PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Miss DUPLOCK
MAGISTRATES’ CLERK’S OFFICE.—Tuesday.—A case was heard by the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, exhibiting an amount of superstitious credulity, which for the credit of these enlightened times, we would fain hope is rarely equalled.
— A woman, calling herself Catherine Allford, was brought up under the Vagrant Act, charged with wandering about idly pretending to tell fortunes. The following is the evidence of her dupes:—
— Emily Davis deposed:I live as servant in the house of Mr. William Friend, at Hart plain, in the parish of Catherington. On Thursday last the prisoner, who said her name was Elizabeth Baker, came to the house and wished to tell my fortune. I hesitated a little, and then consented. She said I should be married in three months, and should have a child soon. After this she asked if I would like to know my enemies from my friends. I said I should. She asked me to get her a sheet of note paper. I brought it, and she folded it up and put it upon my right breast. She then asked me what I had that was valuable, a gold brooch or a silver article, or anything that was valuable. I said I had nothing of that sort. She then told me to bring her the three most valuable things I possessed. I brought he a black Coburg dress, a light shawl, and a pair of boots. She said that was not enough. I then brought her another dress, a white petticoat, a pair of black gloves, two pocket handkerchiefs with 4s. 6d. tied up in on elf them. I gave it all to her, and she said she would take them to consecrated ground and so overcome the power of all evil spirits, and would return with them at half-past nine that evening, and then she would tell me more of my fortune. She said I should find written on the note paper my own name and the name of the young man, and the colour of his hair. She did not return, and on the next morning, I gave information to the police.
— Martha Varndell deposed: I am housemaid at Mr. Friend’s. On Thursday last prisoner came to the house, and when she saw me she said she would give 100l. if her teeth had grown as far apart as mine did, as it was a proof that I should be lucky in my old age. I said I never knew that before. She told me I need not be afraid of her nor take her for a gipsy, for she was the seventh daughter of the seventh, and had all the power over evil spirits. She asked me if I had the register of my birth, and when I told her No, she said I ought to get it at once, as there was money coming to me. She then held out to me a phial bottle and told me to squeeze it and wish. I took hold of the bottle but didn’t wish. She took a sheet of note paper and drew her finger in a circle round it and wrapped the bottle in it, and told me to put it into the stocking of my right leg. I did not do so, but I allowed her to put it in, and I have no doubt (added the witness) that it was while she was putting it into my stocking that she overcome me. She told me not to take it out till I saw her again and then there would be my name on it and the name of the young man both written in red. She said she never saw me naked, but she knew I had a mole on my side in which there were three hairs of different colours, that one of them had grown every seventh year, and as the third hair was just come, she knew I was 21 years old, but I am not yet 20, and I have no such mark about me. Witness here described in detail the article of clothing which she had entrusted to prisoner, and corroborated the last witness as to their ‟consecration,” the ‟subduing of evil spirits,” &c., and the promise of their being returned to their owners in the course of the evening. The value of the articles was over 5l.
— Henry Twine, P.C. 108, stationed at Waterloo deposed to taking the prisoner into custody on Saturday morning at Chichester, with nearly all the articles in her possession.
— Prisoner declined to say anything, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
— After the case had been disposed of, the girls were re-called and suitably admonished by the worthy magistrate on the utter foolishness of their conduct in the matter.