AMAZING SUPERSTITION

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1929, Page 3

AMAZING SUPERSTITION

YOUNG “WIZARD’S” SWINDLES;;

Crass mediaeval superstition was revealed to be still‘prevalent among the peasants of Silesia, by the recent trial, at Liebnitz", says a Berlin correspondent, of a young man nained Thiemaps, who had earned for himself the sobriquet of “the wizard of Bunzeau.” I The accused, who is only 24, started life as a music-hall performer, but came to the conclusion that rustic credulity was a much more profitable field for his talents. By a self-assumed presence and a glib tongue he persuaded peasants that their cattle had bqen bewitched, and . would certainly die unless he employed his magic art: to avert the catastrophe.

Generally the accused was paid!in cash for his conjurations, but in one; case he declared that the cattle coiild recover only if his spells were worked in another locality. He was to, drive off seven cows and two pigs ; i but instead of exercising the-evil spirits by which they were possessed he sold them and pocketed the proceeds. \ Hearing that one peasant was invoked in a case before the court, offered—for a substantial fee —to iri-’ fluence, .the judges by' hypnotic force’, 1 and his services were readily accepted. He also did Ibrge business im reading impending disaster from bucolic hands and . then ing the course of nature by? his magic powers, On 6 family" in 'which there was a case of chronic illness, he persuaded that devil was a,bout the premises,”, and' mulcted- the . simple souls for a sum equal to £350.