1735

Charged With Practising Obeah In St Andrew. Further Hearing of the Case Against Charles Thompson and Evelyn Martin. Evidence for Crown. Defence Started Yesterday At The Trial At Half-Way Tree

Gleaner

30/11/1923

Content:

Further cross-examination of Williams by Ashenheim: He said that he went into Howell's room at about 3.35pm and made the arrest. There were several crevices through which he looked. He looked through three crevices and Ewart looked through one. One particular crevice was about six inches by one inch. The others might have been smaller or larger. The accused, Thompson, did not say 'forgive,' but said 'give'. His Honour: 'Where did you take the marked money from? - Out of the bag, sir.' 'Where did you take the £5 15s 6d from Thompson? - At Howell's house.

Rhoda Howell's evidence: She stated Daniel Howell is her husband. Some time during September, her husband told her something. Rhoda said she first saw Thompson on the 4th October, 1923. Martin and her husband came with him. They came about eight o'clock. On the same day her husband gave her some tablets and a phial with ointment, and told her something. She put the tablets and ointment aside. Her husband gave her a pint of rum, a candle, a pound of sugar, and a pound of rice to put down. Her husband and the two defendants came in at about eight. Rhoda was in her bed. Thompson took off his jacket and came to her bedside and took her hand and felt her pulse. Thompson said that she was dying, and the case was heard, but he would try. Thompson put his hand on her heart and said that it was beating three degrees above normal. Thompson asked her husband for the things he told him to prepare. Her husband gave him a bottle of rum, a candle, a pound of sugar, and a pound of rice. Thompson opened the rum and went to the door and came in back and lighted the candle, and put it on top of the pan. Thompson threw out some of the rum and gave it to her husband. Thompson took the rum, sugar, and rice to the door, and on returning said: 'Go, spirit, go! and leave the woman alone.' Thompson took out his Bible and gave it to her husband to read. Thompson said that he was going to sign his name and went to the door and blew his whistle three times and came in back and said that he would have to remove her for too many ghosts were there. Thompson also said that the ghosts were playing with her too much, and he was ready to go. Thompson put on his jacket and said: 'I catch all of them; 1, 2, 3, and 5, I catch all of them.' Her husband asked Thompson if he had caught all of them, and he said 'yes'. Rhoda saw her husband hand some money to Thompson who gave it to Martin. Rhoda does not know how much money it was. Martin put the money in her bag. A while after Williams and a detective came in. Williams asked Thompson what he was doing there. Rhoda did not hear the answer. Williams asked him what was the candle burning there for. Williams took Thompson's bag and opened it and asked him where he got the money from. Thompson said that he got it from a cow that he sold. Thompson was arrested by Williams. Thompson knelt at her bedside and was praying. Rhoda said she did not hear the prayer. Rhoda said Martin had the bag. Martin said that her husband spent a lot of money but did not come to the right man. Cross-examined by Ashenheim: Rhoda didn't hear her husband say she had been ill for over a year. She said Thompson didn't kneel down at her bedside and start to pray after he was arrested. She said she didn't hear the Psalm her husband was reading. She said there was something the matter with her ears.