The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-08-04
SORt FRY.
A NEGRO 1MAGTtJ Es HIS SOUL IN
A DOGS BODY.

TIoS.
There are three lersons, colored, Of
course, directly concerned in his matter.
William S'ovall, black, ugly and igno-
rant, 10 the hero; Martha Stovall, orange.
hued, fresh-looking, living in ire middle
Of the twenties, sharp as a razor, and ad-
dicted to liquor and loose virtues, is the
heroine; Samuel Johnston, a fancy buck
q load dresser, of winning ways; aprac-
ticed colored female heart-sn asher, is the
interloper who has invaded the bliss Of the
Stovall mansion, "tricked" the head of IL,
transformed him into frothing dog, pos
sessing and giving utterance to all the
yelps and growls, barks and bays, means and
groans known to dogology, and who has
set by the ears all the colored population
and portion of the white, living in Cairo
and the adjacent country into which
the news has penetrated.
THE STORY is A REMARKABLE ONE,
as told by Mrs. Stovall hersel' and well
illustrates the duplicity and eunning of
the "smart" niger on the one hand, and
the mental caliber, fear and superstition OF
the common darkey on the other. 1t is
proper to preface Mrs. Stovall's statement
with the remark that the main incidents
narrated by her are absolutely true, as
hundreds Of persons, will testify who have
visited the quarters of Stovall during his
strange sickness; and if there still should
be doubts entertained by any one, we advise
that one to at once visit Stovall while in
his present condition.
MRS. sToyALL SAYS
she has been living with Stovall, as his
wife for over two years; that he has been
been uniformly kind TO her; has worked
for and supported her, but could never
bear to see her talk to, walk with, or even
look at man Of her race, no matter what
might be his age or condition. Upon one
occasion, while conversing with the rever-
end Mr.. Bradley, whom she describes as a
pure and good old man, Stovall came up
and became SO exasperated that she was
obliged to run away to save herself from
his wrath. Immediately afterward he went
to bed and threatened TO kill himself, I'M
less she would swear to never speak or
look at "that man" again. Promising that
she would not, he arose from his bed, and
was soon himself again.
ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO,
Stovall left the city, to work in the coun-
Try, saying that he would be absent for q
couple Of months at least. Stovalrs back
had scarcely been turned upon his home
when the fascinating johnson entered and
took complete possession, at the request Of
the false Mrs. S. This condition of az irs
lasted until the unexr ted
RETURN 0; rovALL,
on Saturday last. Bt oning acquair I'd
Ia the turn matters l. d taken, he armed
! mself, drank aely ind threatened the
sir wi n the st vengee1cc. johnson
and Mrs. S.. les ming Of this discreetly
suppressed theic We r cobb. i all the
portable ar cles Of v and si nt'y stole
away. S'vall, by IS tim having
work hi;aselfup lt', prope pitch of
fro: jy'oa ant ing o, r, loss
anu bfd W. ky, 6 cd for is ome
decla:.ag : blood alone woald sats-
fly him. Once the 20 he took in
the situation at a gls1ee. Mrs. S. had
fed with her paramour and robbed him of
all the earthly goods of any value he
possessed. II was then the thought first
struck him
THAT HE HAD BEEN TRICKED;"
that johnson, not satisfied with exercising
his weird powers over the partner of his
bosom, was, at that moment, working on
him that he felt it in his boncs;" and
that, worst Of all he knew and felt his
soul was gradually leaving him and en-
tering the body of dog. This idea,
once formed, seemed to take complete pos
session Of him, and no persu' ion
could shake his faith in il.
The powers of certain negroes, by the aid
of evil spirits to perform astounding mir
acles and work absurd char.hs, 81 relg-
ious belief with fully ninc-tent of the
more ignorant among them, and we have
been informed by members of our police
force, that on the persons of those whom
they arrest are frequently found antidotes,
with which, they claim, they can resist the
powers of the charmers," as they call
them.
sTOvALL's ANTIDOTE
was ms agreeable us 1t was ingenious. He
sent by some friends for large quantity
Of fruit, embracing watermelons, apples,
peaches, pears, grapes ETC., and these he |
prepared, by cutting and mixing up, max
ing what might be properly called fruit
hash" Over the dish he sprinkled a
powder, where or from whence obtained
is not known. With this dish, thus pre-. |
pared,
HE GoRGED HIMSELF,
the warning of those of
his friends who were in his quarters He
paid no attention whatever to their re-
and declined to notice their
presence by word or look. About two
hours aiterward. he rolled out on the
Aoor
AS COLD AS A CORPSE,
and AZ motionless The darkia. nro,o,.