Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1888-09-22 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SUPERSTITION AND MURDER.  A very characteristic tragedy was enacted a short time ago in one of the suburbs of Mexico, resulting in the murder of an old woman who was known only as a "fortune-teller." For several years she had obtained a regular monthly allowance from every family in the neighbourhood, threatening them in the event of their refusing to pay her that she would be instrumental in putting their children to death by causing them to bleed from the nose. She lived in a house furnished with a number of sinister objects, and she always had a number of cats, owls' and other birds reputed to bring ill-luck about her. She would sometimes go up to one of the hills which overlooked the village, making. all sorts of mysterious gestures, uttering lugubrious sounds, or remaining for hours staring into vacancy. Everybody believed in her supernatural powers' and stood in terror of her. Some time ego the godson of a man, named Medina, died in the village, and the latter, meeting the supposed witch a few days afterwards,asked her why she had been the means of killing his godson, upon which she replied: "Because his father did not pay what he owed me." Medina said that she deserved to be punished, whereupon she threatened to be the death of his own son in the same way. He could not contain himself, and killed her on the spot. He is to be put upon his trial for murder, but will, it is thought, be acquitted.  THE AMERICAN AND HIS LANDLADY, A gentleman, who stated that he came from New York to pursue art study in the National Gallery, attended on Saturday before Mr. Biron, the mit(rustrate at the Westminster police court, for advice, making the prefatory announcement that he bad had a terrible fuss with his landlady.—Mr. Biron: Had what !—Applicant : A terrible shindy. (Laughter.) Since I gave her notice to leave the premises —in Sloane-street—this woman has been annoying me in every way she pcssibly can. She ran against me in the hall, and when I, with some misgiving asked her if she was my wife, and I were going to have any dinner—the servant having received the meat about an hour and a half before—she worked herself into such a fearful temper that she almost spat in my face. In the vehemence of her language she told me to talk to her servant, and stigmatised me as a low American.—Mr. Biron: Why don't you leave such a landlady and her apartments ? Applicant : I went there with some furniture, and I was foolish enough to tell htr that she might have it,and take it out in rent. Instaad of that she istakinj it out of rne—(laughter)—and I could not take it away. I should be positively frightened to try. (Renewed laugliter.)—Mr. Biron: It seems you have made a very ridiculous bargain. You find yourself in an exceedingly embarrassing position.—The Applicant: I do, indeed. You can have no conception of Such a landlady. She threw a pair of scissors at me, lustily screamed "Murder, "and then caught hold of the lappets of mycoat to prevent my escape. Really a most absurd situation. (Laughter.) For the first time in my life I feel positively frightened.—Mr. Biron : Well, f you have brought all this unpleasantness on ourself. —Applicant: Yes, I have, but inadvertently.—Mr. Biron: I will send one of the warrant o cent to caution this woman while you are there.—Applicant thanked his Worship, and expressed the hope that the caution would have a salutary effect.  . • •