Probe by State in Lancaster Extended

Climaxing their activities with a general exodus during the last two weeks, the ring of voodoo artists disappeared with large sums collected from the superstitious, Heilman claimed.

 

The  alleged base of operation in this county was located along the Lincoln Highway, three miles west of this city. This was operated, officials say, by Mrs. Frank Lane,a sister of the famous Madame J. Burton of Palmyra, the investigators claimed.

 

Lane House Deserted

 

Upon visiting the Lane home they found it deserted, with practically all of the furniture removed, exactly as they found the four other alleged bases of operations of the "hex doctors", the two investigators explained.

 

Expressing the belief that many persons here were duped by members of the "hex ring", Heilman declared, but few of the victims have come forward because of their desire to avoid publicity.

 

According to Heilman, data obtained shows that the ring was well organized and operated efficiently, well timing every detail of its plot from the beginning to the very exodus.

 

Madame Burton and her three sisters first attracted their victims through palm readings, and in this way found many willing to give them real money for "hex remedies" and weird treatments.

 

The first treatments were administered for sums ranging from $50 to $500. When these failed to work the "hex queens" agreed upon new treatments which required the "use" of sums ranging from $2000 upwards.

 

When the money first was produced the "hex doctors" cleverly refused to take it, insisting the victim take $50 of their own money, add it to the larger sum and keep it in the home of the victim for periods ranging from one month to two days. Then the money was returned to the witch doctor who agreed to keep it in her possesson for a similar period and then return it safe to the owner.

 

Heilman and Balmer will return to Lancaster for the purpose of concluding their investigation of the operation of the ring in this vicinity, they said.  Police are investigating the disappearance of Miss Kleiser of Lebanon, a store clerk, who was said to have been among the victims duped by Madame Burton of Palmyra.

 

According to the mother of the missing woman her daughter has been despondent since police began investigating the actions of Madame Burton. The two were close friends and often appeared together in public, she said.

 

She had paid $125 to Madame Burton, investigators declared.1