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May 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 31/05/2010 6:15 PM Page 6 6 From The ‘X’ Zone Newsroom Transsexual Says Gypsy Neidig said police characterized Ghost hunting is serious Psychic Got Him to Spend Gypsies as "swindlers and fraudulent." business He also alleged that police raided $150,000 Stevens' house under false pretenses, Associated Press "concocting" a story with her landlord that the Continued from Page 5 insurance company needed to inspect the property so that they could gain access. But Stevens, who could not be reached With a search warrant, police later by ABCNews.com, contends Druella was an confiscated all her financial records and eager investor in her spiritual operation and journals, he said. This week a Multnomah even brought in his own clients, according to County judge refused to return them to Stevens her lawyer. for two months until the investigation is After her arrest on Jan. 25, she hired complete. John W. Neidig, a lawyer who has defended "She needs to file her taxes," Neidig numerous cases of religious freedom to "defend said."She is very upset. This whole thing has her against potential charges." cost her a lot of money." Just last year, Neidig defended Raylene Stevens has not ruled out filing a lawsuit Worthington, the Oregon City mother who was against the police for violating landlord-tenant charged in the death of her 15-month-old laws, the lawyer said. daughter Ava, who had a treatable medical As for Druella, "He's obviously got condition. mental health issues and maybe poor She and her husband Carl, who judgment," Neidig said. "Now he's trying to LONDON - IN A pitch-dark cellar in belonged to the Followers of Christ Church, smear Cathy Stevens for his own decisions." suburban London, a psychic mutters a Latin which preaches that members should turn to But Druella contends he was an easy incantation, goading a recalcitrant spirit to prayer, not doctors, in times of illness, were target for Stevens. make its presence known. acquitted of manslaughter in the case, though "She was playing on my history," he His companions, who have signed up Carl Worthington was convicted of said. "She knew completely what to do. I was through the company Fright Nights to spend the misdemeanor criminal mistreatment. scared for my life." evening 'ghost hunting' in an eerie Victorian Stevens is a member of the Spiritual Druella said he came to his senses when mansion, cling to each other, rigid with fear. A Psychic Science Church of Truth , based in Stevens asked him to help persuade two other woman yelps in the darkness. Flashlights snap Azuza, Calif., and moved to Portland one year clients "how wonderful she was" and "how they on. ago, Neidig said. needed her." Ghostly folklore has always played a "This is an established church and "The first woman had two children and role in British history. Buildings ranging from established religion and our Oregon constitution was gay and had been through a break-up," he Hampton Court - where the ghost of Catherine is pretty darn clear and very protective of said. "[Stevens] asked this woman to get her a Howard has allegedly been seen running from people's right to worship according to their tabernacle, and this woman was not ritually room to room, pursued by guards, as she did dictates," he said. abused and exposed to Satanism." before her execution - to the Bank of England Neidig said the tabernacle, like the rest Stevens allegedly tried the same tack are believed to be haunted. of the expensive purchases, was Druella's idea. with a second, professional woman. Druella But lately, ghost tours have turned into "He actually wanted to go into business said he approached each of the women and told serious enterprise, with a handful of companies with my client," Neidig said. "He wanted it to them to "get the hell out of here." charging as much as 200 pounds (S$401) for be a class act. He wanted all these video players "The business woman who dealt with paranormal adventures. 'The British have with flat screen TVs for counseling people at finance was utterly humiliated, too embarrassed always loved a really good ghost story - look at their spiritual center. He was seeing his own to report it to the police," he said. "The gay Dickens and M.R. James,' says Fright Night's clients and doing fortune telling." woman was suicidal -- she had given her the last founder, Martin Jeffrey. 'This takes it one step Neidig said Druella had frequent $200 she had for her children's Christmas further. Some people have attended our events emotional flare-ups when his female alter ego, presents." 60 or 70 times.' "Rachel," emerged. Druella said he, too, was ashamed that It's not all freezing basements and "When he went off hormones and got he fell for Stevens, but was comforted when a frenzied seances. Increasingly, companies like real wiggy, and Rachel would surface," he said. sympathetic police detective told him: "This Haunted Happenings arrange 'psychic suppers' Druella bought the Rolex watches for isn't about intelligence. It's about being in spooky country inns where guests can his mother and sister and asked Stevens to keep vulnerable, so stop beating on yourself." discuss the paranormal over dinner. One manor them safe at her shop, according to Neidig. Druella said his life crisis is now house in Tetbury offers a gastronomic three- As for the Hummer, it was for Druella's resolved, but no thanks to Stevens. course meal followed by seances and vigils in personal use, though Stevens had borrowed it "I knew when I stepped forward it was the house's spooky 'hot spots.' once, he said. "It's orange because it was going to be ugly," he said. "I knew what people The 115-year-old National Trust has Rachel's favorite color," Neidig said. would say about me. They can be very cruel. commissioned the cultural historian Sian Evans The pair had plans to move in together at But I had to say something. It's been profoundly to investigate ghostly encounters in its 350 Steven's large house, which she rented from difficult, but it was my choice and the right properties. Evans has traveled the country, Portland's former police chief, Ron Sill, the thing to do." interviewing staff. 'Their encounters with lawyer said. Druella bought bedroom furniture Druella said he won't ever seek psychic ghosts are fascinating,' she says. 'The National and a washer and dryer, but soon, according to advice again. Trust can't prove them all true, but they tend to Neidig, Stevens became uncomfortable with "One of the big lessons I learned is we see these stories as part of the history of each their relationship and broke it off, returning the all carry our own wisdom inside ourselves," he house.' [] appliances. said. "You don't have to go outside to find it. But Neidig said the most egregious You just have got to figure things out for offense occurred when Druella filed charges yourself sometimes." [] with police and they defamed Stevens in the affidavit, calling the case: "Gypsies and Fortune The ‘X’ Zone Radio Show Telling Fraud." "That was pretty doggone racist," he with said. "Gypsy is a pejorative term of slang that is Rob McConnell placed on these people. My client is pretty offended by this." www.xzoneradiotv.com www.paragators.org