New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-27
strange Imp0stuTe.



An o'clock on Friday night last ! was called
upon TO 60 and Wei; grl A. the navy yard who
aid 20 have been be ~i-chsd Ia some extraoT binary
msnner and had, during the day and evening, thrown
fhs whole negaborhoOd into the greatest c0nssrns-
ton by der magical powers. Inc girl apparently sbou,
II years OF age, from time - time was seized With yiO
lent commissions. msniiesting much pain and great
anxiety 10 seize upon something With her night hand
Az soon any person ner while In this
dron she would seize upon some part OF bis dress
and pulling with sort Of snriek would Immediately
extract pD, and then, eyncng the greatest delight n
showing Il for moment - Zoe bystsncers toes II into
her mouth and swallow T. After this she would re-
lapse for nile into state OF rspose. OF the hundreds
Of persons present during the day and night All test
ted the appearance OF pins sometimes bright
pins sometimes crooked, and sometimes straight
Many thought u s0r-e Illusion, arising from q mes
merle operation upon all who entered the chamber ,
others that they real pins Of satanic manufacture
An old soo,hssyer hsd been called 70 exercise the ma
lignsnt spirit but AL the sbiuraOns and arts OF this
black bedane utterly unavsilng SIN the pins
came and ycat Her mouth was examined by physi.
cian who pronounced n free from pins, hnd altogether
IL seemed Uncomfortable mystery. Upon arriving -
the house which sui beset by tee lovers Of the
marvellous though nearly midnight. the woman OF the
house protested against making spectacle 81 the girl
10 use her own language but she way, an1
At the girls beside, waiting recurrence Of toe
convusOns. We bad not waited long before the conyu
sions on aud several voices cried don't point IT
her don't touch her throws her into the greatest
agOnles p with her usual snreks. she seized Dr. M.'s
knee extracted pin, and cnucklipg with satisfaction,
threw II into her mouth.
Being prepared to q vi legerdeman, !
watched her hands and movements narrowly, not a.
lowing myself To be diverted By her coniOrtOns and
shreks, or the remonstrances Of her sister, as she
called her) noticed, the first extraction q pin,
that her fore and middle fingers closed in pecu
liar manner and tina, the operation entirely unlike
the drawing Of min from persOas clothes, sud co.,
cluded the pin concealed between her fore and
middle fngers-n fact the common chids play Of
pushing pins into .he legs and taking them out Of the
ears, &c. with the exceptions OF the commissions AM
shrieks then placed myself near her, and sne soon
proceeded n her commissions, and 10 take pin rJn
my knee This time, before her fingers fairly touched
my knee saw toe pin between her fingers, but said
nothing allowing the poor creature TO go on with her
imp0sture unmOlested. her sister, apparently the
woman OF the house, constantly imyOre1 the bystand
ere not 70 point at her or touch her. gentleman.
during the evening wishing 10 satisfy himself that u
real pin which she had extracted eBdeavored %
seize 2, sui she was quick for him throwing .
dexerously into her mouth and then falling into the
moot violent fits If c0nvulsions
! waited Tor one more pindrawiug before retiring. |
Her fingers open. and evidently pins 100 |
her hand u was lOlg time before sue had a pm H. |
but after while she comp aimed of being cold and put
her hands under the bedcoshes but sue did no, wait
long u get warm and soon put her hands cat, the |
fingers OF her lei; hand spread open somewhat and the
fore and middle fingers 81 ner right hand being pressd
together. she soon cOnvulsed again, and took the |
pin (siter her own 0ode) from the cap OF The gentle
man stsndingby Though disguised With the doprayity
Of girl young and not unaitrsctye In her appear
snce could not but be amused ~ the expressions of
wonder fear and pity Of the persons present Not
ing 10 make disturbance retired without exposing
the miser able seInpLst the Black Art meaning howe
ever 10 expose ia another way all concerned My
friends were fully deluded all the while, and could
hardly admit the deception when explained to them
Give 10 the strongest mind bat tngs OF superstition
or belief Ia what exceeds natural results and
onsuch occasions they almost invariably bercit OF
shcewdness and tact sometimes eminenily displayed
other occasions
There IL believe that the girl alone 10
this mschlevous prank those about her seem desi
o preventing such steps would les1 10
upon tho spot
have been thus particular in the details OF this sin
guar Affair that the many cTedUlOUs yisiters 10 this
witch may upon careful recollection OF the circum
sances make out the results for themselves and that
such despcshle srtinces whether Tor the purpose OF
eicitng charity anything clsei may meet the jusi
condemnation OF the community In which these per
sons reside CHAS. G.. PAGE
UasAtaQfOu. Dee ~ Ist-