New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-21
CURE FOR STOMACH ACHE
Seems to Consist Mostly of Stage
Management.
CHARGE LIKE INDIAN TALE
Detectives of County Medical
Society File Picturesque
Affidavits.

I'VE found ourselves finally In his pres
ence. He was dressed In long, flowing
robe Of brilliant green and wore sort
of wig that fell down over his face. The
room was large and had small windows
set with panes Of varI-colored glass. At one
end was an altar upon which odoriferous
candles burned and at the other end were
facsimiles of various old-fashloned medi-
cal instruments, such as were used N the
Dark Ages. peculiar odor porvaded the
room. like a combination OF perfume and
chloroform.
"He said: I cure everything. l invoke
the aid OF both God and the saints. ana
God has bestowed upon me the art OF
healing such as he gave to Christ. am
a prophet, and am next to God In power
| do not employ magnetism or earthly
science, but use the power given me by my
friend-God.'
I'VE were then conducted to an adJoin-
ing room, where we beheld woman ap-
parently asleep He said that II was MS
wife In a ten-year trance and that she was
then communlng with God. The room was
small and dark. and contained cruclhH
and an altar He waved a wand, mutter-
ing strange sounds, and a voice answered
from the depths of the altar, in an IN
known language. which sounded like AL
va, wa-a- haal-ya. waa-ha.' Then there
flashed across the room rays OF plulsh
light. This, he said was the trail or some
saint who passed through the room.
This is not a tale from India, but 1t all
happened right here in humdrum New
York. according to the affidavits filed in
court by agents Of the County Medical
Society against Salvatore Spineila, of NO.
230 First avenue, yesterday, charging MIN
with practising medicine without license
The agents, Stephen Fontani and Mrs'
Frances Benzecry, won their way 10 the
inner shrine in the role of man and VIE
seeking relief for the latter from stomach
trouble"
He showed us testimonials" the am
davit continues, from people whom he
said lie had cured, and told us that he had
charged them each 500, but offered to giYe
my wife d first treatment for g.
The strange voice from the altar saying
"Al-ya, wa.a-haal-ya," the affidavit goes
on to say, evidently came from graphic
phone, and the blush light from an IN
strument similar TO an X-ray apparatus.
He later stated that he had decided to
wake his wife out of her ten-year trance
and placed his hands upon her head.
mumbled a few words, and she woke UP.
Spinella then got out two robes, one OK
violet or purple velvet and the other OF
reddish silk. one he placed on Mrs. Benze-
cry" Fontanis affidavit reads, and the
other on myself. He then led US to an
altar and instructed US to kneel down with
him and join In prayer. Spinella's wife
then entered with a sort OF vestment OF
brilliant green. lie told Mrs Benzecry to
sit down.
He took little bottle which he said
contained holy salt, emptied some or its
contents in his hand, poured some water
from another bottle, which he said con-
tanned holy water into his other palm,
rubbed these together and then proceeded
10 rub the back OF Mrs. BenZecry's head.
He then wished TO rub her lower limbs,
saying, Take down your stockings The
closer, the better the cure This admon-
ton Mrs. Benzecry refused to follow.
Later he clapped his hands, and said
this part of the cure was ended. He next
gave her a taste of a tonic. which he said
she should take and which cost her 81. He
then commented. The cause of your wife's
illness is due to the spirit Of Nickola Rizzo,
with whom she used to be familiar He
sickens her stomach, her head and her
throat, causing a general run down con-
dition and weakness of the legs. Come
back again in two dsys--I'll cure her all
right
Spinella entered plea Of not guilty TO
the charge Of practising medicine without
a license when arraigned before Magistrate
McQuade, in the Essex Market police court,
and was held in $1,000 bail for hearing
to-day.