The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-05-05
p1ARoL1sM IN wAYNH COUNTY
A Family Bewitched.

From The Wooster GO-l Republican,
II the Rev. Cotton Mather, of witchcraft
memory, were living In these degenerate DAYS,
bo v-onId have his hands full of business in
tbis city. at the house of Mr.. David Huffman,
near the corner of Pittsburgh avenue, and J.
Stibbs' lane. The family is said to be haunted
nv MALIGNANT spirits, who are uncomfortably
rsmDanf in their evil doings diabolical in their
transactions and mysterious in their ways.
The Family consists of five persons-Mr.
Hoffman. who is about 50 years OF age; his
wife, about so; two daughters, respectively,
aged about II and 20 years, and son probab-
ly Is years old. They formerly lived IN
Holmes county, Mr.. Hoffman being employed
as miller in Sharp's mill, two miles south OF
Millersburg, where the family were regarded
as respectable, intelligent and christian people.
He stated that he was doing well at the mill
had q good salary and good home, and IN eY-
cry way in comfortable circumstances, until
disorder, in a mysterious way visited his faml-
". 1t first commenced, he said, year ago
last June, by his missing two dollars trom MS
pocket, after which he privately hid his money
but that, too, disappeared in the most unac-
countable manner. Articles OF food and
clothing in daily increasing quantities, went
the same yyay. Crockery ware fell from the
shelves and broke to pieces, stones and gravel
eggs and other things, were thrown about In
the house, apparently without human agency,
the badness seemingly having headquarters In
the cellar. The family, from being annoyed,
at length became frightened; and imagining
that a change of abode might bring relief
from the spirits, removed to Wooster last
summer, Mr.. Hoffman remaining at the mill
where he was unmolested by any evil vista
ton But his family, who lived IN Mr..
Shook house, West Liberty street, was not so
fortunate The clothing Of the mother and
eldest daughter was taken, some returned
from whence no one could tell, all cut to pieces
as if with shears, and some found secreted
in out of the way places; for instance, all OF
their underclothing was found stuffed into the
mouth of the cellar drain, a silk dress hid un-
der a wood pile in the cellar, and skirts, etc,
buried in sand. Many written notes were
thrown apparently from the cellar, bearing all
kinds of messages. One was, that If Mrs.
Hoffman would come down to the foot OF the
cellar stairs on her knees, on certain specl-
fed dav and hour, she would there lind box
containing $1,000. Prior to this the family
had become afraid to enter the cellar; and as
she could only go down the steps backward on
her knees, Mrs. Holman, AFRAID OF bodily In
Jury, was dissuaded by neighbors from making
the attempt. But she went to Holmes county
and brought her husband to Wooster, hoping
that he could get the lucre, and by his presence
abate the "spirits," or at" as she calls the
evil agents Of her fireside. Another note was
received stating that no one could get the
money but herself. 1t has not been secured
up to the present time.
Some of the prominent Splutuallsts OF
Wooster, learning of these transactions, held
circle meeting, but received no signs from that
other "bourne"
The troubles ragged on. Mr.. Hoffman, at a
sacrifice, was. compelled to give up his situa-
ton at the mill and Join his family at Wooster.
| A few weeks ago they moved to where they
now reside, followed by it.
By request of the family, a clergyman Of
/ Wooster visited them and prayed. Shortly
after scrap of paper dropped strangely to
/ the floor upon which was written, that, as
they (the family had "prayed to God" the
/ spirits wouldn't bother them for while. All
was quiet for u few days. Then more clothes
were taken, which, after an absence OF one or
/ two days, would be found in the house or yard
| cut to pieces. About ten days ago, while an
| other reverend gentleman was there, piece
of new calico, sufficient for three dresses, dis
appeared. A neighbor lady next day found 1t
uncut, under pile of wood, and also blanKet
/ shawl, under q box of potatoes, IN the cellar
Frequently at night there are poundlngs on
the walls. stones, from pebbles to those as large
as a mans fist, thrown in the rooms, as If lmps
were holding high revelry. On one occasion
Mr. Hoffman called upon it to cease, without
avail whereupon he INDUCED IN little tall
/ swearing when all became serene. A young
man called there last Friday evening; said that
if the spirits could cut up his hat or handker-
/ chief they were welcome, a stone dropped on
/ his head, which, when picked up, he found red
/ hot and upon taking out his handkerchief
discovered it cut to sheds. As another IN
stance very peculiar, a young gentleman, and
confirmed skeptic in spiritualism, with other
1 persons, visited the house on last Sabbath al
/ ternoon, and on his return to his brothers re-
/ sidence, to the amazement Of all, at least tWen-
| tv holes were found in his handkerchief which
had not been out Of his pocket at the haunted
| house. Mr.. Hoffman answered one OF the
spirit notes, placed his reply but just as he got
| up stairs into the room, his own no te dropped
on the floor by his side-al his family present.
| Until last Friday, nothing of Mr.. Hoffman s
clothing had been touched. That night his
| two pair of boots-al he had-Were taken, and
| also the table knives, but the boots were mys-
| teriously returned the next day, accompanied
by an exceedingly vulgar note. On last Satur-
/ day all his clothing, excepting an old working
suit, was taken, and words written on the side
If the house to the effect that they would not
be returned.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hoffman and the eldest
| daughter have no clothing but that on their
backs; while in the house are piles of cut up
garments Of all descriptions, of good quality
i dozen dresses, silk, delaine, calico, etc, cloth
| sacdues, for shaWls, underclothing, and any
| quantity of lesser articles. 1t is a shame
this wanton destruction of property. From a
man comfortable in life, Mr.. Hoffman is get
/ ting into reduced circumstances. He said he
had lost about thousand dollars during the
past year.
The whole matter Is confounding. There
are, however, several plausible theories for the
cause Of the seemingly marvellous transactions
Careful watch has been kept, yet no clue to
the perpetrators Of the outrages has been dis
covered. Hundreds of men and wemen have
visited the premises. It is said that the spiri-
tualists propose holding meetings at the house,
and get up a circle to see if anything can be
developed, We will keep our readers posted
upon the subject.