Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-07-30

rOr OF russia Is soon T. drrlNC2lm tllat CHy,
to attend family conference touching the
disposal of the crown after the addiction of
the King.
The announcement of peace was read in
both houses of Parliament aud received
with prolonged cheers ;..
-s--.---S -.
From the Anderson Gazette.
Witchcraft in the Nineteenth Century.
This caption will doubtless cause aston
isllmcnt with some of our readers, and for
fear that they will conclude that VIC have
some startling revelation to make in regard
to witches and witchcraft at this time, we
will hasten all explanation The following
letter we find in the notes appended to Vol
umc III Statutes at Large for the State of
South Carolina, which edition was under
the editorial care of the learned Dn Thom-
rs Cooper, who seems to have examined
carefully into the laws relating to witches,
and to have taken some interest therein
We have no room iii the prcsentFissue for
an explanation of the remarkable lawapass-
cd on this subject and now of force in thfs
State, which arc cited in the volume before
us; and neither have we space for the as
founding references made in the appended
notes of DR.. Cooper At another time VIC
will cndcavor to present, as suTtablc ac-
compartment to this letter, such portions
of these laws and facts as BJF Be readable.
We quote the document allalcd to, ahd
leave the reader to his own rHieetionss
WNNsBoRo, April 2G, 1857. Pear
Sir: In reply TO yours of the 22d, an
swer that | was never concerted in case
of witchcraft Some years age, Stephen
ID. Miller, Esq, defended segen or eight
persons who were indictcd'at Lancaster for
assault, battcfY and false imprisonmcnt.-
The defence was, that an ola woman, tho
prosecutriX, residing in Chestcrfcld had
matrcatcd, by diabolical arts, poor girl
residing in Lancaster; and shat; theper-
sons. indicted, acting from the. best ad{lce
procurpblc, went to the old woman, gently
laid their hands on her, and Brought her
into lnncasteB to touch the abused girl,
and saY over hcr,,sH God bless you !" Thnt
with the proper ceremony, and>the girl in-
stantly recovered. Judge David Johnson
presided, and i suppose, wish . view to
look somewhat into the grounds Of defence
as matter of curiosity, permitted tho girl
to be sworn She testified that bel ia.
tigucd one evening at her labors, sh ry
down to rest Barbara Powers, the'pros,c,D-
triX, came in and sat upon hcrand checked her
with great violence. After this, Barbara
raised her up, converted her into horse,
rode her to Lancaster village, went through
the kcy-hole into several shops, brought out
goods of great value, loaded her with them,
and rode her into Chesterfield with her
booty. Barbara subsequently rode her to-
Chemw, and proceeding in like manner,
obtained bags of goods, and rode her back
TO her residence. With the severity of hcr
almost inccssant hardshlps in the service of
the Si&hyher health and strength greatly
dcclined' Here the Judge intcrposcd, and
cut off all further testimony. This hap
pcncd about the year 1913 or 1914,
In the year 1892, witches abounded Ira
Fairfield. Many n poor girl was Thought
to be esadly afflicted by these miscreants,
and not few young persons of the other
sex. In fact, to so great length did
they carry their terrible enmitics to a nu-
mcrous list of individuals, that to relieve
the sufferers, it was was deemed necessary
to give the witches trial, and if found
guilty of the charges alleged against them
to punish them with signal severity. In
'''"S JS'ij L" So"'C OoHipOoCQ vi WltCIisuOC~
tors, was held at the house &c a Mr.. Thorn
as Hill, five miles below WinRsboro. -Four
persons were tried, found gnilty, and pub
ishcd with stripes and burping their feet at
a bark fire, so that the sol6s came off. L
can barely remember to. have seen one of
the sstcrhood in the hands of the officer of
this court, poor old German woman Of
70 years of age, going to the place of trial
and afterwards to have seen the scars of the
cow.skin on her arms and shoulders. The
sufferers brought suits in the county court
of Fairfield, and the defence was fully gono
into in each case. The plaintiffs recovered
nominal damages. From that day to this,
we have not had occasion to complain OF
the dealings of witch or wizard among
any of our people. / am in possession of
the bulk Of the evidence delivered on tlIa.
trial of these poor people, and if you.
it can detail it with good deal
ness. Judge johnson will no Is
member the case ofsBarbara Pamars.s
Yours, &C., p. EDw'D ON.
.------s~ N.E-- s4
MAsoNIo.-The committe n by
tho Grand Lodge and Grand 6ch
has been in session nearly the
finished their labors yesterda
and returned to their respective
The following gentlemen constitlte tho
committee A. G.. Mackay, NJ. d., and III.