Women’s Credulity.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1922, Page 1

Women’s Credulity.

Kngineers, Plumbers ami gnsfiitters swear by Newson’s Invincible Jointing Cement, not at, it. It does the (laminin}'. Immediately and permanently plans up the leaks. Mantling Maehiner yCo., 5 lied lord How, Christchurch.

ALLEGED MAORI HERBALIST.

SYDNEY*, May 3

Brisbane hns been the scene of a strange example of credulity in which a woman alleged to be a .Maori herbalist figured. I-t resulted in a charge of stealing against a dark woman, Mary Coleman, otherwise known as “Madam Brown, the Maori herbalist.” The (prosecutor) a woman, said that Coleman tohl her that she (witness) was suffering from nei vousness, biliousness, and headaches and offered to cure In r for £5 with herbs from New Zealand. The treatment included it herbs'! bath. Witness paid £5 and got soiiif/.llerlis, which she boiled, according* to directions, She subsequently saw Coleman, who wanted £B. Coleman said that £2 of the money was to bo tied in a handkerchief, on which she (witness) was to sleep for several nights. Witness went on to state that Coleman informed her that if she could speak three languages it would he necessary for her to go to the cross-roads near Coleman’s place and pray to the stars at midnight for a fortnight.

“I told her,” said witness, “I could not do that', as my husband would wonder where I was.” (Laughter). Coleman then told witness she (Coleman) would have to take the money herself and pray at the cross-roads for a fortnight. Witness handed over £B, which Madam Brown promised to return at the end of the fortnight, but she bad failed to do so. Coleman asked, also, for £5 or £lO to burn, in order to destroy witness’s sickness, stating that she would have to destroy money coming from her patients in Newcastle, where she had a big business. Coleman went into tlie box and denied witness's statements. She said she would swear by her 17 children that her own story was true. The ease has not yet concluded.