Beare, Charles Albert (ca. 1931)
Beare, Charles Albert (ca. 1931)
Famous British fake medium, who demonstrated claimed clairvoyance and trumpet and psychometry phenomena. In 1920 he joined the Spiritualist organization the Temple of Light and promoted himself as a medium. His "phenomena" were tested by the Temple of Light, which presented Beare with a diploma certifying his mediumistic "gifts" and accrediting him as an authorized medium. Beare claimed to have a spirit guide named "Shauna," supposed to be a Greek who had lived 130 years earlier.
In 1931, however, Beare published a confession in the newspaper Daily Express (September 18). He stated: "I have deceived hundreds of people…. I have been guilty of fraud and deception in spiritualistic practices by pretending that I was controlled by a spirit guide…. I am frankly and whole-heartedly sorry that I have allowed myself to deceive people."
On November 4, 1931, Beare gave a talk to members of the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, founded by psychical researcher Harry Price. Beare demonstrated his mediumistic frauds and stated that he was now absolutely disgusted with himself.