The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-07
A MARVELLOUS STORY.
Spirits, Witchcraff nnd Devitry In a Mans
|N House.
[From ,he WOOSTER lOhlol Repubcan.l

From the Wooster tOhlo) Republican,
II the kew. Cotton Matner OF witchcrat memory
were living IN these degenerate days he would have
his hands lull oil business III TINS city at the house OF
Mr. David Hoffman, near the corner of Pittsburg
haunted by malignant spirits, VINO are uncomfort-
ably rampant thar evil dolngs. dlabolcal in their
| transactions and mysterious IN their ways
the family consists OF i've persons-Mr. Hoffman,
who is about hltyave years of age; his wife, about
| teen and twenty years, and a son, probably fifteen
| years old. They formerly lived in Holmes county,
| Mr.. Holman being employed as miller IN Sharp'5
mill, two miles south OF Millersourg, where tie fam
| ilv were regarded as respectable, Intelligent and
lie stated that he was doing well at the mIlI had
good salary and good home aud In every way In
tcrous way, visited family. IL iirst commenced,
he said, year ago last june by his missing two dol
md his money; but that, too, disappeared In tho
most unaccOuntable manner Articles OF food and
same way. Crockery ware fell from shelves ami
broke To pieces stones gravel eggs and other things
were thrown about III the house, apparently with
out human agency, the badness seemingly having
headquarters In the cellar The family, IRON being
annoyed at length became frightened. and, imagIn-
ing tnat a cnangc OF abode might bring relief from
the spirits. removed To Wooster last summer, Mr..
Tested 10y any evil visitation. But his family who
lived IN Mr.. Snook'S house, West Liberty street.
eldest daughter taken, some returned, from
whence could tell, all cut TO pieces, II
Shears ana some found secreted In out OF the way
placss-for instance, all their undercloihing was
found stuffed into the mouth OF the cellar dram,
SILK dress MD under woodpie IN tne cellar, and
SKIRTS &C.. buried IN sand. Many written notes
thrown, apparently from the cear bearing All kinds
OF messages One was that II Mrs. Holman would
come down to the foot oI the cellar stairs on her
knees, certain specied uay aud n0ur, she would
there lind box containing sZ.o)o Prior TO THIS the
family had become AFRAID 10 enter the cellar and as
she could only go down the steps backward on her
knees, Mrs. Hoffman. AFRAID OF bodily injury, vas
dlssuaded by neighborl rom making the hazardous
attempt. But she went 10 Holmes county and
brought her husband TO Wooster hoping That he
could get the ucre. and by mis- presence abatc the
Spfits,' called Tie agents or ncr
flreslde Another note Was received stating no one
could get the money Du herself. IL has not been
secured up " the present time.
Some OF the prominent spiritualists OF Wooster.
ing but received signs from tiiat other "Dourue."
The troubles RACED oli Mr. hoffman at sacri-
fee, compelled to give up ms situation al the
null and JON mis- family IN Wooster. A few weeks
ago they moved 10 where they now reside, followed
D, request OF the family clergyman OF Wooster
visited them and offered prayer, Shortly after h0
LETT a scrap OF paper dropped strangely the noor.
upon winch was written that. IA they the famiiyD
had prayed TO Got,f' tile spirits wouldn't bother
Then more ciotnes were taken which, after al alb
sence OF one or Two days would he found In the
house or yard, cut 10 pieces. About Ten days ago.
piece OF calico, sufficient for three dresses, dis
appeared neighbor lady next day found H. ur-
cut, under Pile oI wood, and also blanket shawl.
under a box oil potatoes, In the cellar.
Frequently AZ night there are poundngs on the
walls, Stones from pebbles to those as large as
mans nst, thrown IN the rooms, and general
rulnpus created. rs IL nnps were holding high rev.
".
10 cease, without avail. whereupoa nc INDUCED IN
little tall swearing, when all became serene.
young called there last FRIDAY evening": said
that II the spirits would cut up his hat or handker
chef they were welcome. A small stone dropped
his head which, when picked up, he found to be
red hot, aud upon taking ont has handkerchief dis
covered IL 10 shreds. As another instance very
peculiar, a young gentleman confirmed sccptic
spiritualsm Win other persons, visited the house
on last SABBATH afternoon, ana Oh MS return 10 his
twenty holes were found in his handkerchief which
had not been out Of his pocket at The haunted house.
M. Hoffman answered OF the spirit notes,
placed his reply quietly IN the cellar, but Just as he
got up stairs into the room his own note dropped on
the loor by his slde--ali the family present.
Until last Friday nothing oil Mr. Hoillaan's CLOTH
Ing had been touched. That night his Two pairs Of
DootS-all lie had-wcfe taken, aud also the iaoie
knives, but tile boots were inysteriousy fttarneu
next day, accompanied by an exceedingly vulgar
an old WORKING suit, was taken, and words written
the side or the Mouse TO the elect that iiey "ono
not be returned. ,.
Mr. and Mrs. Holman and the eldest daughter
have no clothing but that On their backs; WINE III
the house are piles vi cut-up garments ~ All &c
scr,utions, OF good qualify, u dozen dresses, sim
delalne calico &c,, cotn sacques, four shaWis, ui-
derclolhlng ana any quantity of lesser arucies. ~
Il, a shamc--this wunton OBSTRUCTION VI property.
From n man comfortable IN lie Mr. ioHhsth IL
getting Iuo reduced circumstances. He said ho
ma lost about u thousand dollars during tae pasE
year. =, ..,, ro.. -
however sevcraDc plausible theories Tor the cause
watch has been Kept yet no clue 10 the perpetrators
OF the ouiraycs has been discovered. Hundreds Of
men and women nave visited the premises IL
SAID the splritua.iss propose holding meetlngt
al the house, and get up clEce " sss u an tluA1
CAL ~ dsyeiopeh