Weekly News. — 1892-08-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

WITCHCRAFT AND MURDER IN INDIA.  An:extraordinary tale of witchcraft and murder is brought from Southern Julia by the last mail. One Pamben, a village headman in the Neilgherries, and three others are charged with the murder of a Toda named Petbolee, whom they accused of being a sorcerer able to bewitch Badagag, the tribe to which they belong. As toll in the Madras Mail, their grounds for believing that Petbolee was practising witchcraft were—first, the death of a girl who was a near relative of the headman in the middle of last year. A charge of witchcraft was made against Petbolee then, but nothing came of it. Soon afterwards a little boy, the son of one of the accused and a grandson of another, became dangerously ill. This illness was attributed to the malign influence and in. cantations of Petbolee, and he was told that if the child did not recover he would have to pay the penalty. Petbolee protested his innocence of having bewitched the child, and his inability to cure him. This was on July 20th, and the same day the child aied. The following day the three accused went to Petbolee and told him that the headman wished to see Lim. That evening, it is alleged, they fell on him and belaboured him with clubs, breaking his jaw, smashing his teeth, and inflicting severe wounds on his neck. Petbolee died in consequence. They then removed his body to the road leading to his village and left it there. It was found next morning by his son, who reported the matter to the headman. 'c,he latter suggested that the murdered man owed his (lath to the machinations of two of the Kurumber tribe. The son thereupon announced his intention of reporting the matter to the police. The headman dissuaded him from doing so, alleging that this was his work and might safely be left to him. He, however, advised the son to burn the body of his father. This was accordingly done; but a police inquiry took place, with the result that the accused are to stand their trial before the Sessions Judge of Coimbatore. The crime is said to be unusual because it has been committed on a Toda, one of a race held in superstitious awe by the Badaga, and therefore reckoned a counterpoise to the Kurumber sorcerers. The witchcraft murders of the past were committed on Kurumbers—a tribe whotnhabit the lower slopes of the Neilgherries and are said to have an equal right with the Todas in the soil. Their aid is invoked in all initial agricultural operations of the year. But these friendly relations are sometimes interrupted. The Kurumber is by repute a sorcerer, and Badaga tradition tells many harrowing tales of how his power of necromancy was used to bring sorrow to the home of his benefactors.  A young lady visitor named Low was climbing the cliffs at Dover, on Friday, when she missed her footing and fell, sustaining such injuries that she died shortly afterwards. What is considered a very important "literary marriage" has just been announced at Christiania. The only son of Henry Ibsen, M. Sigurd Ibsen, is engaged to be married to the daughter of Bjornstjorne Bjornson. Mdlle. Bergliott is a very beautiful girl of 18, whose portrait was one of the sensations of the Salon of a season or two ago. Young Ibsen is a man of about 32, who is fort initruit, and who had to quit the diplomatic service on account of his extreme political opinions. He is the author of a book on the subject of the union of Sweden and Norway.  Teue politeness.—First lady: "I saw your huti. band meet you in Fulton-street, yesterday, and I noticed that he removed his hat while speaking with you. I admire lum for it. Very few men do theit." Second lady: "I remember I told him in the morning to have his Lair cut, and he was shewing me he had obeyed."  More missed than lost—Street beggar : "Anything frr an old soldier, mum ?" Benevolent old lady : "Have you ever been in action?" S. B.: "Yearn, the hottest action of the campaign." 8.0. L: : And were you hurt,then,or wounded?" S. B. : but I was on the list of the missing." 8.0. L. : "floor fellow !