DEAD RELATIVES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2139, 4 May 1914, Page 5

DEAD RELATIVES

»— ■ AND PRETENDED APPARITIONS; By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. May 3, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, May 2. Rosa Artu was fined £280 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment at &is"sari Assizes, and iivo female accomplices received lesser punishment. The evidenco showed that the kinematograph, previously unknown at St. Bri, was used in a dark cave, swindling villagers of hundreds of pounds for pretended apparitions of dead relatives. Other villagers parted with money to avert calamities by means of Rosa's prayers. Amazing storie9 of witchcraft were told at the Sassari Assizes during the trial of several women on charges of frauds. Evidenco was given of the existence of a "Witches' League," profewing a mystic power enabling its members- to locate hidden treasure, and summon spirits from the dead. Hundreds of dupes parted with thousands of pounds. A former Governor of a prison, who was threatened with dismissal for allowing a ferocious brigand to escape, spent all his nrivate means on these witches, who undertook to. have tho brigand seized by demons from tho mountain fastnesses, and carried throngh the air back to tho prison coll. Many emigrants returning from were despoiled,of their .savings. ■Rosa Artu, one of the prisoners." who is known as "the Saint of Sassari." refused lawyers' aid. saying that "Heaven is fending St. Thomas and St. Augustine to defend me." '