| The Case of the Gris-Gris Gone Bad "The Gris-Gris: Voodoo Charm Fails to Work and the Recorder's Office is Resorted to." Taken from The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, July 7, 1887 |
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| The Gris-Gris Voudou Charm Fails to Work and the Recorder's Office is Resorted to Yesterday, before acting Recorder Sambola, was tried the case of the state against William Hastings, charged with obtaining $4 in cash and a gold ring and a Meerschaum pipe from Mrs. Louise Tillman, residing at No. 111 Independence Street, under false pretenses. The complainant stated that she gave the articles to Hastings in order to voudou an enemy of hers, she being a believer in voudouism. The fraud obtained money from her, but the charm failed. Hastings was then engaged to work upon the enemy and exterminate him. He at times obtained small amounts of money from his dupe until he secured $4. His method was to inform Mrs. Tillman that the "gris-gris," or evil spirit, was doing the required work, but to make a successful job he wanted a gold ring and pipe, and as those articles would pass through her hands, by simply touching the skin of the party to be put out of the way, the latter would die. He got the articles, but as the party still lives, he was arrested. After hearing the story, the court fined Hastings $25 or 30 days as a suspicious character and Mrs. TIllman $10 or 20 days for trifling with the court, and severely reprimanded her for resorting to such foul means to injure another. The prisoners were remanded. |
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