Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-09-13

remark of Mackenzie, that " the crime is so
odious that they are never assisted or defended
by their relations" We find this exemplifed
in the conduct of Jane Wenham's cousin,
Archer, and shall soon find similar conduct,
even on the part of her own daughter
We now return to Mr. Bragges narrative
{" AS Mr. Chauncy.was talking with Jane
Wenham, pressing her to take off the charm,
and release the maid from her torments, if it
was in her power (as she seemed to hint it was
by saying she should be welD he observed that
a pin came into her fingers Il make use of his
own words, which now transcribe from an ac
count of this matter written by his own hand,
he knew not how, for he was very sure she
plucked it out nowhere, nor had it in her hands
before; at which he snatch d it from her, say
ing, Are you going to bewitch her again with
this pin?' And the maid crying out for her
blood, he took Jane Wenhams arm, and ran
the pm into it six or seven times; finding she
never WINGED for it, but held her arm as still as
blood come, he ran it in a great many times
more still no blood came, but she stood talk
ing and never minded it. Then again he ran
it in several times more at last he left it in
her arm, that all the company might see it run
up to the head and when he plucked it out
before them all there just appeared q little
thin watery serum, out nothing that you could
call blood Thus far Mr.. Chauncy, after this
Jane Wenham was sent away, who passed the
rest of the night in singing and dancing, as she
had done some nights before, saying the maid
should be well that night,
cit was now thought high time to put the
mittimus in execution against Jane Wenham
(who had been respited two days upon her con-
fession), and to send her to goal but before
she went off, Mr.. Gardiner, Mir. Strut, Mr.
Chauncy, and Mr.. Bragge, went together to
her at the White Horse, while Mr.. Strut put
her in mind of her former confession, Az, per-
suaded her to give glory to God bya full ,,od
sincere discovery, but to no purpose, she ,J2ing
full of equivocations aad evasions, now confess
ing and anon denying what she had conf'st.-
She was particularly asked in what manner she
made contract with the devil? but we could
make nothing Of her answer, save that an old
man did spit upon her. Being again desired by
Mr. Strut to tell him exactly, to the best Of
her remembrance, the time when she entered
into covenant with Satan, she said it was about
sixteen years ago. She owned also, as before,
| that it was an envious and wicked mind that
gave the devil this advantage over her Being
asked more particularly, she would give us no
direct answer, but said we lay in wait for her
lille, and 'couM hang her from her olcn mouth
After this her daughter came to her, and
brought her Common Prayer Book, which
she with tears desired her to make the best use
of she scould, and prepare for death by re.
pentance but the mother, instead of showing
the least signs of arelcnting mind, or conccn
for the sad condition she was in, gave hel
daughter such base, wicked look us am no
able to describe, and babe her mind what she
said to her about some flax, hemp, and Other
goods, which she disposed of with the creates
unconcernedness, and away she went.
Jane Wenham was thus safely lodged in IIet
ford jail, but Anne Thorne continued to be tor
mented she fell into fits she saw cats rounC
her bed, her sheets were strewn with crooked
pins, and her pillow was stuffed with unnatura
cakes of feathers matted together. The cake
were burnt, and g the maid was better, and haC
no more fits till the assizes, but still was dis
turbed with the noise ofscratchings and appear
ances OF cats till Mr.. Ctduncy killed ono o
than that knocked al the door, and after that th
dismal cries ceased" Mr.. Braggc proceeds
" Leave we now Juno Wenham in the gaolcr
custody, and let us see what is done at home
Anne rhorne continued to have her fts, lu
was recovered as usual by prayers and thi
night was a discovery made moresurprising tina
anything that has yet been related. As thes
unaccountable passages brought to mind severe
old stories of witches, it was among other thing
remembered, that strange things nave pee
found in the pillow of the person bewitche'
This put their curiosity upon searching ii
maids pillow (Which, must observe, was Ii
tie down pillow, which Mrs Gardiner had he
self newly stufed). This was accordingly dom
and there was found In the down a great mau
cakes of small feathers, 50 closely joined togctl
er that an ordinary force could not pull the
{ asunder The particular account of this Fo
prsing appearance, the reader may expect whC
) we come to speak of Mr.. Rragge's evidence
the trial, he having spent half an hour the me-
morning in viewing and comparing two Of tho
cakes to each othrr with more than ordinal