Page:Folklore1919.djvu/604

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238
Things seen through Glass.

a signed statement from her. A day or two afterwards he met me and said he would pursue the matter no further, as he found that what the woman said she saw was seen by her by looking through the window. He then added, "You can't swear to what you see through glass. It's not legal. You know that very well!" He evidently considered he had stated such a well-known legal proposition that, as a lawyer, I must recognise its force at once.

Wm. Self. Weeks, F.S.A.

Westwood, Clitheroe, Lancashire.




A Case of Foundation Sacrifice.

The Publicity Bureau has issued the following Note:

"Foolish rumours have been about Madras now for a week to the effect that a child was to be sacrificed at the site of the new bridge. The rumours apparently took their rise in the fact that one Mahomedan and three Hindu children have been missing in Madras and have not yet been traced, though the circumstances attending their disappearance did not suggest foul play. But once rumour had got about false alarms began to be raised whenever a child slipped out of sight for a few minutes. Thus people's minds became excited and they fell into a panic. As a result, in the last two days several innocent people have been savagely assaulted by excited crowds in different parts of the town, having come under suspicion for perfectly innocent actions. Thus, one man seen carrying his own child on a motor cycle was stopped and assaulted. A person appears to have been beaten to death.

"The Commissioner of Police has taken all possible steps to restore confidence, and the Corporation has been invited to assist. It is hoped that all members of the public will help in allaying this foolish panic which has already had such tragic consequences. Investigations show no reason to suppose that any gang of kidnappers is at work in Madras. To calm the public alarm special precautions are being taken and special vigilance is being exercised."—Madras Mail, 20th March, 1920.