Litchfield enquirer., 1858-03-04

Superstition,

A striking and almost incredible example of the invocation of diabolcal aiG, under cir cumstances, which betrayed great degree o1 avarice and cruelty, has recently occurred on
 the shores of the Adriatic, in the province oi La Marcha.
 A lady of some property, resided generally at Aqua Santa, in the Papal deminions. but
 bordering on the Mcarolitan territory, in which she also has property, has become possessed of the strongest conviction that in some part of 1 her estate there is a hidden treasure of enor- mons sane but that all her attempts arc sys- tematcally opposed by evil spirits. Having iaaeeu Informed -by1some trustworthy old woman,
 who bears the reputation of being witch, that nothing can alay the spite of hostile spr- its and lead to the discovery of the treasure
 except sacrificing to them male child of good
 parentage and under six years of age, this treasurc-seeking senora has been for some six months in quest of child adapted for her pur-
 pose, and not too closely guarded for her kid mapping intentions. About month ago she , cast her evil eye upon fine little boy hrlong- ing to an English lady residing at Porto di fermo, aud skillfuly watching her opportunity eontrlved to entice the child away whilst raill- blng With its mother, and playing on the sea-
 shore. The constcrnation of tue mother at the chlld,s disappearance may be easily imagined Her husband being absent from homo at the time, she sent young man. her son-ill-law, inquest of the chid and of the treasure-se. ker who had inveigled him away Towards night the young man succeeded in tracing the fugitive to solitary house at considerable distance,
 into which he endeavored to obtain admittance hu Sn1 1,vt ho f; of armed retaincrs, He then proceed to the
 neighboring town of Asco, to procure the as si>tance of the police, with sufficient force of whom he returned to the solitary house, but too late to arrest the kidnappers who had de-
 campcd with their victim. Meanwhile, the father of the child returned to his home, and
 having learnt the catastrophe, came out like
 wise ill hot pursuit, which resulted in the dis
 covery of the hiding place of the lady and child at cuiate's house in the Nea, o,itan domin-
 ions.
 During this interval the lady's house, at Aqua Santa was subjected to judicial search
 and evidence was obtained that the child was
 to have been sacrificed there on Chris tmas-day.
 An a!tlr had been prepared with wax torches
 and all kinds of accessories, to immolate the boy to Satan An ambuscade was established aronnd the dwelling in consequence of this hor-
 rsble revelation, and party kept constantly
 on the watch, in case the lady should return to her habitual residence.
 In the meantime the father having come up F with the fugitives, demanded lis child from the eurate who harbored them but the priest
 refused to comply, except on condition of a full pardon to the lady. Unwilling to pass over so heuous transaction, the infuriatel father ap-
 peared withoat delay to the bishop of the
 diocese, who took instant measures to rescne
 the child. and to arrest the lady who is s1pisssa pssa
 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 ofinterest developed by the examination. The child was absent from home about five
 days during which time the mother nearly lost
 senses, and mad hardly yet recovered her tran l qulllity. She is the sister of an English gen
 teman, who has been for many years engaged in one of the banking establishments of Rome