A SHOCKING CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 604, 2 December 1909, Page 3

A SHOCKING CASE.

Neeson, November 30. . A curious case has occupied the attention of the Court during the last three days. Wm. Henry Kingston, a married man with an ailing wife, and family, and in receipt of charitable aid, was charged under the Crimes Act with an indecent assault on a girl aged twenty,- gaining hi? ends by fraud through pretending to possess powers to diagnose cases by touch,* and electrically heal by rubbing. It was alleged in evidence that, aided by a woman named Buxton, who believed in his supernatural powers, Kingston persuaded the girl to permit his treatment for supposed appendicitis, which eventually led to her wrong-doing. While intimacy was proceeding, Kingston professed to read in the tea-leaves at the bottom of a cup that her father and brother had criminally assaulted her at an earlier age, and he induced her to sign a confession to that effect, the woman Buxton acting as witnessSubsequently prisoner took the statement to the police to lay an information against the father of the girl, from who he had previously obtained £5 on the plea of dire poverty. The police, who were suspicious of the whole affair, Investigated it and laid a charge, with the result of a committal, no bail being forthcoming. The case created considerable local stir as showing a malign influence and possible exercise over neurotic girls. In the evidence, it transpired that Kingston also endeavoured to

bring under his power and treatment a sister of his alleged original victim, writing her that his wife would die in January, and the girl must marry him, as his visions had foretold that the girl’s father, mother, and brother would meet with violent deaths very shortly. The family of the alleged victim are very respectable, and the victim is quite free from body ailments, as was proved on medh cal examination. Prisoner attempted to treat the second girl for coming blindness, diagonisiug the cases of both by holding their hands.