AN ABBE FLOGGED

Feilding Star, Volume 4, Issue 676, 7 January 1926, Page 5

AN ABBE FLOGGED

ACCUSED OF WUCHCRaFT REMARKABLE EPISODE By Telegraph--Press Assn-Copyright (Aust. arid N.Z. Cable). ('Received Jan, 7, 9.50 a.in.) Paris, Jan. G. Rlajwrts of a. violent attack Wfi Abbe Desnoyers, of Bourbon, near Ale]nil, are featured in the press. After .Mass, 12 persons threw pepper into his eves. He was then stripped of li is clothing, bohiid- aon Hogged. His cries attracted some police, who arrested the assailants. They declared that they had come expressly from Bordeaux to chastise the Ablie. whom they accused of witchcraft and blamed for family, misfortunes. The assailants were charged with Conspiracy, assault, and outraging morality. Behind the attack is the weird story .of a statue r,f the Virgin which wept, but. ceased to do so when removed to the convent. It was replaced by a facsimile from Milan, which did not weep but exhaled sweet perfume That also ceased, ahd a woman named Messmin who had worshipped at the weeping Virgin, began to suffer, She then accused the Abbe of witchcraft, despite* the fact that the local authorities demonstrated the absurdity of miraculous statues.