She Cast a Spell!

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

She Cast a Spell!

Strange Superstition Persists in French Village of Vasles

TRAGI COMEDY which ' jfV shows how people, especially In country districts, still believe in witchcraft, is reported from the village of Vasles, near Niort, on the borders of the Vendee, in. France. A big farm near the village belongs to a M. Mamiare. He has three daughters. one of whom is married to a M. Demereau. Tills couple live on the iarni. Recently Demereau was taken ill and instead of calling in a doctor tho family consulted an old womao I who has a reputation of being clair- j yoyant. She said to the patient’s wife: “A; woman will come to ask for news concerning your husband. She is the one who has cast a spell on him. “You must beat her until she swears r spell removed from your ally a Madame Guichard w>fe of a neighbouring farmer - as on very friendly terms with mure family, called, sayiug she ■ be;,; : that M. Demereau was ill : i t was nothing serious. oole family, armed with ■ t the poor woman, who ked and shouted for help. Having stopped the attack, the family once more asked the victim to restore M. Demereau to health. As she replied in a fainting voice that she

possessed no such powers, she was again beaten. Mme. Guichard's young son. happening to pass the house, heard his mother’s cries. Ho fetched the gendarmes, who broke open the door and entered. They found all the family on their

knees praying round a table. Their i captive was lying covered with blood \ and bruises in a corner. The Mamiare family will be charged j with assault. The condition of their j victim Is serious.