The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-18
A MAGIC TOUCH.
SchIatter and Burke Have a Female
Rival in Detroit.

- AtO0hO-
Mrs. Charlotte Lietzau.' of 50 Humboldt
avenue, who came twenty-three years g
from the black forests of Germany, is in
possession or an occult secret, handed down
through generations and given to her by
an old man. She in turn must bequeath it
TO a man, younger than herself. before she
dies, and her successor must pass 1t on to
a woman younger than he before he dies.
The poss essor of the secret is enabled to
perform wonderful things. Mrs. Lietzau
gave evidence of her powers no later than
81 don't do it by my own help" she said
yesterday afternoon at her home. Il do it
by the help of God. / tried to give the
secret over to my daughter, but though L
told her all she cannot work it. 1t must
go to a man and he must be a young man."
Mrs. Lietzau is a very old German wom-
an, with a f1eshy face and beaiy eyes. There
is no.hing occult-looking about her. She
weighs at least two hundred pounds and is
as strong as she is fat.
Neither Mrs. Lietzau nor her daughter
could be induced to say a thing at first, when
a Tribune reporter called at their home yes
terday. They feared that strangers would
ovsrr III st the house Ssr a0Wer raf for uP tSem the OLD
her head. mo. l do it for friends, but 1
don't do 1t for others" 49,
All her powers are exercised with the
use of the left hand.
cit is the sympathetic hand" she said. 1T
is next to the heart. was told when 1
learned to use that hand
Last Friday this old lady called upon Mrs:
Jennie Lidwill, of 1916 Scotch avenue, at
the urgent request of Mrs Shefferly, a mm-
Lidwiil's face. at the hour of sundown. Mrs.
Lidwill had been blind and dumb for two
days with erysipelas. and was thought to
be at the point of death.
Between IL and Il o'clock tonight" said
the old lady. there will be a change.
AS midnight approached Mrs. II. L. Wake
lee, wife of the Board OF Trade telegraph
operator, of 1924 Scotch avenue, and Mrs.
Belle Andrews. Of 1226 Scotch. avenue, were
in an adjoining room Thinking tea. They
ran in to find her lying on the side of the
bed. with arms outstretched. and face as
pale as the bed sheet. Her mouth. which
open. Her eyes. which had been swollen
shut for two days, were staring into space.
She exclaimed:
"Oh. terrible: / feel as though a wedge
of my head off,
Upon reaching the bedside it was found
sanc n that taf time anp Mrs. Ts.n Lidwill has sJ been n able able
TO talk and see. She attributes her cure en-
tirely to faith. and says that though here
tofore she has laughed at such things, she
Is now convinced that they are true.
The German woman did nothing to effect
her cure, she said. hut run her hand over
her face and pray. Doctors for two weeks
previous had been doing everything TO eff
feet a cure. without even alternating her
pain for more than a few minutes at a
time. Sh suffered no pain whatever from
the time the German woman placed her
hands upon her face until she cried out at
her own cure.
The witnesses testify to this story.
The German woman refused to give up a
picture of herself or allow herself to be
sketched. and appeared TO be exceedingly
anxious to avoid advertisement of any kind
for fear of the bother. for she says she will
never attempt her power upon any but
friends. she claims no affiliations with
Christian Scientists. and says she doesn't
know how ii Is done beyond that she LAYS
her left hand on and prays. She has cured
several other quite remarkable cases OF
erysipelas and other diseases. and is looked
upon as a wonder.