A FEMALE MISER IN VICTORIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 266, 16 November 1885, Page 2

A FEMALE MISER IN VICTORIA.

Ballakat, November 1. Mr Iswbctob Parkinson yesterday morning procoeded to the bush outside Searsdalo, to make inquiries relative to tho presence in the district of a miser and hermit, in the person of an old German woman named Yon Got. It appears that the "miser," as Bhe is termed by people living in the district, has resided for many years ia the hovel which Bho at present occupies, and her movements have all along been of a mysterious character. Upon Mr Parkinson approaching the hut this morning, he concluded, from the offensive odour which prevailed in the atmosphere, that tho old woman hai died, and that her body had decomposed. Such was not tho caso," however, for when the officer pushod open the door of tho hovel he found tho occupant sitting, in an almost naked Btato, on a box in a terriblo plight. Her face, hands, and chest wore covered with large running soros, tho odour from which was most offensive. Mr Parkinson questioned the wretched creature rolativo to various mattors, and her replies wero quite coherent, though she refused modical assistance. It is thought that hor non-acceptance of modical aid is sufliciont to support a charge of lunacy, which liits been made against her. The appearance of tho woman is said to bo Bomothing horriblo, worse than that presented by a sufferer from leprosy in its advancod stage. It is known that the woman, who has no relativos in thiß part of the world, has a considerable sum of money iti one of the Ballarat banks, and it is said that she has a quantity of treasure secreted somewhere near her hovel.