Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-21

terry ordeal, the testimony was compel. =.
conclusive. The court, however. NO, -,
ing to act in SO important ma,,sr wish
improper degree of haste, adjourned w" : an
both themselves and HE jury suitaN. give
Rod Tor reflection. Pc
The. Court assembled again on II. o.,
OF October 1922, at the same place . %
the jury (named yesterday to vhon' s :,
causes had been committed, were c.u' l 'As
on to render their verdict. Elizabeth cl, Cup
son, Goody Miller. and Mrs. ct,ula. S.'R'
acquitted. But far different was The a., .'e
Mercy Disboro'gh. In regard TO ber e's q
returned verdict of guilty, as appear, f.' sy
The following extract from the records ,r 'y''
court. @e
The jury being called to make rs.
OF their indictment, that had been coms.
ted to them concerning Mercy Disboronat
they return that they find the prisoner aa so'
ty, according to the indictment, Of la,n;l;.;
ty with Satan. The jury being sent fo,s
upon second consideration of their 70.
dict, returned. that they saw no reason 70 :,
ter their verdic1, but doe find her puH,,
before. The court approved Of ,b.i, ".
dict, and the Governor passed sentenco ;,
death upon her"
Whether the unfortunate woman wac
ecuted. we could not learn from apv If q.
papers which we found. There was kov
ever, memorial to the General Court N.
Legislature) in her behalf, praying for
pardon, and setting forth various weight
reasons why pardon ought to be granted
This document was drawn up with cousids.
rable ingenuity and ability and shows H.,
this singular delusion though extensive, WA
not universal.
We hive not brought The documents upo,
which these numbers have been founded
before the public. from any motives Of lie.
witty, or from any desire to excite emotion,
OF merriment or contempt in relation TO The
credulity Of our ancestors. We regarded
the papers in our possession. as curious bis.
torical documents, which had escaped tho
historians of New England, and as contain.
ing facts, almost, if not entirely, unknown
to the present generation.
There is comparatively but little ofsuper.
stition, even among the most ignorant OF The
American public, at the present day and
OF what little remains, more is to be found
among the German population Of some Of
cur inland towns, than among people Of
English descent. Scotland and " ales, and
perhaps we may add Ireland, have been Ia.
nous, time immemorial, for stories of ghosts
witches, and all supernatural appearances.
There is, however, vast difference be.
tween that noble wildness found in ancient
tales of superstition, and the embarrassing
inspidify Of all he ghost and witch stories
which The last century and haJfhas produ.
ced The superstjtions of Scotland and
Wales, probably possess more of the ancient
spirit. than those of any other people, ey'
cepting, perhaps, the Norwegians and Lap
landers. This change in popular supersti'
tons can be easily accounted for. 1t is mos.
likely TO be found in that universal al
lowance Of pretematural visitations, which,
in former times, pervaded every rank of So.
ciety, and, of course, encouraged the great
est and most fancifui wits Of the time 10 bu.
So themselves in inveniing and recOuntirs
picturesque relations, while in modern days
since the belief Of such events has been con-
fined wholly 10 the ignorant, the poor, and
the superannuated, neither genius nor ina
gination are at hand to raise the tale one de-
gree above white sheet, or pair OF sauce'
eyes, nor ts supply the spectre with anT
language more expressive than ba! "
scratching, Knocking or flutter!Dg.
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