A SERIOUS CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 253, 1 December 1909, Page 3

A SERIOUS CHARGE

THE NELSON "MAGNETIC HEALINu CASE. ALLEGED MALIGN IM'LUENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Nelson, Last >iight. A curious' case bus occupied the -ittention of the court duriny; the bust three days. William Henry a married man with an ailing wile anil family in receipt -of charitaole aid. was charged under the Crimes Act wilh indecent assault on a girl aged twenty, I gaining liia ends by fraud, pretending I to diagnose cases by touch, and c]ethically 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 of treatment for supposed appendicitis, which eventually leu to her undoiug. While the iutimac.v was proceeding, Kingston professed tu read, in tea-leaves at the bottom ot a cup, that her father and brother iiad criminally assaulted her at an earlier age, and he induced her to sign a written f confession to that effect, with the woman

Buxton as witness. Subsequently the •prisoner took the statement to the police to Jay an information agaiust the father of the girl, from whom lie had previously obtained £5 on a plea of dire povertv. The police were suspicious of the iiilnir, and investigated and laid a charge, with the result of prisoner's committal, no bail being forthcoming. 1L lie case created considerable local stir, as showing the malign inlluence it is possible to exercise over neurotic girls, in evidence, it transpired that Kingston also endeavored to bring under his power ana treatment a sister of the 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 violent deaths shortly. The family of the alleged victim are very respectable, and the victim is quite free from bouily' ailments, as proved by medical examination. The prisoner attempted to treat the second girl for coming blindness, diagnosing the cases* of both by holding their hands.