Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1864-1869, 1869-06-05
Number So.
WitchCraft in the Nineteenth
Century.
[From the South Bend (Ind.) National Union,
May 81

= hVh shS EVuth ttud ktuusl ANahohaA ShAohI
May 3d..
Some weeks ago II was our intention to
lay the facts of tho following very singular
case before our people, bu, at the request Of
the physician, DR.. Fletcher, have been wait
ing for further developments:
North Of the village Of Mishawaka lives
well-to-do farmer named Jacob Martin, q
Pennsylvania Dutchman. Mrs Martin was
born in Germany, but the language used in
the family for years has been English, the
parents preferring to have the children speak
that instead of the German language. Mr..
Martins mother had formerly lived in the
family and slept with Julia, girl about
thirteen years Of age According to the state
ments of several who have visited the family
the old lady has for some time had the un-
enviable reputation Of benga witch. About
a year ago 1t was not found agreeable to have
her in the family, so she was removed 10
Mishawaka. Shortly aherward julia was
attacked with rheumatism, and in short
time her limbs swelled SO that they had 10 bo
bandaged.
She had to be cared for like an infant from
this time until about ten weeks ago, when
she fell into trance, which lasted for three
days, during which time she took no nourish-
ment-apparently ina deep sleep, from which
no one could succeed in waking her. Sever
al physicians visited her could not determine
what the symptoms betokened. DR.. Flet.
cher, of our city, was at that time called,
who pronounced II catalepsy produced by
spinal difficulty. On the evening of the third
day she awoke in convulsions, during which
time she bit her tongue so that spoon, COW
cred with cloth, had to be kept in her mouth.
Several thicknesses of the cloth were bitten
through in few minutes. During lucid
interval she made some startling revelations
in regard TO her misunderstanding that
she had bewitched her, and was endeavoring
to make her chew her tongue out to prevent
her telling the strange things which lad been
revealed in the visions.
Her conversation was carried on in "high"
German, which had never been spoken in
the family, and much Of which they could
not understand. When they did not COM
prehend her, she talked the Pennsylvania
Dutch quite rs luenly, although she never
was able to speak connected sentence in
either language before. She also related a
circumstance regarding some ladies of South
Bend. Upon investigation, 1t was found to
be reported correctly. Told of some persons
who were on the way to see her but had met
with an accident, having ''bruke down in the
mud" Shortly after, the ladies arrived, and
stated that they "were detained BY the break
ing of their vehicle near South Bend"
On Sunday last she was conscious about
an hour, at which time sho insisted that It
was the influence OF her grandmother which
caused her illness. She wept bitterly " h n
she spoke of going away again, said she feared
she might never SEQ them again, but stated
that she "would he back again on Wedncs.
day, if permitted to return" When asked
If she did not want something to eat, she sta
ted that shc had eaten, although she had talk.
en- no nourishment for several days When
questioned as 10 the kind of food she said,
I'VE eat mama where I've BEEN"
On Wednesday. about noon, she suddenly
awoke from her long trance, and stated that
God had told her that she could sit up at
the table and eat ANYTHING she wanted" At
her urgent request her father lifted her from
the bed where she has lain helpless so many
weeks, ard placed her in chair at the table,
when she helped herself to potatoes, bread and
butter, fried eggs and pie; everything but
meat she partook of freely, and when her
mother, frightened at the quantity she was
eating. chided her, saving she feared tho
I consequences, the rirl stated that God ha /
told her that nothing she ate would hurt her.
II Al "A l. -. IL. Al -. a. : -. :,