MONEY AT SEANCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18632, 16 February 1935, Page 2

MONEY AT SEANCE

“SPIRIT COMMANDS” BANKNOTES hAND,BED INDIAN’S STORY IN COURT Seances at which “spirits’-’ were alleged to have demauded sums ot money figured largely in a ease before Air. F. 11. Levien, S.M.. in the Te Haiti -Magistrate's Court when Alartha Qmipi, otherwise’ Ormsby, a Alnori woman, was charged with stealing £3S (is from an Indian, Pnrlibu Govind, tailor, of Otorohanga. She was eommitted' to the Supreme Court al Hamilton for trial. The magistrate, after hearing a resume of the evidence, decided t hat the Supreme Court could best deal with the ease. Accused pleaded not guilty. Govind stated that on December A. he,'his wife and accused were present at his house, sitting round a wooden box, on .which their hands rested. The b,ox began to move, and lie believed if. was Martha Onnsby’s spirit which was causing this. Then the “spirit’’ told him to draw £4O from the bank and to give accused, 'her aunt, Airs -Walter Onnsby, and Govind’s wife £lO each, keeping £lO for himself. MONEY DEAAVN FROM BANK. The next day another meeting tyas held, Airs Whiter Onnsby also being present. The request was repeated and' Goviinl went out, drew the money from tlie bank and distributed it. The “spirit” had said that if they went to the races they would’win over £7O each.

On the next night, after the races, when Govind had lost his money, another meeting was held. The “spirit ” asked witness lo put £lO on a handkerchief in a suitcase. This he did, pushing the ease under a bed’ as requested by the “spirit.” On January 4 the “spirit” asked for £5 to bo put in the suitcase. The money was borrowed and the request complied with. However, Govind, becoming suspicious, locked the suitcase and took the number of the notes. SUITCASE UNLOCKED.

The next day accused was very ill She said they would have t.o consult the spirit as to what was wrong. A meeting was held at which Hie ’ ‘ spirit. ” asked* why witness had locked the suitcase and witness then unlocked the case.

On January 9 the spirit asked for another £lO to be placed in the suitcase, and on January .15, £2O was demanded, otherwise, the “spirit” said, Govind’s tluee-year-old child would dip within three hours. Witness had only £3 Os, but he gave this.

Witness said tjio “spirit” had promised lie would get the money hack, but he had not recovered any of it. The “spirit” always spoke through Alartha Ormsby in the Maori language, and this was translated to him. When accused returned from Te Arohn she brought back a small brnheh by which the “spirit.” was to be transferred from her to Govind, as it was tired of speaking through a woman. .MONEY FOR RACE'S. Alary To Tahi, wife of Govind. corroborated' his evidence in detail. She said she understood Alaori well and could follow -Martha Ormsby .when accused was speaking for the “spirit in Alaori. The “spirit” said whoever touched the suitcase containing the money would be paralysed and witness was frightened.

Detective C. P. Belton and Constable G. Fry gave evidence of the arrest of accused at Kopaki as a result of a complaint by Govind. In a statement to the police she admitted that, after drinking beer together, she and Miami -Mrs Govind had consulted the “spirit.” which said t-hey were to obtain £lO each. At the next meeting tiie “spirit” said they were to spend £lO each at the races. Accused' lost that sum.

Accused briefly reviewed the other seances in her statement. At no time did she say G,ov inil's child would die if £3O were no forthcoming. She was sorry for having taken the money, but the box, she maintained, did move. In a footnote, accused said she had not done tills for five years and did not intend to do it again.

' in reply to the magistrate, Detective Belton said he understood the £lO obtained by Mrs Walter Ormsby had not been returned to Govind'.