This is one of the stranger news stories to have involved the local area, in which young women were inducted into a fake cult, some were raped and conned out of their money and belongings – scary and bizarre stuff involving number 29 Durand Gardens…. The first two articles cover the strange events that took place in 1901 as they unfolded in court. The third article tells us all that is known about Laura Horos who was described by Harry Houdini as “one of the most extraordinary fake mediums and mystery swindlers the world has ever known”

Coventry Evening Telegraph – Friday 11 October 1901

 The ‘Theocratic Community’

Alleged Extraordinary Practices – Strange Evidence in a Police Case

Remarkable charges were heard on Thursday at Marylebone Police Court against Frank and Editha Jackson, otherwise Theodore and Laura Horos. This couple are accused of decoying, robbing and ruining young girls in the most impudent, deliberate and heartless manner. The gist of the prosecution’s statement and the evidence is that the victims were procured by means of matrimonial advertisements, and, having had their imaginations excited by stories of the prisoners occult powers, were initiated into what was called the ‘Theocratic Community and Purity League’ Among the rites of admission, Mr Matthews (for the prosecution) declared, was intercourse with one of the accused, which was represented as ‘a condition precedent to any such revelation of the truth as would ensure salvation’ This outrageous practice, it was further stated, was imposed ‘upon girls by the man in the presence of his wife’

The evidence of Evelyn Maud Mary Croysdale, and attractive young woman of twenty two, who gave her evidence with considerable self possession, and in phrases which betrayed a good education was taken. In June of this year she was living at Hull with her guardian. She answered an advertisement which appeared in the matrimonial column of the ‘People’ she asked the advertiser to send a photograph and tell her something about himself. What reply did you get? – The prisoner wrote that his mother was very wealthy, and they were travelling, that he liked her letter, and that if she was as she wrote he would do all in his power to help her. He asked her to come and stay with his mother for a few days.  On arriving at 29 Durand Gardens, on a visit, Madame Horos put her arms round her and kissed her. She showed the witness a large portrait of herself, which she said was taken in a temple in India while she was reclining beside a live tiger. The picture was unframed, it was unrolled in court, and was inspected with some amusement.

Witness went on to state that the woman prisoner said her son was a very honourable gentleman, and that she was lucky to win his affections. While she was at Durand Gardens she was seduced. Next day the male prisoner said to Madame Horos ‘Welcome to your little daughter, she has joined us’ She thought from their demeanour that it was decided that he was going to marry her. She was rather surprised at the male prisoner asking her to go back to Hull to fetch her things, but she did so. They afterwards removed to 99 Gower Street. The case was remanded.

Coventry Evening Telegraph – Saturday 09 November 1901

LANDLADIES EVIDENCE

Frank Dutton Jackson and Edith Jackson, otherwise Theodore and Laura Horos, the self styled leaders of the Theocratic Unity and Purity League, of Park Road, Regent’s Park, on Friday again appeared before Mr Curtis Bennett at the Marylebone Police Court on the charge of fraudulent conspiracy, and also for alleged offences under the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Mrs Helen Wiggs, of 29 Durand Gardens, Clapham, said two men called at her house in June last and engaged two parlours and two rooms on the first floor, at a rental of 18s a week. They were unfurnished, but she lent them some beds. The men were Mr Bosanquet and Mr Horos. They said they would take possession the next day but no furniture arrived. Madame, Mrs Bosanquet, and Rose Adams, however, called on the 21^st. Madame described herself as an authoress, and said she wrote about books. They continued the tenancy for about a month, when the two men who had been principal occupants left the house. During the time the two men were in the house Vera Croysdale came there, and stayed two or three days.

Mrs Annie Belman Lewis, wife of Dr Lewis, of 99 Gower Street, said she kept a boarding house. In July last, the 16^th, the male prisoner called, and described himself as Mr Adams. He asked for a room for an office for the use of his mother. He did not then say what they were. He said he was staying at Morley’s Hotel. She accepted the male prisoner’s offer to pay £1 a week for the use of the room, and he paid one week in advance. The next day the woman prisoner and Rose Adams, but who was introduced at the time as “Rose Evelyn” arrived.

On one occasion, shortly after their taking the room, the Swami came to the house with Vera Croysdale, whom she introduced to the witness as her (Swami’s) adopted daughter. Several times during their stay at her house Theocratic Unity was mentioned, but witness never thoroughly understood it until the Swami approached her with a view to her joining the Order. The male prisoner told her that in their Order they took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Witness asked if poverty meant giving up the whole of what one possessed to them. He replied that it did. She remarked that that would require a great deal of consideration. She also enquired why Mrs Wakefield, who belonged to the Order, had not given up her possessions the same as the others. He replied that she belonged to the “Outer Order”, but he had no doubt she would soon join the “Inner Order” (Laughter). As to the vow of obedience, she knew that they expected implicit obedience,  because of the way they treated members of the Order. Rose Adams was a perfect slave. The case was adjourned until next Saturday.

More modern information about Swami Horos:

References