1988

Mr. Gaston Johnston represented defendant.. He did not know what obeah was, only what "is defined in the Ordinance; any pretended assumption of supernatural power or knowledge."

Port of Spain Gazette

13/11/1907

Content:

Johnston asked Sergeant Major Eversley, the complainant, whether he knew what supernatural power was assumed in this case; he did not. Johnston also asked whether Eversley had ever taken bush medicines, like serio blossoms drawn in tea. 'No. I suppose Mr. Johnston means bush medicines made by this class of people', replied Eversley. Johnston: 'I do not mean that at all. See how prejudiced you are - "this class of people".' Johnston pressed further and made Eversley admit that he would take bush medicine if prescribed by a doctor, and that he also ate watercress, which is cooling and healthy, and good for the kidneys.

Johnston: 'If a man were to advise someone to take water cresses, that it was cooling medicine, you would not say that he was working obeah?'

Eversley: No.

Eversley had not had the pieces of evidence analysed. 'He did not know what leaves were in the canary.'

Defendant here drank some liquid from the canary in court.

Mr. Johnston: Don't drink all! (laughter)

'Complainant continuing said, he would not say that the liquid in the canary was obeah. He did not know what was in the pitch oil tin. The liquid stank. He had not heard of 'Maporit'. He knew the bush called gully root. He knew it was used here as a remedy by some people. He would not call that herb obeah. He knew that 'maporit' stunk. The little tin contained liquid. --- He could not say that it contained obeah. --- He knew that among other things, rum, florida water, coloured candles, eggs, and the liquid in the bottles were used in the practice of obeah. --- He did not know how the articles were used. "The things in question were not especially restricted to the practice of obeah."'

Mr. Johnston said that the warrant was bad and irregular, because at the time that complainant applied for the warrant he had no idea or knowledge as to what really was in defendant's house. Also, they had no permission to arrest White, or to prevent him from observing the search.

Johnston claimed that the case was based on a conspiracy between Brown, a known criminal, and Eversley, who was thought of as an obeah expert.

Judgement reserved until 23rd instant; bail allowed.