Evening star., 1924-12-07
GIRL HEALER CASE
ST|RS BELG|ANS
Remarkable Paralysis Cure
Basis of Religion That
Brought Riches.
Correspondence of The Star and the New York
World

Correspondence of The Star and the New York
World
BRUSSELS, November 90. A
strange and mysterious affair holds
Brussels in excitement. A few days
ago the police arrested, in the sleepy
suburb of Forest, a woman of singu-
lar character and antecedents. She
was in the habit of describing her
self as "A pilgrim and apostle of
christ and performer of miraculous
cures. She invariably appeared in
the streets dressed as a boy scout,
shod in riding boots and golden spurs.
Sheer he-was known by her
!. friends as George Maresco, but her
1 real name is Bertha Mrazek, and the
story of her life. as far as is known,
makes strange reading.
Was Circus Dancer.
Born in Brussels 81 years ago from
a Czech father and a Belgian mother.
she began at an early age to dance
in a circus. became hOrsewoman, and
finally a tanner of tigers. She was
further known as a lyrical artist and
a painter. During the war she acted
as nurse in a Belgian prisoners hos
pital under German military au-
thority. After the war she became
tattached to the Belgian military
headquarters and was sent to Ger
many as dn agent 10 report on secret
military formations in that country.
While on that mission in Germany
she fell ill. so much so that she OBJ
tanned an invalidtty pension from the
military authorities. And this is
where the stranGest part of her story
begins She was struck down by
paralysis. Doctors declared her case
AS hopeless. For more than year
she lay in hospital. Then, being a
nnNOIt fF9thnlic axnraSCaH Ta-
sire TO try pilgrimage to Lourdcs.
Completely Cured.
That being too expensive. she chose
the next best course-had herself
carried on a stretcher to the church
in Hal. a little town near Brussels,
accompanied by the priest of Forest.
There, in that church. in front of the
image of the Virgin, she began to
raise heartrending cries. then got up
and calmly walked up the steps of
bthe altar. She was completely cured.
The miracle was performed.
Her fame spread among her friends
and neighbors until the eCclesiaSti-
cal authorities felt the matter had
gone too far and excommunicated
her. Nothing daunted, she proceeded
TO found new religion. proclaimed
herself the priest and apostle of
Christ. set up a church in her subur-
ban house, where she administered
service in suitable garb and prom
isCd miraculous cures to the sick in
body and soul
Followers Increase.
The number os ier faithful grew
and included men and women of all
classes, including the nobility aud
,the church To some she exhibited
the scars of Christ on her own body
for others she contented herself with
putting on mantle she pretended
10 have received from Miss Edith
tavell. Gifts poured in and she pros
pered exceedingly until the
family of one of her faithful. a young
woman who had spent q fortune on
tho apostle. her chapel and her holy
works, informed the police. This sin
Sular woman is now in prison await
ing trial.
Meanwhile people stand amazed
before this example of human credul-
1ty and are wondering whether we
have to deal with a very remark a BILE
case of insanity or with a common,
though certainly uncommon1y clever,
adventures.