The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-05-04
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sPIRTrs ON THE 5RAnFAGEi
A Family BsWItehedt-saranE DoinEs
In Wooster. - r-l ---.t-.

. II NOoAler. s--- .f-f ---. i-s
ifthe Rev. Cotton Mather, Of witchcran mem
have his hands full OF business in this city, atths
house OF Bir. David Holman. near the corner OF
Pittsburgh Avenue and J. Stibbs Lane.- The fam
lily IL said to be haunted by malignant spirts, who
are uncomfortably rampant In their evil doings,
ntheif ir1sac tons, and mystefions IN
il The matter has for Some time created consider
sble interest and excitement IN the community,
the house last Sabbath afternoon, and gathered
the following Information:
(; The family consists Of five psrsons-Mr. Hon.
man, Sho Is about hfty-hye years Of age his wife
about fifty; two daaghters, respectively aged
about twenty and seventeen year, and q son,
IN Holmes county, Mr.. Hcfmsn being employed
as miller in ShArp's mill, two miles, south OF Mil
lersburgh. where the family we're regarded ns
spectacle, intelligent and Christian people, r.c
he stated that he doing well AZ the mill, had
good salary and a good home. and IN every way
mysterious way, visited his fAInlS--It fTss com
msnced, he said, year ago last June, BY his nis-
he privately hid his money but that, too, disap-
peared in the most unaecountable manner. Ar
tieles Of food and clothing, In daily inerees -
fell from shelves and broke 70 pieces stones and
gravel, eggs and other things. were thrown about
the badness seemingly having headquarters IN the
eellaf! The family, from being annoyed Al length
became frightenedi and imagining that change
ofabode might bring relief from the spirits, re-
moved to Wooster last summer, Mr. Holman re-
any evil visitation But his family, laho1ised IN
Mf. Snook,s house, West Liberty street, vas not
80 fortnnate.1 The trouble became even greater.
was taken, some returned from whence no one
could ten and cut 70 pieces as u with shears. and
some found secreted in out-ofthe-wsY places for
instances, all their underclothtng Was found stun
ed into the mouth Of the cellar drain, silk dress
&C. buried in sand. Many written notes we're
thrown, apparently from the cellar, bearing all
kinds ofmessages. One WAS, that II Mrs, Hoffman
M cor
cn her knees, on certain speeihcd day and hour,
che would there fnd box eontaintnE tgo thou
afraid 10 enter the cellar; and As she eopld only
70 dUWn the steps backwards on her kneess Mrs.
Hoffman,, afraid Of bodily injury, Was dissnaded
BY nefghbors from making the hazardous attempt.
But she went 70 Holmes county and bronKht her
husband 20 Wooster hoping that he eenid get, the
IT. as she calls the evil agents Of her hreside.
Another note was received, stating no one could
cured up 10 the present time.
I Some of the prominent spiE1tnallsts OF Wooster,
learning ofthese transactions held circle meet
ing. but received no signs from that other
"bourne." aaalazsl.l1-..-Efs-s.sssgaesF
The troubles ragged on. Mr.. Hoffman, AZ a sacri.
hce was compelled to give up has situation At the
mil and Join his family in Wooster, A few weeks
ago they moved TO where they now reside, fol
By vi reSaest ef the family a Clergyman Of woos
ter visited them, and offered prayer. Shortly az
| the floor upon which was written. that. a. fhsy
/ [the familyl had prayed 70 tsod," the spjritl
for few days- Then more clothes Eere. taken
which, after an Rbsence Of one or two days, would
] be found IN the house or ya-a, cut q; pieces
tlennar was there piece OF new calico, sufncienl
/ for thrae dresses, dfsapP cared. A neighborlady
/ next day found Il, uncut npders pile 5of wood
and also q blanket shawl, under box OF potatoes
Freonently at night there are poundings ON tia
walls stones from pebbles 70 those a. large as
] fnan's hst, thrown IN the rooms, and q genera
rnmpas created, as if imps were holding higl
4 treYelry. On one occasion Mr.. Honman called
upon II 10 cease, without avail; whereupon he in
| dulged in little tall swearing, when all became
| serene. A young man called there last Friday
evening; said that If the spiriis could cut mp hi,
/ hRt or handkerchief they were welcome SINAI
stone dropped on his head which, when plekee
I up, be found red hot; and 9Pen taking out IN
kerchief discovered u cut 70 shreds, As an
| other instance very peculiar, = Young gent tenian
and nonfirmed skeptlc In SPirituAiisTn, with othe
| persons visited the house on last Sabbath afteT
noon, and his return to his brother's residences
to the amazement ofail, at least twenty holes wer
| found In his handkerchief, which had not beel
cut ofhis pocket 1t the haunted house. Mr. Hon
man answered one Of the spirit notes, placed hi
reply quietly In the cellar, but just as he got u
4 staiss into the room his own note dropped on tn
| hoer by his side-all his family present. d.
: Until last Friday, nothing OF Ar. Hoffman
/ clothing had been touched That night his tW
/ pairs OF boots-all he had-were taken. and ais
! The taLle-kniyes, but the boots were Hysterionsl
returned next day, accompanied by an exceee
ingly yulgar note On last Saturday all bis cloth
ing, excepting an old working suit. was taken, an
/ words written ON the side OF the house 10 the Fl
fsct that they would not be retnrned
Z 2 Mr.. and Mrs. Hoffman and the eldest daughte
i have no. clothing but that on their backs Whil
4 in the house are piles Of eut-up garments of q
discfiptiOns, Of good Quaiity--a dozen dresser
silk delaine calico, &C. cloth sacques, four shaWl
underclothing, and any quAntity ofIesser articei
II Is a shame-this-tSauton' destructton Of prof.
erty From a man comfortable in life, Ar. Hot
unan fs getting into reduced circumstances II
said he had lost about thousand dollars durin
I the last year i-
The whole matter Is confounding, There ar'
/ however, several plausible theories for the caus
OF the seemingly marvellous transactiOns- Cart
fdl watch has been kept, yet no clue 70 the perpt
1 tratorsl of the loutragesl has been discOyere<
Hundreds of men and women have visited tn
: prennises It is said TINT the Spiritualists prS
. | pose holding meetings At the house, and get up
| circle 70 see II anything es.n be developed. w
will keep our readers gposted upon the snbject.-
Wooster tO.,l Rsnilbliean--