New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-18
SUPERSTITION AND CRUELTY-ATTEMPrED
SACRIFICE OF AN ENGLISH CHILD.
l,, of 1ht London Daily New

c. ndCDc. Of 1h. London Daily News.
RoME, Jan. 23 1853.
striking and almos. incredible example of the in
vocston of dabOc aid, under circumstances when
beiray great degree of avarice and cruelty has re-
Gently occurred on the shores "t the Adratc, III the
province of La Mares.
A lady of some property residing generally at Aqua
Ssnta IN the Papal dominions, but bordering on tue
Neapolan Territory, in which she also has property,
has become po sessed with the strongest convection
that in some part of her estates there Is hidden
treasure OF enormous yaue but that all her attempts
at its discovery systematically opposed by evil
spirits. Having been informed by some trust"oty
old woman who bears the reputation OF being a
sfJeea or witch, that nothing can allay the spite oi
these hostile Spirits aud lead to the discovery OF the
treasure except sacrificing to them male chlld oil
good and under ak year OF age, tins treas
ureseeking sgnora has been for some months IN quest
Of child adapted for her purpose and not too closely
guarded for her kidnapping Intentions About
month ago she cast her evil eye upon fine little boy
belonging 70 an Epglsh lady residing at Porto di
FermO and skillluy watching her opportunity. , cam
trlysd TO snti.o the child away wnlle ranpHhS viii
its mother, and playing about on the seashore Ihe
copserDation Of the mother at the chlds disappear
ance may be easily imagined. Her husband being alb
sent from home at the time she sent ayoung man, her
sen-iraw, quest of the child and of the treasure
seeker who bad in, eigled him away. Toward nigh
the Young yan succeeded in tracing the fugitive to
solitary house at considerable distance, into which
he cIdeayored TO obtain admlttance but was re-
pulsed by the hostile demonstrations Of body
armed rctaners lie then proceeded to the neighbor-
police With sufficient force OF whom he returned to
the solitary house but too late TO arrest the kidnap-
prs, who had decspped with their victim Mean
wbilc the father of the child returned to his home,
and having Il kaIncd the catastrophe, came out likewise
in bot pursuit. which resulted, after several days
search in The discovery Of the hiding place OF the lady
and child, at curates house IN the NeapollIsn do
mDiCns.
During this interval the lady's house at Aqua
SaLta subjected TO Judicial search and evidence
was obtained that the child was to have been sacri
feed there on Christmas Day. An altar had been pre-
pared with torches and all kinds of accessories,
t. immediate the boy to Satan An ambuscade was
established around the dwelling in consequence of this
horrible revelation, and party kept constantly on the
watch, i'll the lady shouc return to her habitua
rceidcnCe.
Meantime the father having come up with the fug-
tyts, demanded his child from the curate who har-
bored them; but the priest refused to comply, except
On condition of full pardon to the lady. Unwilling
70 pass over TO heinous transaction, the nfurated
father appealed without delay TO the bishop of the dp,
c.se, who took instant measures to- rescue the child
and to arrest the lady, who j, undergoing trial
ior stregoReo, or wcbcrait aud will most likely he
punished accordingly.
TIE Pope takes the greatest interest in the proceed
Bgs, ard is puDcuslly informed OF every point Of In
teicst developed by the examination. The child was
sbsent from home about five days, duing which time
the mother nearly lost her senses, and has hardly yet
recovered her tranquility. She is the sister OF an
English gentleman who has been for many years en-
gsced r of the banking establishments OF Rome.