AMAZING FAITH CURE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5148, 6 July 1927, Page 4

AMAZING FAITH CURE.

INCIDENT IN PRISON. DOCTORS & OFFICIALS BAFFLED. An amazing faith cure which completely baffled the doctors and officials of Aylesbury Prison is revealed for the- first time by an exwoman warder in London. The subject was the notorious “ Swami,” an elderly woman who was sentenced at the Old Bailey to ten years’ penal servitude for her part in a so-called religious sect, s which brought about the ruin of a number of young girls. ; Of all the many notable prisoners I have -met in the course of my duties as a wardress, the most singular and interesting character was the “Swami,” the- high priestess of the sect, whose trial created such a tremendous sensation throughout the country A picturesque, if rather ungainly figure, clad in flowing robes of purple and -white, with sandals on her feet, and an elaborate wig of golden hair covering her. own scanty grey lacks, the, Swami. preserved a calm, inscrutable bearing all through the trial. MADE NO FRIENDS. The Swami, though ' affable and graceful enough, made no friends among the prisoners. In her spare time she read and studied a great deal, and was apparently happy and contented with iher lot, but after afew; years her heq-lth began to fail. Eventually her symptoms became so ala.rming that the doctor ordered her removal to a hospital. - , The -news was broken, as gently as Possible, to the patient that a, surgical 0 perati'on would be necessary. The • Swami smiled —she fiad no 'faith in surgeons. Prayer, she de- ' dared, was the one great cure for all ills,, and, given a free hand in the •matter, she guaranteed to cure herself without medical aid. Her friends •1 and followers in the outside world were ’ anxious she said, to hold a prayer service on her behalf, provided that .-she wqs allowed to join them in i .spirit, by praying in the prison chapel I at the same time. | PRAYER ALONE. The request raised the usual crop of i -demurs, for hitherto a prisoner had never been allowed to pray in the chapel -except during the ordinary service but as the Swami still refused medical aid, and begged to be allowed to cure herself in her own way, the authorities yielded. The hospital nurse escorted the Swami to the chapel, and, leaving her ,to her cjw-n devices, kept watch on her movements, in company with a clergyman and a doctor. Walking straight up to the altar rails like a woman in a trance, the Swami knelt down apparently in silent prayer, the three watchers closely observing her the while.

After a quarter of an hour or so the woman stood up, and in a state of exaltation turned to leave the chape], murmuring as she went: “I’m cured ; oh, cured I Take me back to the hospital—l’m cured !”

The doctors examined the patient on her return to the hospital and found, to their amazement, that all signs -cf her trouble had disap&ared. and alhough all the medical men professed themselves sceptical it was obvious tha.t they were puzzled, The Swami mended rapidly from that day, and with the exception of minor illnesses remained well to the end of her sentence.