The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-11-07
Salem WitChcraGt.

Charles p. Upham, of Mass, has writ
zen history of the withcraft delusion.-
The beginning Of the tragic events there
with connected is thus described:
"In the winter of 1912, a circle of
young girls met frequently at Mr.. Paris
house, ostensibly to practice psalm singing,
but their principal occupation was fortune
telling aud the various arts of necroman-
cy, magic and ventriloquism, in which
they had instruction of two negro or H.
dian servants, whom Mr.. Paris brought
with him from the Spanish West India
Islands, where he was engaged in trade
One of these girls was daug hter of Mr..
Paris, nine years of age. Another was
Ann Putnam, twelve years of age. The
ages of the other girls ranged from eleven
to eighteen years. They crept into holes
and under benches, threw themselves On
The floor, went into spasms, aud uttered
strange outcries. These proceedings were
probably commenced in sport; but as the
girls became adopts, they began to attract
the attention of the neighbors, and gave
exhibitions of their new accomplishments.
From day to day they learned Few tricks.
The village doctor was called in, who,
with Mr.. Paris, concluded that the girls
we're under an evil hand The commu-
nifty was excited, and Aocked to see their
strange actions. Witch books we're IN
Mr. Paris house, and the girls probably
learned how witches in England behaved.
| The girls were now questioned as to who
had bewitched them. They named Sarah
| Good, a poor, wretche1 outcast, and Pitn-
| ba, one of the Indian servants. Whether
they named these persons under instfuc-
| tions, cannot be ascertained. The time
| was not yet come for striking at higher
game. The local magistrates inquired
into the matter, and held public exam
| ination of the two persons accused. lu
all these trials, the guilt of the accused
was assumed, and these simple people
were piled with such questions as these
by the magistrates Sarah Good, why do
YOU hurt these children 2 Il do not hurt
them; | scorn it, 'Whom do you em-
2ioy, then, to do it p Il employ no one.
The children then go into convulsions.-
Sarah Good, do you see what you have
done? Why do you not tell us the truth 2
Il do not torment them Z 'How came
they thus tormented p 'What do /
know? After many Inquiries of this
| kind, the wretched woman mas chat her
only refuge is in accusing some one else ;
then she says that Sarah Osburn has be-
witched her. The girls also remember
that Sarah Osburn had bewitched them
Osburn was arrested and brought in. She
was asked what evilspirit have you ia
m:Earity with p None Have you
made no contract with the deviI?' NO
[ never saw the devil in my life The
afflicted children look upon her and g
into convulsions. 'Why do you hurt
these children 2 & do not hurt them:
'Whom do you employ, then 2 i EN-
ploy nobody do not know that the devi
goes about in my likeness to do any hurt.
Sarah Osburn was committed and Titubi
was brought in. The same questions wer
asked and the same scene enacted. 'Wh
is it that hurts these children 2 9Th
devil, for aught know Did you eve
gee the devil?' 'The devil came to IL
and bid me serve him Whom have 20,
seen p -Four women sometimes hurt thes
children 'Goody Osborn and Sara
Good 90 not know who the other