BELIEF IN "EVIL EYE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 723, 24 July 1929, Page 11

BELIEF IN "EVIL EYE”

FARMER “BEWITCHED” BY NEIGHBOUR AMAZING SOMERSET STORY A farmer’s belief —shared by his wife—that he had been bewitched and “overlooked” by a man of 77, was described at Langport, Somerset, recently. It was stated that the farmer believed that a spell had been cast over him, and erected a monument in a tree as a precaution against the evil eye. The farmer, George Sheppard, of Aller, was charged with using threat to Reuben Lock, of Coombe, Langport. A solicitor who appeared for Lock said that the circumstances of the case were unbelievable. The whole trouble had arisen through Sheppard being under the impression that he was bewitched and overlooked by Lock. That anyone should believe such things in these days was incredible. On account of that belief, Sheppard had been abusing Lock and shouting at him when he passed Lock’s garden. On one occasion, said the solicitor, Sheppard actually erected a monument in a tree near his house because he thought that it would be a precaution against the evil eye of Lock/ Lock, who is 77, said that once when he asked Sheppard who he was cursing, Sheppard replied: “You and your hag-riding old wife.” Sheppard told the magistrates he considered that Lock had cast a spell over him and that soir» ->f the bad uck was caused by Lock. His wife said that siu supposed Lock overlooked and bewitched them. Sheppard was bound over.