Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-03-29
Possessed with Devils.

a case has lately been made public in our
city. the facts in which are startling and
sufficient to convince the most skeptical that
the old belief of persons being possessed with
Devils was well founded. For some time past
John Rine, Esq, living on Morgantown street,
few sioors above tho Genius Office has been
very much annoyed BY mysterious rapping
at back window of his house. The rapping
would occur at all hours in the evening and
early in the morning. AT first Mr.. Rine sup
posed that it was some person who held aspite
against him and wished to annoy him, or per.
haps frishten him from the house. But after
he and his family had watched and laid in wait
for the supposed malicious person for COLI
siderable length of time, and ne discovery
made, he began to be shaken in his belief
On last Saturday night, however, he stationed
friend in an clubhouse near the window which
was always tapped on, and shortly after dark
Mr.. Rinc went ont and went into the clubhouse
and the person stationed there came out and
went into the house slamming the door after
him, to make it appear that Mr.. Rine had
gone out and returned Immediately. The
ruse was Successful. For no sooner had the
door been slammed to- by N1r. Rine's con-
federate, than another door opened and girl
sprang out and gave the taps ON the window.
Mr.. Rine sprang out of his hiding place aud
caught the person, when 10 she proved to be
girl who had been living in his family for
two years or.more and whom he would never
have suspected. But when charged with this
malicious conduct she confessed that she had
been the author of all the mysterious rapping
on the window that an uncomfortable desire
to annoy them had seized upon her and she
could not resist the inclination to do it
When this astounding revelation was made,
hlr. Rine, hethought him of several other
singular, and at the time unaccountable,
affairs that had occurred in his family some-
time since. Among others was sickness
that suddenly seized his whole family one
night after partaking heartily of mush and
milk. On two or three occasions his little
baby was found crying with its head covered
with blood, and on examining the childs head,
pins were found forced into its as far as
the finger could push them. which were ex-
tricated with the greatest difficulty. AT one
time a needle was found forced into the babys
throat or neck until there was just enough
exposed to seize it with twcezers and pull 1T
out This devilish work was charged by the
domestic upon a little girl of Mr.. Rine's, and
the she-devil stood by aud saw the little girl
most severely punished for a crime of which
she now confesses she was guilty herself,
This Devil incarnate was at once sent from
the house and we understand that steps have
been taken to send her to the House of refuge.
She is about Is years of age and was treated
as an equal in Mr.. Riue's family, both him
self and wife placing the most implicit con-
fidence in her. She went away reluctantly
declaring that she loved them all, and that
she could not account for her outrageous
conduct that it was an evil spirit that pos
sessed her aud dragged her into it.
Lniontorn. [ Ral Genius of Li6crtE.