Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-09
A Curious Case.

The Cadiz (Ohio) Republican says that Mrs.
Burney, of Tippecanoe, Harrison county, Ohio,
a highly respectable lady, and member OF the
Presbyterian Church, during peculiar condl-
ton of her physical and mental organization,
has preached a sermon half an hour long, every
other Sunday at ten o'clock, for eighteen years.
While preaching, she reclines upon bed. Her
instructions are generally excellent, and abound
in scriptural quotations but when she recov-
ers her consciousness she has no recollection
whatever of what she has been saying. Sever
al years ago her case excited the attention of
several medical gentlemen, who, while they had
the utmost confidence in her sincerity, could
give no satisfactory of the mystery.
Register.
During our residence in Cadiz, some IA years
ago, we twice visited the residence Of Mr.. Bur-
ney, and on each occasion there must have been
over five hundred persons there to hear her
"preaching." In the morning, about or
O'Clock, she becomes sick at the stomach, and
goes to bed and for while moans and twists
herself as if suffering great pain. She then falls
into what appears to be natural sleep, and re-
mains in that condition some Is or 20 minutes,
occasionally manifestng sudden jerkings of the
BODY and contractions of the muscles of the
face, when at length she raises up in bed, and
opens her eyes, which have a wild, CLASSY ap-
pearance, similar to that of a person IN mes
meric or clairvoyant state. She then commen-
ces speaking, first in low and rather mcohe-
rent tone of voice; but III few moments her
utterance becomes clear and distinct, and her
manner quite animated. Her diseourses are
from an hour to two hours in length, and are
fully equal, in matter and manner, to the aver
age pulpit sermons Of country preachers. She
quotes the scriptures frequently, and always ac-
curatey. When she is about closing her voice
assumes the same peculiarities as when she
commenced +; she finally closes her eyes, and
falls back upon the pillow into state OF appa-
rent sleep, as at first. She remains In this con-
dition but short time, when she awakens into
her natural state, greatly fatigued, but Who'll
ly unconscious of everything that has taken
place.
We have never yet seen or heard a satisfac-
tory explanation of this most singular case ; and
we believe nothing precisely like it is reported
in any oftbe medical books That this strange
phenomenon is the result of disease, there is nc
doubt. We are told that before it manifested
itself in its present form, Mrs. Burney greatly
suffered with pains in her limbs, like rheuna
tism, which first began near the ankle joints
and gradually travelled upwards until they
reached the spinal column; from thence they
continued to work their way up until they be-
came seated in the brain, and soon thereafter
the disease assumed its present type. She Is Z
lady of natural good sense, of industrious, do
mestic habits, and ordinarily enjoys gooC
health Her husband is well.to-do farmer, IL
the western part of Harrison eounty.-Mt. Yer
non Banner.
RoBBERY.-Mr Richard Boyle, who resides
on the farm formerly owned by Samuel Lewis
Esq, in this township, was robbed Of Slss II
money, on Wednesday night last, as we learn
The Tobber raised the window of the bedroom
in which Mr.. B. slept reached in and got hi
pantalOons, from the pockets ofwhich the mon
ey was taken. On letting down the window
the thief was not careful enough, and Mr.. B
was aroused by the noise. He arose and selz
ing his loaded gun, started in pursuit of the Tas
cal without stopping to dress himself Ih'
robber ran in the direction of the barn, wher'
was an accomplice, who had been getting ou
the horses. Mr. Boyle attempted to shoot th'
fellow twice, as he pursued him, but his gul
missed fire. Mr. B. then returned to the hous'
to dress himself, and in the meantime the rob
bers made their escape.-NOriOak Reflector