about to leave, forgot to produce their passports at the gates. In consequence, they were hotly pursued by the station staff who, however, being satisfied as to their bona-fides, omitted the baggage-searching ritual.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - The hot weather which has lowered the oxygen content in the water, plus the drop in the water level during the past six weeks by about four feet, have both been contributing factors to the drowning of several hundred fish in the pond at Darlington's South Park, an investigation has revealed this week. The toll of dead fish is 800 to 1,000. The town's angling association yesterday accused the council of indifference over the loss of fish. Mr Arthur Snowden, vice-chairman of the Brown Trout Association, said the loss could have been avoided if a generator and pump had been borrowed to re-oxygenate the water. Another solution would have been for the council to buy reconditioned equipment for abut £100 to be used when conditions were abnormal.