Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-16
Obtaining Money Under False Pre-
tenses-A New Way 10 Cure Dis.
ease-A Woman Duped by a
(Sfnsv

Obtaining Money Under False Pre-
tenses-A New Way 10 Cure Dis
ease-A Woman Duped by a
Gipsy.
A strange case has recently come to light
in this city, which proves most conclusive
ly that the believers in ''charms," "spells"
and 'witchcraft" are not all dead, even in
this enlightened nineteenth century. The
facts as disclosed at the Mayors Office are
about as follows: A certain lady, resident
of this city-whose name, from prudential
reasons, we withhold-appeared before
Mayor Lowry, day or two since, and made
information charging Gypsy woman with
obtaining large sum of money from her
under false pretenses. 1t seems that the
lady has a child sorely afflicted with nerv-
Gus affection, for the relief of which she
tried countless remedies but to no purpose.
Some weeks since Gipsy woman visited
her house in the legitimate line of her voca-
tlon-fortune-telling and begging-and OBJ
serving the condition of the child and its
mothers anxiety in its behalf, she informed
the lady that tor small consideration she
would restore the little sufferer to perfect
health. The mothers love for the darling
child caused her to catch eagerly at the
slightest hope. and she at once consented
w UllC NOihuh w uiuSA puhO
its cure.
six weeks was the time the Gipsy asked
il. which to effect perfect cure, during
which she would visit the house daily.
After consu ting the stars, examining the
palms of the child's hands, and performing
many other mystic rites, the Holy Bible
was called for, and the lady directed to
place it upon stand. This being done, she
was directed to open it at the tenth chapter
of '.Leviticus," and place between the
leaves a $50 greenback. This was done,
when she was directed to close the book,
clasp it securely, and permit no one to have
access to it but herself. After her basket
had been we'll filled by the lady, the Gipsy
departed, leaving the mother full Of hope
that her suffering darling would soon be
free from pain, and at trifling expense.
Day after day the Gipsy, basket in hand,
called to see her patient, and at each visit
stipulated sums of money were placed with
in the lids of the Bible, always, however, in
"Leviticus." Some two weeks before the
day set for the cure of the child, the funds
of the lady ran short, and she was compell-
ed to borrow considerable sum. The
long looked tor day atlength arrived, and
with it came the Gipsy. After the room
had been darkened, the sorceress commence
ed her incantations. The eyes of the child
were bandaged, whilst the mother was di-
rected to stand with her face to the wall.
I For half an hour the Gipsy mumbled in
an unknown tongue, during which time
she frequently knelt by the stand on which
the Bible lay. At last the matter ended,
the bandage was removed from the eyes of
the child, the mother permitted to turn her
face from the wall, and the room again
lighted. ~ .ti '-'
After the most solemn injunctions on the
part of the Gipsy, that the Bible should
not be opened for the space of five days,
else the charm would be broken and all
that had been done prove of no avail, the
lady paid her the stipulated sum, filed her
basket for the last time, and she departed.
On the fifth day the good book was opened
at the hour named, but instead of finding
the greenbacks which she had deposited in
"Leviticus," what was the lady's surprise
and modification to discover in their stead
pieces of tissue paper. The truth for the
first time flashed upon her mind that the
Gipsy was a swindler, and that she had
been sadly victimized.i AS near as she can
remember, she placed In 'sLeviticus'' about
$500, every dollar of which the Gipsy
woman had stolen, The facts were at once
communicated to the Mayor, and warrant
issued for the arrest Of the woman, but
thus tar no traces of her have been discoy-
cred! - Pittsbttrg Chronicle! ''5i'lSi 2Hl loH