"Sorceress" Arrested.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 233, 6 October 1904, Page 4

"Sorceress" Arrested.

GRUSOME DISCOVERY IN lIER HOUSE. " RENOVATING " THE DEAD. Before Versailles has had time to forget the astounding revelations in the " Sorceress of Marly " affair, the inhabitants of that town' have been thrown in a state of intense excitement over the unpleasant disclosures made in connection with the arrest of another professor of the " black art." A few days ago the criminal authorities of Versailles were informed that Sophie Christmans, a masseuse, aged sixty-two, living at 43, Avenue de St Cloud, was illegally practising medicine. It was also reported that a certain Ahne. Henry, a woman of independent means, living in Versailles, aflirmed to all with whom she came in contact with that the masseuse had cured her ol an affection which all the doctors had declared incurable. There was a mysterious rumour the Mine. Barbaut, aged thirty-four, daughter of Mme. Fteury, had gone for treatment to Sophie Christmans and had not hern heard of or seen since.

Yesterday M. Collard, an examining magistrate, accompanied by an inspector and the letter's secretary, called at the address of the masseuse, and found Mme. Fleury, who told them that Mine. Barbaut was very ill, but that she had no doubt that Mme. Christmans would cure her.

Accompanied by tlie masseuse, shjC then led the way to the next room, on approaching which the inspector and his secretary became conscious of an extremely offensive smell. Lying on a wire mattress on the floor of the apartment was a dark-colour-ed mass surrounded by freshly cut flowers. " That is Mine. Barbaut," said the masseuse. " She has been ill for some time, but now she is in a state of ' renovation,' and I shall soon be able to bring her back to health." DEAD FOR THREE WEEKS. The inspector, however, was quickly convinced that he was in the presence of a body in an advanced stage of -decomposition, and when a doctor was called he certilied that death had occurred about three weeks liefore. On the walls of the room in which this disagreeable discovery was made were traced a number of incomprehensible formulae a"<l grotesque outlines surrounding a large silver cross. When the magistrate ordered the removal of tlie body to the Morgue the two women burst into tears,and when Mme. Christmans was informed that a post-mortem examination was to take place she said, "They will prevent the resurrection of the poor woman." Questioned by a specialist in mental diseases, the masseuse in the strangest language declared that Mine. Barbaut was not dead, and that had she : been left in her charge she would have brought her back to life. Her treatment, "magnetic spiritualism," ihad always been successful. Mme. Fleury, mother of the dead woman:, is so completely under the influence of the masseuse that she refuses to believe that her daughter will not 'be restored to lite. Everyday while awaiting her resurrection she used to wash the half-mummified body with carbolic soap.