The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-12

Voodoo tales of the tropics and the
banshee hair-raisers of Ireland are re-
vived by the operations of a woman
swlndler. who. posing as gypsy of high
lineage and teller of fortunes, has been
working in Washington with house maids
and servants Of prominent families as her
victims.
Playing upon their superstitions with
weird tales of gnomes and their spells.
she tells them Of a fearful hoodoo which
has been cast upon them by some enemy.
This hoodoo. she explains can only be
warded off and put out of business by
crossing her palm with money and votary
offerings.
Blanche Nelson, negro maid employed
in the family of w. W. White, u. S. N.
at 17A Q street northwest, last night
reported the loss OF $40 and wearing APP
parel through the operations OF the
swindler tc the police last night.
Girl Becomes Terrified.
on wednesday morning the gypsy
entered the basement OF the White resi-
dence, where the maid was at work, and
without a word began a sort OF weird
Incarnation. The girl was terrified. and
was about TO cry for help when the
gypsy spoke.
4 can tell your fortune; am a
gypsy" she announced.
4 don't want my fortune told" the
Nelson girl replied.
yes. you do" persisted the woman
Il can look at your palm and read your
whole life. Let me look"
Within a few moments the visitor had
the girl excited by what purported to be
a revelation of her life.
There a certain grl," the gypsy ex-
planed and she has had spell cast
upon you. Your hair viii fall out; you
will have dizzy headaches you VIII b
unable to walk.
The maid became nervous and fright
eneI.
Asks for Her Money.
Yes continued the teller of fortunes,
''this girl went to a gypsy and had this
hoodoo put upon you She gave her
money. 1t is buried In front of this
house, and IT VIII cast its speel over you
until you die. There Is only one way TO
ward it off. Give me all the money you
have. wiz bury II. appeal 10 the gods.
and the spell win be counteracted.
The maid by this time was badly
frightened. She went 10 her room, took a
$40 bill. and gave 1t to the gypsy.
And. too the woman continued. II
must have piece Of your clothes to
bury. Something Of your best"
She made a move to take a new silk
dress just purchased. but upon the pro-
testatons OF the maid a silk petticoat
was selected
1T may be all right to use this" she
said, dublously, "and tomorrow 1 will
return. You must have treatment for
nine days 10 thoroughly remove the
hoodoo."
Fails To Return.
She failed to return, and it was not
until yesterday that the maid settled
down sufficiently TO tell her employer.
Mrs White saw that the girl had beer
duped. and had the case reported to The
police The gypsy woman is described
as being OF medium height. with DARK
brown hair and eyes. When she ap-
peared at the White residence she wore
| a black skirt white shirt waist. and
black hat
Another maid in the same neighborhood
was found who had been approached by
the woman. She could not resist tbs
temptation TO have her fortune told. but
did not lose any money by the transac'
ton. The police. however. believe that
she, too, was trieked, but is too thor
oughIy under the fear of spells and hoo
does 10 tell Of II.