LOVE POTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 23

LOVE POTIONS

A WITCHES' RING

Love potions, "death dust," "graveyard dirt," and other "skullduggery concoctions," which are sold for ten dollars an ounce to credulous victims of an alleged "witchcraft ring," wcro revealed at San Jose in tho arrest of Clare Landis, crystal gazer and purveyor of "charms" to the unwary, says the "San Francisco Chronicle." Mrs. Landis was charged with fortune telling without a city licence. Tho mysterious powders have been sold to working people over a long period, according to authorities, and havo netted the makers thousands of dollars. Fraud complaints are expected to- be issued against several persons, it was announced, one of whom is a former official. Superstitious ranch hands and firm labourers have been Ihc tnnjor victims of the witchcraft racket. The powders were made of dirt, alum, and vegetables, and tasted, according to one victim, "liko the wrath of Moses." Ono powder was known as a "love potion." Another was guaranteed to shrink a person so he could pass through a keyhole. Another powder, if sprinkled on a threshold, meant sure death, to anyone stepping over it. Tho most expensive powder was supposed to give the user power to communicate with the spirits of ? other persons. Copies of a book which gave minute instructions in ,tho use of the various "charms" are being sought by the authorities. The activities of the so-called "witches' ring" extended to many cities and towns, reaching as far north as Oakland, California. The arrest of Mrs. Landis grew out of information to the office of Constable Larry Harris that an Evergreen, woman and an Alviso rancher were planning to poison the woman's husband and elope.

Investigation revealed no such plot, but uncovered tho fact that tho Jiusband, a victim of a powder, had been preyed on by superstition-until he had threatened to kill his wife and . the rancher. . .