The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-13
SPIRITUAL lUIGLERY. +.
Curious Case Of Spiritual Deception i'm New
Orleans.

Curious Case Of Spiritual Deception i'm New
Orleans.
From the New orleans Republican, July 81
The following singular state ment was given as
testimony civil court last winter and the case
fell through there 1t was taken to the FGrth District
Recorders Court, where 1t Is now pending swe are
OF the belief that the half has not yet been dvulged
but this Is sufficient for the present. When the
reader has finished he will lament with US that the
fool killer either has not been this way for a long
time or has lost much OF his ancient acuteness:--
Frederick Kern, formerly Widow Rub, now wife OF
Charles Klar, residing on Fourth street. In the
Fourth district city OF New Orleans, who, being
duly sworn, deposed and said tnat one Frances
willis, alias =, about the year 1862 obtained the
confidence of deponent by her artully representing
herself as pious woman, in direct converse with
the Holy Ghost and as showing the path TO eternal
salvation and to heaven tsat deponent some time
chased in the Cemetery No. l, on Washington street,
and contracted at the same time with the then sexton
Simpson, TO erect family tomb thereon for deponen
wherein afterwards she caused to be deposited the
remains Of John Rub her deceased hnsband; OF
dren OF her daughter wife of DR.. Kathman; that In
part payment deponent gave said sexton q vault
me OF R" 10 e ne
further paid, after eectng the contract to the SEX
ton, simpson. $500 In cash, with the bargain that at
the completion OF the tomb the balance OF $3.50
should be paid. The price Of the two lots Nos 267
and 2es,, with the tomb erected thereon, amounted
valued at $40. That when said balance became
due your petitioner was very SICK and fully repos-
ing confidence In the integrity OF the before men,
deponent now deceased, she intrusted TO said par
ties the OF $3.50 TO be paid TO simpson the SEX
ton aforesaid to extingush the debt incurred by the
purchase OF the lots aforesaid and for the tomb
thereon.
That shortly after the said Frances Willis, who at
that time had full cont0 over deponent's mind,
seriously informed deponent that 1t was the will OF
the Divine Spirit that the remains OF deceased hus-
band OF said willis should be deposited in the tomb
aforesaid, and thus obtained deponent's consent
That at the death Of Peter Rub, deponents son.
which occurred November 9, 1888, the said Frances
Spirit commanded her TO hand over to her a gold
watch OF the estate OF said deceased, TO be for n
young son OF said Willis, who she said Is predestined
to became great prophet, and thus said Frances
That In July, 1860, Mrs. Leidnger, on her death
bed, knowing THAT she was about to die, to atone for
her sins, openly confessed that Frances willis and
herself had committed gross frauds on deponent In
and about the lots and tomb aforesaid, andlCom-
manded and exh0rtQd her descendants not to attempt
to take any advantage of the fraud or to claim any
ownership In the lots and tomb aforesaid, but to
That in May, 1858, deponent with her husband ex.
amined the title book OF Cemetery No. of washing
ton street. and found that the lots and tomb afore-
said stand in the name Of Frances Willis and Mrs.
Frances Willis and the penitent deceased Leidinger,
and that said Frances Willis persists In her fraud to
the prejudice Of deponent, who therefore charged
said Frances Willis with embezzlement and with
being accessory 10 the embezzlement andfraud con.
fessed by the penitent Mrs. Leidlngef Aforesaid.
is asserted that much other property real estate
was obtained through the same spirit. Accused ie
from the vasty deeb cas do some strange oman.
clering. :.