SISTERS & LOVE PHILTRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1932, Page 10

SISTERS & LOVE PHILTRE

£5OO JEWELS SOLD FOR IT.

... References to “Zep,” a mysterious preparation which, it. was . claimed, would enable women to obtain a view bi their future husbands, were made in a remarkable case at Beverley (Yorkshire) Quarter Sessions, recently. . . . < ■■.. . . . Mrs. Ethel May Wilkinson, 58, of Wellirigtoh-road, Bridlington, was accused of obtaining money- by false pretences'from Miss Mabel Lyne and her sister Idiss Dora Lyne. She was also charged with fraudulent conversion. Accused was sentenced to eighteen months’.hard labour. . It .was alleged that the offences occurred at Bridlington, and, according to prosecuting counsel, each., of sisters parted with a sum of about £2OO in five riioiiths. Mrs. Wilkinsori pleaded riot guilty. Mr. H. B, Streatfeild, prosecuting, said that accused had carried on a business as a fortune-teller. The two iniddle-agcd spinster* women in 1930, Had. Hot,, apparently, abandoned hope oi'matriinoriy.

..“You. may well think it is incredible that llicy could have believed in the power of the methods of this women as represented by her,” added counsel. “Some people, however, still believe these things. The cash against this woiriah is that slie purported to possess powers by a 'certain specific method, for which the prices were extravagant,' riot drily to foretell the. future marriages of these two sisters, but to bring them abbut by causing a mysterious occult influence ,to be brought to bear oh the riiirid of sorhe future husband,” Tllo sisters riiet Wilkinson in .1929 and had a hand reading. In January, 1930, they returned to her arid suggested a guinea reading. : . Mi'. Streatfeild read two. “imprest sidiis” for the sisters which Wilkinson said she had received. The one for Dora stated: “I think you have, known a man for some; time. . . . There is a woman Stands between you. He .cares a great deal for you. The other serinis to hold him. He is riot a very happy man through this. _ . , .-. “I cannot get you together Without help, and that would cost £25,. but-the affair is worth, it. ,1 fell ybu this as f a friend. I should Have to get stuff to burn. . .. . .

Miss Mabel Lyric, said counsel, was told to wear something for. riot less than twenty-four hours on her chest and give it to Wilkinson. The latter said she would then soak it. in “Zep” fpi’ so many hours, and added, “I shall see tho man in the smoke it will give dff arid you will marry him.” Accused described “Zep” as a. gilt-edged security, and said it would do anything she saw fit.

“LOVE-SICk MAIDENS.” “These two love-sick maidens believed this,” said Mr, Streatfeild, “and. bp- ; tween January and June, 1930, paid £195 for the purchase of .‘Zep’ and obtaining .readings,. As the money was exhausted Wilkinson said, .‘Will you sell your jewellery—give mo the proceeds to buy more “Zpp”?’ and, accordingly Dora, foolish wqriian, sold £l5O worth of jewellery,, handing over the riioiiey to Wilkiiisori.” Accused wrote letters'to the sisters, iu some of which she said she had “put every drop” on “the man.” ; There was no substance, iii the- British . Pharmacopoeia called “Zep,” but there was m . substance,, manufactured in Hull, which was a sedative—a nerve tonic——manufactured to sbotlie tlie nerves of people who, during the. war, suffered from certain nocturnal raids. It was sold at 3d. \

Miss' Dora LynS, West-street, Scarborough, stated that Wilkinson said “Zep” was from an animal bred in tlie East, which was- brought to Germany, and made .into something, and then brought by a German to London. It ranged from £25 to £75 in price, and was contained in tubes. Between January arid June, 1930, witness gave accused between £2OO and £3OO.

Witness’s banking, account came, to ah end in August, 1930. . She was without food and clothes. When she refused to sign the document that she had paid only £l5 to Mrs. Wilkinson, the latter “locked the door and came for me with her hands round riiy throat, aiid siriiply said if I did not sign it she would put the curse of ‘Zep’ on me for iho rest of riiy life.” Answering Mr. Clive Salter (defending), Miss Lyne, said that Mrs. Wilkiiison had made her and her sister hate each oilier. “She just kept us from each other.”

Miss Mabel Lyne said that she was now a, cook-housekeeper, living near Coventry. Mrs. Wilkinson told her that the .use of ‘‘Zep” would get her happily married and settled for life. She had paid £2OO, and had not got a husband. Mrs. Wilkinson gave evidence. She said that when she used “Zep” she could “sou figures, dates. 1 can see Just things that will happen.” She believed that, if Miss Dora Lyne had carried out her instructions she would have been happily settled. Police-inspector Ross, said that in 1911 at Newport Pagnatl Register Office, Mrs. Wilkinson,, a native of Manchester, married a. .veterinary surgeon with whom she had formerly lived at

Clapham. She then had six illegitimate children. “She has. received large sums of money from various credulous women,” he said. “In one case the sum obtained was-about £7OO. There is no doubt that the prisoner is an unscrupulous charlatan.”

In 1912 she was sentenced to nine months’ hard labour for conspiracy to defraud.