SUPERSTITION IN ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 61, 13 March 1926, Page 23

SUPERSTITION IN ENGLAND.

A.N" AMAZING CASE. Another example of the survival In the Black Country—at one rune notorious for its superstitions—of the belief in the supernatural powers of people who profess "to tell fortunes" was furnished at Tipton last month in a case in which George L>avies and Benjamin Thorpe, both of Gospel Oak, were charged, the former with doing wilful damage to a caravan belonging to Jessie Haddington and the latter wlbh using threats to the woman.

On tie night of December 29, Davies went to the caravan, which was occupied by complainant, her mother (aged So), and a child, and it was alleged that he broke the door, doing damage, the repair of which would cost £1, and also threatened to kill Mrs. Haddington.

Davies now said he visited the caravan to ask Mrs. Haddington for an explanation in reference to the sitrange conduct of his wife who could not rest, and alleged that this woman had "put a spell upon her."

A constable stated that on a subsequent daite Mrs. T>avies, after exclaiming "There she is" (meaning Ilrs. Haddington), jumped through her bedroom window, and the same night was removed to an asylum.

A witness named May Jones, said that Mrs. Haddington had a reputation for "telling fortunes," and witness was afraid of her.

Mr. J. E. Mitchell (presiding magistrate): Are you afraid that She will put a spell on you? Witness: Yes, I am.

Mr. Mitchell: You are a sensible person, an-d for God's sake rid your mind of tils superstitious nonsense. Don't, for Heaven's sake, be afraid of such things as that.

In announcing the decision to bind th« men over to keep the peace, and to order Davies to pay 20/ damages, each defendant to pay 5/ costs, Mr. Mitchell said: "There eeems to be in this district a surprising and deplorable amount of ignorant superstition, which I thought had vanished 40 years ago."