Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-02-25
1lSgRh D a u q 0 US.
SHOCKING CASE OF SUPERSTI.
TION IN ITALY.

1
striking and almost incredible exam
pie of the invocation of diabolic aid, under
circumstances which betray great degree
Of avarice and cruelty, has recently occur
red on the shores of the Adriatic, in the
province of La Marca.
A lady of some property, residing gen
orally at Aqua Santa, in the Papal domin-
ions, but bordering upon the Neapolitan
territory, in which she has also property,
has become possessed with the strongest
conviction that in some part of her estates
there is hidden treasure of enormous value,
but that all her attempts at its discovery
are systematically opposed by evil spirits
Having been informed by some trustworthy
old woman, who bears the reputation of be-
ing st'ego, or witch, that nothing could
allay the spite of these hostile spirits and
lead to the discovery of the treasure except
sacrificing to them male child of good
parentage and under six years of age, this
treasure seeking signora has been for some
months in quest of child adapted for her
purpose, and not too closely guarded for her
kidnapping intentions. About a month
ago she cast her evil eye upon fine little
boy belonging to an English lady residing
at Porto di Ferno, and watching her oppor-
tunity, contrived to entice the child away
whilst rambling with its mother and playing
about on the seashore.
The CONSERVATION of the mother at the
child's disappearance may be easily imag-
ined. Her husband being absent from
home at the time, she sent young man,
her son-in-law, in quest of the child and of
the treasure seeker who had inveigled him
away. Towards night the young man sue
ceeded in tracing the fugitive to solitary
house at a considerable distance, into which
he endeavored to obtain admittance, but
was repulsed by the hostile demonstrations
of body of armed retainers. He then
proceeded to the neighboring town of Ar
coli, to procure the assistance of the police,
with a sufficient force of whom he returned
to the solitary house, but too late to arrest
the kidnappers, who had decamped with
their victim Meanwhile, the father of the
child returned to his home, and having
learnt the catastrophe, came out likewise in
hot pursuit, which resulted, after several
days research, in the discovering of the
hiding place of the lady and child at Gu
rates house in the Neapolitan dominions.
During this interval the ladys house at
Aqua Santa was subjected to judicial
search, and evidence was obtained that the
child was to have been sacrificed there on
Christmas day. An altar had been pre-
pared, with wax torches and all kinds of
to immediate the boy to Satan
An ambuscade was established around the
dwelling in consequence of this horrible
revelation, and a party kept constantly on
the watch, in case the lady should return
to her habitual residence.
In the meantime, the father having come
up with the fugitives, demanded his child
from the curate who harbored them but
the priest refused to comply, except on con-
dition of a full pardon to the lady Tn
willing to pass over so heinSus transaction,
the infuriated father appealed without de-
lay to the bishop of the diocese, who took
instant measures to rescue the child and to
arrest the lady, who is now undergoing
trial for witchcraft, and will most likely be
punished accordingly,
The Pope takes the greatest interest in
the proceedings, and is punctually informed
of every point of interest developed by the
The child was absent from
home about five days during 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 engaged in one of
the banking establishments of Rome.
4 Sad 1Misstep on the Threshold of life.
The case of Charles Albaugh, who was this
afternoon sentenced to the penitentiarv for