The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-06-12
fras Al Engbe' p'prr.l
VITO HCRAFI.

htthe Monmouth Assi1es, William Watkins, a
restcrtsl1ie far,ncI John Pros-vr, a constable
t"ofnas Jenkins. aud Henry Evsus, Servants
"rte charged win a r,o', aud uuh ASSEMBLING
Naiy Nicholas
Mr. Msue sad, the prosecntriS was a very \
ged ierale whom the prisoners had most absutd-
" tsnclrndto liz a wttch aud the PRISONER, Wat.
kuts. having had srvcraliv vt h,s cattle die sud.
drnlv, hncied that she had bewIichcd them Tn.
dei ihm no''on the ioar prisoners came up to this
unfortunate nld woman on the road and drag
god her by orce 10 the ioid-yard Of the prisonrr
Watkins. ~ this great cpocourse OF persons
"efe attracted, as the scene Of inis outrage Vas
enfy one nile from Abe,gayeuny. When tue,
Ind goi her there, they placed her behind ., COT,
aud ohltPed her To kueri on the pround and ~
tie animals iall Ia her maud. snd vcpcat some
toim OF prayer, winch was 20 protccJ the cattn.
AGAINST her spells This she did aud the prl.
sonrrsf under the stupid notion that # you draw
witch sblood SHE cduu,t hurt ,uu took q houg
of Il wild-fose ga 81 a hedge and they drew ttis
across her ann, So ms 10 make il bleed They
fhen proceeded ~ strip ihc upper part Other
person. Tor the purpaer of finding a suppnsca
nik where sh su,k ell m,s, OF some sor, Vi
.ngs 81 another world, when they had cut IA
some o. the unfortunate creatures hair. the,
'oaod want On her head. which they said wa,
II ipon this they proposed TO duck her,
but al the earnest entreates Other daur ltrr they
ct her 90. Il was most fortunate for the prison.
crs that they did no carr thor attention o fdnck
ing hr into effect, as if death had cusued, they
would have every one been most seriously an.
swerabe for that offence
Mary Nicholas very hearty looking old wo-
man, but evidently Of extreme old are, said
an ninety year OF age. | reside at LlandiniSt
winch rs one mn rom Aberraycnny; | was
attacked IN the road by the four prisoners, wno
drag ed me along sometimes pulling aud some.
time pushing me, all they got me 10 Mr.. Wat
kins rick fold as we were going there q r,ent
number OF persons collected round us: when
they got me 20 the rick fd they took me to a
par of where colt was and they held me
down on my knees I'LL blessed the colt: one OF
thcm GOT Il bfler from the hedge, aud drew il A.
eros IN, ann. 50 as TO make it bleed nv arm
VAS covered with slood they then stripped me
10 the waist, aud searched me all over with their
bands aud could feel that they cut some my
hair of; | was very much frightened
Evan Evans said--l was present and sawwhat
occurred saw the prisoners dragging the old
woman along, aud about 20 person, were bv
On ihrlT taking her into the rick-flid Nr Wa.
klns SAID, (Ponfng 10 some cattle winch we're IT,
las dead, " There is some Of your work ~ She
vas then placed on hon knees, behind the colt
md she hskcd what she was TO do. The prison
er Watkins lcplrd, Z" You must ssy Cod A.migh.
", which IS ia HI .,y"n, bless the colt" Wat.
klns then drew q hrier out uf the hedge, and
passed 1t gently across her arm. They then
stopped oil neI clothes aud sand they wrrclooL
ing ol the mark Of where the devils sucked
1ney found something Ola mark ON her t., ad.
and said " there II Is" They then talked of
durhing her but SAID to Watkins " mind what
YOU ar abaut,itnr fanny thing 'pprnS o. will be
ace thing The OLE woma, s'dE,rg ht r came
up, and Al her entrearies, the prisoner suffered
The old woman to depart
Mi. ltu,sei. tor ,he defendants, said H. could
mol deny the assault, ard lhaj h. wa, much sur.
piised 10 md lhai So much superstition could
'ssisi either IN England OF Wales, II should
however be recolec,ed that Que of the most EN-.
inc Judges that ever sat III this country (Sm
Matthew Hoe believed in all this lDsurdit, as
implicitly as tine prisoners could do, and that
the prisoners had acted IN firm belief that the
poor old woman was wien, was quite clear
lhs p isonrrs had offered every compensation IA
ten power since they had been convinced of
thu delaslon under which dies had laborcd. but
that they had not been acccded to by the prose.
cutofs.
Nh Baron Vaughan said that be thought the
rot was not proved but that beyond all question
there had oeen most brutal assault committed
That the prisoners mad acted under q deluson
founded On superstition was quite clear aud be
regretted that thay there wasany one IN the king
dom who should have been so deporaoly igno-
ant rs 10 hars fallen INTO such an error.-Vcr-
diet, gully If tn assault only.
NJ. Baron Vaughan said, from the extreme
SinEulaIlty Of In cast, he must tahe time to con.
sidel o. the sentence.