FEAR OF ‘CURSE’

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 December 1934, Page 8

FEAR OF ‘CURSE’

WOMAN BLAMED FOR ACCIDENTS LONDON, November 4. Neighbours’ fears of an old woman’s ability to lay a curse on them were nut forward at Clerkenwell County Court yesterday as an argument for possession of a house. Mrs. Leone Charlotte Field asked for possession of a house in Nightin-gale-lane, Hornsey, occupied by F. Hurst, on tho grounds of arrears ’ of rent totalling £l7/8/9, and because Hurst and his wife were a nuisance and annoyance to the neighbours. Two neighbours living in the same road gave evidence. Mrs. Mary Frost said Hurst's wife had laid a curse on her baby. Judge Earengey: You did not believe that would aftect a baby?—l did not, but at the same time it worries me.

Helena Roberta Davis s.aid she could not go into the garden because Mrs. Hurst, who was often intoxicated, came muttering round, and had cursed her husband. Witness’s husband was a. ’bus driver, and Mrs. Hurst expressed tho hope that he would fall off his ’bus and break his neck. Since then be had had a number of minor accidents, and was convinced that the woman had laid a curs ? on him. The Judge: Is he so superstitious? — He is a, little.

In these days! You don’t say the muttering of a woman who is. often intoxicated would seriously affect his mind 9 —It annoys him very much; he is a We’shman. Hurst said his wife was 75. and was now unable to go into the garden. By the doctor’:-; orders she had half a bottle of port a day. Sometimes he helped her to drink it. The Judge made an order for possession, but with no warrant to be issued while there was no renewal of the annoyance and defendant *p«id his current rent plus 10s a week towards arrears.