The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-13 00:00:00

WITCHCRAFT,

A belief in the black art is more common than
most people suppose. A Surrey magistrate gives
the following sample of what occurred lately in his

parish :
A labourer living in L-- L-- called upon me and
said, that I bad better look after the rough music they
were giving M---, or some mischief would come of it.
I inquired, " What is it all about 7 "—" Ob, you had
better see into it yourself,. for I don't like to have any;
thing to do with such things."
I accordingly walked up to M—'s house, and asked
him if he had anything to complain of t—" Yes, a pretty
deal ; and I'll be blowed if I don't do fur some on 'em."
"Don't take the law into your own hands, but trust
to me and you shall be protected. But what is it all
about ?"—" Oh', some nonsense they talks on about
wife."

"What have you been doing to E—'s wife I"
' Why, nothing at all ; I hav'nt seen the woman this
,welvemonth."

" Have you had any dispute with her husband ? "
"Oh, there was a few words about a little job I did for
him—mending his dungspit, but that's all right."
,4 What do they do to you now ? "—" Oh, they makes
a noise and clatter with bones and cleaver; and hammers
and all manner, and neither I nor my neighbours can
sleep."

"Do you_know any of their names ?"—" Oh yes, but
what's the use of that It's E— sets them on."
I returned home and sent for E--, and told him
that 111-- was much annoyed by people making a
noise, atd that he said that he E— set them on.
" Sarve him right, too."

" Why ?"—" Why ? Why, because there he comes
every night to my house and whirls my wife out of bed,
takes her clean through the window, keeps her till four
o'clock in the morning, and then brings her home."
"Ake you not ashamed, an old man like you, to talk
such nonsense ?"—" Ah, but he does, though."
"The last'time I passed your way you told me your
wife was very ill ; is she will now ?"—"Ay, and so she
was very ill, and all on account of that villain Nl—;
but I'll shoot 'un next time he comes."

. "You must do no such thing ; tell me what be. does,
and I will see him punished if in the wrong,; but if you
fire at him and kill him you'll be hanged."—" Oh, bless
you, there's no fear of that ; you can't kill them kind of
people ; they've nine lives, like a cat."
" Do you see him take your wife away I"
you, I'm asleep."

" No, bless

" Can't she awake you 1"—" No, he flies off so quick
with her." -

" Had you not better tie her arm to yours, so that
she cannot go without awaking you 1"—" That's no use
with them people,"

" Did your wife tell you it is M.— who takes her I"
—"No, she don't know who it is, and when she comes
back, poor thing,.she's ail in a pucker, like."
"Then, what ground have you for saying that M---
takes her away 1"—" Ah, because that blessed man,
showed him to me.'",

. .
" Wbat blessed man ?"—" Why, him as cured 'her,
after Mr. D—, and Mr. L—, and all the doctors had
tried and I had spent my last shilling on.'em."
" Row did he show you ?"—" Well now I'll tell you.
We took a horseshoe and made it red hot; then he shut
the shutter, then he put the shoe into some dirty water,
and asked me whose face it was I saw in the smoke, and
I'll be Wowed if it warn% M—'s."
" Did you pay this man anything for showing you
M—'s face ?"--"No ; I paid him a pound for curing
my wife."
_ _

What is his name ?"—" Well, I don't know rightly,
but you knows him well enough ; I've seen him' your
way gathering simples."
" Did be ever cure anybody else, and show them who
it was that made them ill ?"—" Oh, yes, H—'s wife,
N—'s shepherd."
" Well, now go home, and tell your wife if M—
eyer takes her out of bed again to come to me directly,
and I will see after him."

It may be needless to add that I heard no more of
this matter.

I sent, however, for the shepherd's wife and she told
me she had been very ill for a long time, and that she
never got better till the blessed man came and shoaled
her M---'s face in the dirty water.
The witch-finder is a simple gatherer for the London
market, travelling generally from Y-- to D--, and
plays upon the credulity of many foolish peasants; as I
have told you. X.Y.Z.

, .
DEM:MINED SI7ICIDE AT SHEFFIELD.—On Saturday
morning, Mr. George Schofield, of Sheffield, table knife
manufacturer, committed suicide by hanging himself in
his house. It appears that, for some time past, Mr.
Schofield bad been drinking to- excess, and which is sup-
posed to have caused the rash act. On Saturday morning
he went out and purchased a rope, with which he re-
turned home. He then proceeded up stairs, and hung
himself from a rail at the top of the garret stairs, and
after hanging about two hours, as it is supposed, he was
discovered by his little granddaughter, who gave au
alarm, and the body was cut down. Deceased was
brother to Mr. Isaac Schofield, the town councillor.
He leaves a wife and four children.

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