TERRIFIED BY GIPSY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 19

TERRIFIED BY GIPSY.

BELIEF IN WITCHCRAFT. WOMAN DRIVEN TO DEATH. " AFRAID TO GO OUT.” That the belief in witchcraft, once almost universal, dies very hard, is shown by an extraordinary suicide reported from Bath. Terrified by a gipsy wo*"an, Miss Anna Rose Higgins, of Richmond place, Lansdown, Bath, poisoned herself. An almost incredible story of how she had been terrorised by the gipsy waa told at the inquest. The drama opened in December last, when, in the witness box at the Bath Court, Miss Higgins told a story difficult to believe in this twentieth century, it savoured of witchcraft, of incantations, of strange rites, of spells being cast upon cattle and people. And from, time to time the witness turned terror-stricken eyes upon the dock, where a gipsy woman listened <joolly to a charge of stealing -money by menaces, which brought her a sentence of three months’ imprisonment. The woman has served her sentence, bnt Miss Higgins, her victim, was never able to shake off the fear with which the gipsy had inspired her. She took poison and died, and at the inquest the coroner found that she had committed suicide while temporarily insane her mind having been unhinged oy what had happened during her transactions with the gipsy. In the course of the case the magistrates heard with amazement from Mr Hiliier, the solicitor who appeared for Miss Higgins’ mother, the full story of how the unfortunate girl had been cajoled and terrorised.

SPELL ON CATTLE THREAT..”

At first, Mr Hiliier said, tho gipsy caller bogged. Then sno cajoled. Then, as her influence over tho young woman grew, she openly demanded. So terrified did tho girl become that she used to give the caller money for all sorts of articles she did not want, paying exorbitant prices through sheer fright. On one occasion ane paid 30s for half a dozen cups, which, according to Mi Hiliier, were not wojth more than 3s. In order more thoroughly to frighten her customer the gipsy threatened to put a spell upon tho cattle at tho larm of Miss Higgins - brother if her demands were not acceded to. She was also warned against visiting her brother, under penalty of being ■ “done in. During one visit the gipsy told her. that a dark man wanted her, and if she did not have him he would creep in and take her away. So much power did the woman acquire over Mrs Higgins and her daughter tnat at length she had the impudence io walk in and sit down at dinner with them. Eventually another brother of Mias Higgins got to hear what waa going on, and informed tho police, who watched the house and arrested the woman. , Miss Higgins, in the witness box, told ot various purchases she had made of such articles as china and, glass, umbrol.as, lace, etc. The gipsy told her if she did not buy she would make her ■ suffer. Sometimes sno demanded food, and Miss Higgins said ho parted with both money and food because she was frightened. Her mother, an elderly lady, who had to bo assisted into court, corroborated her evidence.

FEARED GIPSY’S RETURN,

Tho gipsy was represented by a Bristol solicitor, who said that Miss Higgins was undoubtedly afraid of the gipsy, and ho -was therefore forced to plead guilty* but if Miss Higgins had had a strong will no complaint would ever, have been made. The case was recalled in dramatic fashion in May. when Miss Higgins swallowed poison, and, after lying in hospital for several days, succumbed. Her age was given at the inquest as 3G. The first witness, Mr T. H. Higgins, builder and decorator, of Bath, a brother of tho dead woman, said she had been suffering from nerves and “the effects of the gipsy.’’ Mr Hillior thereupon explained how the gipsy had intimidated and terrorised the young woman, who had since gone in terror of her. Tho Coroner (to Mr Higgins): Do you know anything about that 7 —l know that my sister was terrorised by those gipsies calling at tho house. Sho had not got over the effects of that?— No; she felt very nervous, and afraid that when the gipsy's sentence expired she would return and terrorise her. She was afraid sho might suffer. AFRAID TO GO OUT.

A constable, who was engaged on the fipsy case, said ho knew how much the indent had upset and worried Mies Higgins. He had never scon her out in tho street since, but on Apod 25 ho saw her in tho garden, and told her sho ought to go out more. Sho replied that she was afraid to go out walking. He assured her no one would harm her, but she replied, ‘You never know who you are going to meet.” The gipsy had warned her that a dark man would come and take her away across the water if she did not do as the gipsy told her. The Coroner; Nothing about Ireland was mentioned then 7—Not then. She was very much afraid of this gipsy woman. The officer said he believed tho gipsy was released from prison in February Tho Coroner said it was clear tho voting woman’s mind was unhinged by what had happened. The verdict would bo suicide while temporarily of unsound mind.