.417 



■well on the spot, and the water was found exactly at the depth 

 he stated. The tenant has told me it is capital water, and the 

 supply never runs short. After Mullins has indicated water I 

 have blind-folded him and turned him round and round, but 

 whenever after this he crossed the spring up went the rod 

 directly. I conclude by saying I believe in him thoroughly." 



The value, or otherwise, of such evidence as this lies very 

 much in one's previous knowledge of the individual who gives it. 

 Mr. Brown has been a member of the Council of the Bath and 

 West of England Society for many years, and has occupied a 

 seat on other public bodies, and anyone who knows him as well 

 as I do can as readily testify both to his integrity and capacity. 

 I observe that he is present here to-day, and so can endorse, or 

 otherwise, my statements with reference to his experiences. 



John Mullins, who resides at Colerne, near Chippenham, was 

 brought up as a stone mason, and he still follows that occupation, 

 but much of his time is now employed in searching for water in 

 various parts of the kingdom. He undertakes to sink wells in 

 localities where he has previously stated water will be found, so 

 that he does not shirk the final test of his own powers. Cases 

 have come under my notice in which he has adopted the 

 principle of "no cure, no pay," and has contracted to sink the 

 well with the condition that he would make no charge for the 

 work if a plentiful supply of water were not forthcoming. I 

 have interviewed Mullins on more than one occasion, and have 

 been present when he has been searching for water. He is 

 open and straightforward in manner, and is without any of the 

 outward characteristics of the professional charlatan. He puts 

 on no air of mystery or pretentiousness, but appears ready and 

 willing to tell all he knows, and to submit to any practical test. 

 I catechised him on various points, and obtained the following 

 answers to my questions. He has no reason to believe, he said, 

 that he inherited the gift, as he never heard of any other 

 member of his family possessing it. He discovered it in himself 



