Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-09-15
A STRANGE CASE.

The following article is from the
New York Express, ard the state.
ments therein made, Notwithstanding
their seeming improbability, are SUBJ
stantially true. Mr.. Faris resides
near Winchester, has arrived at the
prime Of manhood, and has, by his
own exertions, accumulated hand.
some property; and it does seem
strange that 4 man with such lib.
eral experience, should have been So
easily auped--but 50 it is. He Of.
'fers reward of one thousand dollars
for the arrest Of the woman aud her
husband, and the recovery of the
money. Here is the way in which
be was "tsken in and done for"
On the 18Th Of July, a woman,
calling herself Mrs Rivers, called,
with her husband aud two ildreu,
on "a wealthy farmer, named Heze.
kiah Faris, at bis farm in Winches.
ter, Franklin ceunty, Tennessee
The visitors were Gipsies, and made
arrangements to stop with Mr.. Far
is aud bis family awhile, having
first interested them by exhibitions
of seemingly marvellous tricks. The
host was much attracted by the ap-
psrently wonderful powers possess.
ed by tbs woman Rivers, and in less
than ,hrse days WAS oajoled by bel
into belief that treasure of $780,.
900 WAS secreted on his farm, and
that it could be regainsd by proper
witch process. For the accomplish.
ment of this object, Faris' ambition
was soon fred, and he and the Gypsy
WOMAN Immediately set about the
course Of the Incarnation.
Three thousand dollars in golt
was necessary for the purpose-se hs
was made to believe-and as hi
did not happen to have the money
at hand, he borrowed the whole sun
Of q neighbOr, getting sl,295 il
bank bills, and Sl,705 in gold coin
At night the woman Rivers and him
self entered q room alone, With I
lighted candle, and locked the doc
against intrusion. A trunk previ
ously provided was then opened, ant
the incantatieD commenced. TIL,
process was carried on by the NO
man at first, who tied the money VI
in a coarse light handkerchief anc
united it several times, meanWAil,
turning about with quick mo,isns
and constantly uttering some IN
ineligible gibberish. When thi
fanatical performance was ended. sh'
and Faris kuslt while she blasphe
nausly offered prayer, ADDRESSED
in oil mock solemnity to the Give
Of all.
The bundle she had apparentl,
made Of the money was tben in du
form deposited in the trunk, whicl
was locked and che retained the key
Together they then left the reom
she having previously impressed hin
with the belief that the deposit jus
made in the trunk should rest ther'
uudisturbed by mortal hands for tel
days, at the expiration of which tim'
if he had unalterably adhered TO he
instructions, be would find the cove
ted 100000 on opening the trunk
At the end of the third day o
their stay there, the Gypsy family
departed, the key Of the trunk being
taken with them. After the wo
man had gone. il seems that Fari'
grew suspicious that perhaps all wat
not right in the transaction; but hs
nevertheless overcame his doubts
aud awaited vith all the patience he
could summon for the arrival Of the
time when he could see himself
whether be was duped or not. He
kent the matter to himself for the
remainder Of the ten days, and then
the trunk was forced open. There
lay within it the identical parcel be
had seen put there by the woman
Rivers. A. slight notion Of sail
right" touched bis feelings. and no
fastened to open the covering, and
10! there was-not the 100000 nor
the 5000 dollars, bat trash equal in
bulk to-the money be had intrusted
to the hands Of the false woman Riy-
ers.
He cast about at once to find the
female that had thus cajoled him,
bat the bird had flown, and VAS