Harry Y. Cohen

Harry Y. Cohen, also known as Professor H. C. Belmont, Rev. Charles Newman, and Rev. George Baker, was an American clairvoyant and palmist. His greatest infamy came in connection with what the press dubbed his "Love Cult" in California during the early 1920s, Cohen being branded as "The Love Prophet" and "The Weeping Jew" in reports of a variety of scams and charges brought against him, ranging from black mail and embezzlement to "contributing to the delinquency of a minor," the last charge being the one to see him serve 18 months.

Press Coverage

as Prof. H. C. Belmont

• "PSYCHIC — PROF. BELMONT WARNS THE PUBLIC TO BEWARE OF THE SELF-ERECTED GUIDE POST.", Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN): 40, 19 Apr. 1908, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/180289110/?terms=%22Prof.%20Belmont%22%20Minnesota&match=1 

as Rev. Charles Newman

• "EXIT PROF. NEWMAN; ENTER HARRY COHEN, BUSINESS MAN", Santa Cruz Evening News (Santa Cruz, CA): 5, 21 Nov. 1919, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/50321747/ 
• "THEY NABBED AN ALLEGED SWINDLER - Harry Cohen Said to Have Deserted Wealthy Bride After Taking $35,000", Stockton Evening and Sunday Record (Stockton, CA): 4, 1 Apr. 1920, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/609862203/ 
• "'REV. NEWMAN' TRIED HARD TO KEEP VICTIMS QUIET - Put Visitors in Proper Mood for Messages", Los Angeles Evening Post-Record (Los Angeles, CA): 3, 30 Sep. 1922, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/678209713/ 
• "NEWMAN WINS RACE WITH LAW", Los Angeles Evening Post-Record (Los Angeles, CA): 11, 7 Oct. 1922, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/678168712/ 
• "What Happens in a Modern Temple of Love? ONE SEER Makes a Little Mysticism Pay Big Dividends; ANOTHER Is Arrested on Complaint of His Fair Clients", San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): 3, 17 Dec. 1922, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/27588616/ 
• "NEWMAN, 'MASTER MIND', FIGURES IN STRANGE STORY OF LOS ANGELES 'LOVE CULT'", Santa Cruz Evening News (Santa Cruz, CA): 6, 18 Dec. 1922, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/50539477/ 
• "DENY NEW TRIAL, LOVE SEER GETS EIGHTEEN MONTHS", The Bulletin (Ponoma, CA): 12, 27 Jan. 1923, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/622786096/ 

as Rev. George Baker

Oroville, Calif. (1940)

• "No Gold From Treasure Hunt But One Arrest", Oroville Mercury Register (Oroville, CA): 1, 30 Sep. 1940, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/679109303/ 
• "Cohen Refunds Cash; To Quit Mystic Life", Oroville Mercury Register (Oroville, CA): 1, 23 Oct. 1940, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/679109504/