Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-22
sORCERY.
incidents Illustrative of Modern
Spiritualism.
Paris Letter, June 1911

Itseems incredible that there can ex-
ist in this the nineteenth century, in
supposedly civilized land like Belgium,
such degraded superstition as has just
been exposed in an important trial
before the Tribunal Correctional at
Charleroi.
A certain Nine. Debrucque has, in
a case brought by her against the
"Sorceress of Charleroi," a certain
Nine. Lignan, shown US to what degree
of idiocy superstition may degrade the
human mind.
While her husband was earning a
petty S400 year as a workman IN a
foundry, Nine. Lignan kept a "sorcery
shop" in Que Of the faubourgs, where,
grace to the astounding stupidity OF
the grand ladies of Charleroi, she was
able to heap up handsome fortune
from that admirable profession (?).
Among her most excellent customers
was Nine. Debrucque, the wife OF a
prominent stockbroker of Charleroi.
his lady paid the "sorceress at her
first visit the handsome sum of 1000
francs to hire her TO make a pilgrim
age to Jerusalem, from whence she
should bring to Nine. Debrucque a
piece of the shirt of Jesus Christ
The tiny fragment ofssthe skirt, so
dearly paid for, was intended to assure
TO the stock brokers' amiable and in
telligent spouse fortune to which
she believed herself the proper heir
ess, but which had been for some years
in litigation.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
scarp Of the holy shirt was actually
brought, the fortune, strange to re-
lafe, did not arrive also, as anticipated
aud promised. Nevertheless, Nine.
Debrucque continued to believe in
the omnipotence of her "sorceress. "
She gave the latter some rings, some
linen, some curtains, and twenty bot
ties OF champagne, all of which artl-
cles were to be carried to Jerusalem
to be blessed upon the tomb of Jesus
Christ; and, her children having fallen
ILL., Mime. Debrucque fastened to pre-.
sent Nine. Lignan with 1000 francs
more, in order that the "sorceress
might drive away the evil spirits
which haunted the house OF the
wealthy stock -jobber. Whether this
amount Of filthy lucre accomplished
the desired effect or not we are left
in tormenting state Of doubt about.
Another good customer Nine. Mi
ctaux. a rich landowner, who actually
paid $500 francs to this fascinating
"soceress," in hopes of sharing in a
treasure of countless millions which
Nine. Lignan, the wizardess, informed
her was buried in some casks at
the bottom of cistern in the house Of
NJ. Eudore Primer, deputy of Charlie
voix and former minister Of the int
rior in Belgium. You can readily fan
cy how many of those millions fell to
the lot of Nine. Michaux. Nine. Lo-
rent furnished 1000 francs for the pur-
pose Of assuring good luck to her chill.
dren. The Leclere sisters, two good
girls-that is to say a triAe too good
| for this wicked wOrld-paid 1900
francs to the wizardess, in the charit-
able hope OF thereby putting out of the
world, BY some unknown necrOmancy,
| the wife Of certain man whom they
each wished to marry
Unluckily it was the husband who
died Then Nine. Lignan, this prin-
cess of darkness, set herself to work at
invoking all the supernatural powers
| in her circle of acquaintances to give
satisfaction to the appetites of the
young Leclere sisters. Those evil
spirits designated deputy Of Charlie
roi as a suitable person ioF one of the
ladies. So the latter hired the wig
ardesE to beWitch the doputy-priee Of
the operation Tor spell, should | say9)
1000 francs, husbands being cheaper
than pieces Of the shirts of Jesus
Christ in Nine. Lignan's scale Of
prices.
But it was necessary that the would
Defiance should write to the devil
praying him to sign this contract
/ She did so. The devil responded by a
note written With q red pencil, in
| these terms: Good for FIVE hundred
signatures. Signed. Satan The
devil seems to have been in 3 liberia
state of mind Just then, four franc:
per signature for his satanic majesty
sign manual being an uncommonlJ
low rate, in fact, dev-l-ish cheap To
aid her 10 her business, Nine. Lignan
employed two old shreWs who served
| heF as ambassadors at the court Of the
devil, ana Vlq often, on presenting
themselves before tAs applicants
showed their bleeding hands, explain.
! ing that on the night previous they
had bad to struggle with satan in order
! to gain ths requests of their custom.
ers.
All these ladies, who are graduates
| from some Of the best convent sch6sls
in France and Belgium, continue sc
blinded By superstition that wheI
| brought before the court ~ witnesses
against the "sorceress, they could 10
be prevailed upon to acknowledge
their conduct as being at all absurd o.
stupid. Thus one of them, whom
Nine. LigaaD had recommended B,
always wear bit Of green wood pe<l
her skin, to keep her FROM dyiog
when asked By the presiding Judge
land so you believed all that" re-
sponded: Il believe it. Yes, certain
IT," Tho 'sorceress" was condemned
to seven years imprisonment, and hel
] .oooy,pl;oau zach IN ono ~.