PHANTOM WEALTH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12849, 6 July 1907, Page 9

PHANTOM WEALTH.

From I{oicli6<lorf, in Bohemia, coraw n most extraordinary story of credulity find superstition (says a T/on<lon paper; . A woman named Theresa Rich wont to Mnrio Jser, tho wifo of a small tradesman, and told lier that she could ro loaso a poor soul from purgatory an 1 thereby obtain a great ticasure, but it would require money. leer gave her it emaJl sum, and a few days afterwards Bach appeared with a. packet, and sai.l she had got the treasure, but the "pooi soul , ' must wait another two years before being lelensed. In the meantime tho treasure must not be touched undt*r piiin of instant death. Also, it mus* be watched every night—one night sh" would guard it, and the next night Fran Iser must sit up. From that time Jser family know no peace. The Bach woman was continually drawing small sums.of money from thorn, in tho name of tho "poor soul," until they worn ruined. Frau Lser had parted with nearly £200, and two of her sons wore bankrupt, and their children starving At laat, in sheer desperation, Marie Isor dotormined to open the treasure packet, although it was still two months l>cforo tlio two years wouH expire. Feeling assured that it wouM cost her her life, ehe ass<?mbl«l hor family around hor and bade them n (*-lcmii farewell. Th<? precious packe , was placed on a chair, around which !i chalk circlo was drawn, s» that it tho "poor soul' , should prove to be an evil spirit.it could not oomo out of t!r circlo. Mario Iser stepped over line and tremblingly opened the parcel It contained bits of coal, onion peelings, and, scraps of dry bread.