“MIRACULOUS" OILS

Evening Star, Issue 20057, 24 December 1928, Page 7

“MIRACULOUS" OILS

REMARKABLE EVIDENCE IN A COURT Remarkable evidence was (given before the Blackpool (England) magistrates, who heard charges relating to two men who arc alleged to have professed to bo able to perform ‘‘miracles” by the use of oils, winch, they are said to have stated, were used by Jesus Christ iu curing the sick. ’The accused, Abraham Cohen, charged with a breach of the Aliens’ Order and eight cases of false pretences in obtaining sums of money by the sale of oil; and Lionel Coheii, summoned for aiding and abetting Abraham Cohen in three, of tho alleged false pretences cases, pleaded not guilty. They wore both committed for trial; The accused are alleged to have acted as partners, Abraham posing as “ Tho Man with tho ; £2,000 Hands,” who could make the blind see. the deaf lieqr, and the lame walk. Evidence given was to the effect that oil, which the men said came from the Holy Land-and was that with which the Saviour Himself was anointed, was composed of olive oil, sweet oil, and flowers of camphor, and was sold at prices from 2s per bottle upwards to people suffering from blindness, paralysis, sleepy sickness, and other complaints. A chemist declared that the bottles were really worth only- 3jd, and Thomas, Reginald Hodgson, a Manchester analyst, said he would not go to the Holy Land for the ns they coiild he got almost anywhere. Several witnesses stated that the treatment, fiTiich included 'the nibbing of the hack of the neck for squints or blindness, had not done them any good.

The Chief Constable said Abraham Cohen voluntarily made a statement HR hini’.that,'he madei over.£lQo a.. week.’ out of the medicine, which ho sold at 2s a bottle,.but which ho confessed cost him only Id a bottle. Cohen said it was made npj the ...Chief Constable stated, of Italian olive 0i1,.; camphor from Japan, colza, oil from Germany, and liquid ammonia.