PHANTOM WEALTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 20 August 1907, Page 4

PHANTOM WEALTH.

From Reichsdorf, in Bohemia, comes a most extraordinary story of credulity and superstition (says a Rondon paper). A woman named Theresa Bach went to Marie Iser, the wile of a small tradesman, and told her that she could release a poor soul from purgatory and thereby obtain a great treasure, but it would require money. Iser gave her a small sum, and a few days afterwards Bach appeared with a packet, and said she had got the treasure, but the “poor soul’’ must wait another two years before being released. In the meantime the treasure must not be touched under the pain of instant death. Also, it must be watched every nightone nigUt she would guard it, and the next night Frau Iser must sit up. From that time the Tser family knew no peace. The Bach woman was continually drawing small sums of money from them, in the name of the “ poor soul, until they were ruined. Frau Iser had parted with nearly and two of her sons were bankrupt, and their children starving. At last, in sheer desperation. Marie Iser determined to open the treasure packet, although it was still two months before the two years would expire. Feeling assured it would cost her her life, she assembled her family around her and bade them a solemn farewell. The precious packet was placed on a chair, around which a chalk circle was drawn, so that if the “ poor soul ” should prove to bean evil spirit it could not come out of the circle. Marie -Iser stepped over the line and tremblingly opened the parcel. It contained bits of coal, onion peelings, and scraps of dry bread.