JAUNDICE AND GHOSTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1499, 6 July 1905, Page 2

JAUNDICE AND GHOSTS.

MADAM JORDAN AND A FATAD CASE.

Per Press Association. Auckland, last night. Madame Jordan, alias Mary Ann Hill, a widow, was charged at the Police Court with unlawfully pretending to exercise or □se witchcraft upon a Maori named Wilson (Whakamau), and also with obtaining £lO by false pretences from Wilson. Mr Mays said that on December 13 or 14 of last year Wilson came to Auckland to be treated for jaundice. A day or two later a Maori direoted him to go to Madam Jordan. Madam came to see him, and said she could core him, and would for £lO. She said he had ghosts all over him. After receiving £lO she treated WilsoD, who died early in January. Maims, wife of Wilson, gave evidence supporting Mr May’s statement. She also said Madam Jordan said she was a Maori tohunga, and would cure him for £lO in two weeks. Witness, when asked to demonstrate what defendant did to her husband, rnbbed her chest and said that defendant told her husband that “ evil spirits wore killing him.” The defendant then put her hands to her forehead and remained so for some time ; she then looked upwards at tho sky. Her husband getting no better they went back to Mercer. After arrival at home her husband got worse, and she (witness) sent another Maori down to bring defendant up, but ebe refused to go up, and sent some medicine. Soon afterwards witness’s husband died. Two other Maoris gave evidence.

Defendant pleaded not guilty, and wa« committed for trial. Tho defence was reserved. Bail was allowod accused in one surety of £IOO and two sureties of £SO each, or one of £IOO. The sureties were forthcoming. '' '•