The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-11-08

lng hls purposes,
In tho winter OF 1912, a'circle Of young
girls met frequently at MIR. Paris house,
ostensibly TO practice psalm singing, but
their prin ipal occupation was fortune tell
lug, and the various arts of necronianoy,
magic and venttiloouietu, in which they
had instruction of two negro or Indian ser.
Wants whom Mr.. Paris brought with him
from the Spanish WcRt India Islands, where
he was engaged in trade. 0ne OF these
was daughter 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 yeara. They
crept iutO holes and under benches, threw
themselves on the aoor, went into spasms,
aud uttered strange outcries. These pro.
oeediugs were probably commenced IN
sport but as the girls became adopts they
began to attract tho attention OF the neigh.
bors, and gave exhibitions OF their new ac-
compliShments, From day TO day they
learned new tricks. The village doctor
WAS called in who, with AIR, Paris, con-
eluded that the girls wero "under an evil
HAND The COMMUNITY was excited, and
locked TO see their strange actions. Witch
books were il Mr.. Partts' house and the girls
probably l,arned how witches IN England
behaved The girls were now questioned
az 10 who had bowitched them They
named Sarah Good, poor wretched out
cast and Pituba, one of the Indian servants
I Whether they named these persons under
instructions cannot be asocrtniued. TIE
time was nov yet come for striking ut higher
game. The local magistrates inquired into
tho matter, aud held u public examination
Of the two persons accused. In all these
trials the guilt of the accused was assumed
- - 81 4
and these simple people were Piled with
such questions IA these by the magistrate !:
Sarah Good, why do you hurt these chi l.
dreu 2" 81 do not hurt them; scorn it,
Whom do you employ. then, TO do III"
| employ 90 oae." The children then go
into coavulsions. "Sarah Good, do you
see what YOU have done? Why do you
not tell us the truth ~ ~ do not torment
them" How came they thus tormented p
What do knowl" After many inquiries
of this kind the wretehed woman finds her
ouly refuge il in accusing some Que else;
then she says that Sarah Osburn bewitched
her. The girls also remember that Sarah
Osburn had bewitched them OsburE
was arrested and brought in. She was
asked: What evil spirit have you fa-
mliarity with ?" "None." Have you
no contract with the devil No, | never
saw the devil in my life" The afflicted
oh,dren" look upon her and SO iuto con,
vosons. Why do you hurt those chill.
dren ?" Il do not hurt them.' Whom
do you employ then2" 81 employ no
body, do not know that tho devil goes
about in my likeness to 10 any hurt"
Sarah 0sburn VAS committed, and Tituba
was brought in. The same questions We're
a-ked and the same scene eacted. Who
| Is it that hurts these clidrenY' The devil
| for aught know" did you ever see the
devilY' "The devil came to me and bid
me serve him." "Whom have you seenY'
Four womsn sometimes hurt these chill
dren" "Goody 0sburn, and Sarah Good
do not know who the others were." She
then confessed she had tormented the chill
dren and made some strange revelations
The devil she said appeared in black clothes
some times and in serge coat OF another
color. She was asked how she went tc
witch meetings, and replied: we ride
upon sticks; Good and Oshurn behind me.
" Do you go through the trees or oNei
them ;" We see nothing, but are there
presently This woman was the ser
Want OF Mr.. Paris, and tie instructor o.
the afflicted children in their hellish arts
John ludian, The other servant, appeared al
an accuser iu q later stage OF the proceed
| lngs.
I I The delusion was now under full head
way. The next victim was the wife o
Giles Covey, dcvout matron eighty years
of age, who spent most of her time il
prayer. Her examination was ascene fol
4 the pencil Of an artist. The usnal qaes
tions were put TO her. She denied thS al
I legations, aud asking leave to go to prayer
knelt in the presence of the court and OF
feted mp ferventa supplication. Wher
sbe had concluded, the magistrate said
"We did not send for you to go to prayer
but to tell me why you hurt these
am an inpocont person. lneyer had to d.
with witchcralt since l was born. ! am
1 declare that Goody Coyey is pinehing them
and are not restored until they touch tht
person of the accused. These proceeding
were enacted at every trial This pipul
woman regarded the whole thing as deln
sion, aud to the question, "Doyou see shos'
childfen complain Of your" she replied
fATihe Lord OPEN The eyespf the magis
trates and minister's She was hung Sep
tember 26, 1892.
There was 10 possibility Of making a de
fense at any of these trials, for evidence
such as was received could be manufactured
to any extent. A lifelong record Of piety
and virtue went for nothing, and an intifna
ton that the court and witnesses were act
ing under de.usion or something worse
was sure to bring upon aperson the mos
damning accusations. John Proctor,
sturdy. honest farmer, whose wife wac ac
aused, denounced in the face OF the cour
the witnesses as Engaged in deliberate
ana criminal conspiracy, and it cost hin
his life. Mr.. Burroughs, who was an un
believer, and was several hundred milel
away was accused of causing the death o.
several persons who had recently died il
Salem village.
In April, 1892, the magistrates Of the col
ony took charge Of the matter, and thence
| forth il became Massachusetts affair. The
texeitement increased, and no one in the
community, especially il he was person
of prominence, felt secure, Many left fol
parts unknown. The trials went on, On'
person was hung in June, Ave in July, five
10 August,and eight in Scptsmber. After th,
executions of September %, the Specia
Court adjourned, intending 10 renew tbi
trials. The prisons were full Of personi
accused. Before the Court assembled
sudden collapse in the machinery occurred
! Tue Court never met. The people wer'
recovered from their delusion, and wer'
| filed with horror and amazement al th'
proceedings The "afflicted children" in
spired by success, had become over.coni
dent and reckless III their accusations. They
accused among others the wife Of Rev. Mr.
\ Hale, Of Beverly, q lady Of spotlese Tenu
t-tation, AID their charm was broken. The
Imnrder elso Of Giles Convey, by the heath
| A. II. L. he