The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-19
OF EXTREME
SUPERSTITION
So Case of Mrs, TerneS Is
Decided by Jury,
NOT INSANE Is VERDICT
Woman Simply Bewitched by
Her Own FancieS.
NOT INSANE is VERDICT

t-A- A-i Atlo "a NtlES anu 1ll4tAflo - -
fiery tails. The trial lasted for two hour
and was very interesting. The docto
on the jury. A. D. Jones. gave the fol
lowing opinion in the findings Of tn
jury:
: From evidence it is a case OF extrem
superstition, provoked and aggravated b
4 suggestions and remarks OF some &C
Quaintances and associates
4 The probate court room was wei file,
with the people of this unusually inter
esting neighborhood There were NOR
than a dozen of these and in the sam
row Of seats Mrs. Ternes and her hus
band sat She held "a yellow headed
( rOsy-cheeked baby OF one year, that Dor
a striking contrast to the mothers wal
face and slender form. She is of shor
stature and is German, through ane
through. From under the brim of ;
black sailor hat her worried and anxious
eyes darted back and forth from tn
prosecutor 70 the witnesses as eacI
question was put.
Police Judge Stanley was the first wit
ness called. He testified that he had
first seen the defendant when she wa.
brought into his court on a complaint o
a neighbor Mrs. Carten Mrs. Garter
had alleged that Mrs. Ternes was danger.
Gus and detrimental to the peace Of tht
neighborhood
what seemed TO be the trouble?" ask.
cd Mr.. George Adams, prosecuting attor.
my
We'll" said Judge Stanley. Mrs. Ter
Des said that the neighbors harassed her
that they sent spirits into her house
mat this spirit. which she described as
being in the form of a dog or squirrel
would go around the garden and then
nothing would grow; that il made The
DRY that nj e.
II caused her to be III all the time and
not able to do her work I did not see
how I could put her I'm Jail. for there is
no place there for q woman and a child
so small. 1 therefore gave her "A lecture
and told her that she must go home and
If She did not stop getting into trouble
with her neighbors and causing trouble
jail
How long ago was this?'
Let me see-it was over a year ago. %
Was she ever brought before you
again
Yes. This time new neighbor made
the complaint and Mrs Ternes and her
husband Doth have the same troublc}
told me that they were sim harassed by
the neighbors."
BY this same splrit?"
Yes But this time they explained
that it was rafting i'm the wall / ask
ed the man why he didn't fix it So it
wouldn't rattle. lie shook his head and
said that il was not that kind of rail-
Ting
What did ne say it was?"
'iie couldn't tell II vas "A kind Of n
spirit The same kind that he had be-
fore told me was Ike q squirrel OF dog
That came risht through thc solid wall"
w hat do you believe as o. the sanity
or the insanity OF the woman"
So" ell, from what airs. Shields has tod
me ~ ther destitute circumstances [
THINK that that may have something to do
with their trouble. ! believe that they
are insane on this one point about the
spirits. ] believe that they are danger
Gus. or will become So"
Mr. Stanley, are not these peoTNo or
this woman very ignorant" asked James
1only Jr- as attorney Tor the defense.
she docs not know much Of worldly
things. Don't YOU believe judge stan
ley that IL they We're ia better circum-
stances. that these spirits would not have
so much to do with their livcs"
Perhaps
Has this woman been brought before
you In the last three months charged
with disturbing the neighbors?'
NO"
Mrs. Shields. WichHa's police matron.
was next called. Mrs. Shields testified
That what she knew Of the case conceded
Win what Judge Stanley had said. She
said that She bad made q visit TO Mrs
fernes' on Wednesday. that the woman
Old her Of the spirit. hut said that she
ma her husband saw it differently and
it different times
HAS she any chudren?'' was asked
Yes. three One seven years old. the
leNt Youngest is three ard the baby she