The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-05-18
from the Wooster Republican, Nay Ilth.I
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. HOUSE
Fureher strange DevelODmen1s.


the evil spirit or II, haunting the house Of
Mr.. David Holman, in the surburbs Of Wooster,
continues IN its turbulent ways, and still remains
speculation among all classes OF the city, and ere
ates the sensation Of curiosity, amusement or fear,
aceordins to individual temperament; Practical
iestationB are the legerdemain tricks OF the liv-
ing female members of the family, but thus far
siderable detective ability has been exercised.
The family indignantly deny, and with. piausi-
BILE argument assert their innocence, and invite
investigation by the hundreds who visit their
house. They state that they are as much con-
founded at what takes place as other persons, and
malignant enemy. who Is running them financially,
and IN every manner giving them the greatest
chambers, and therefore he'd In one room, fire.
qnently disturbed and frightened by unearthly
noises. Nothing they possess appears safe Cloth
ing, furniture and provisions alike disappear.
Crockery ware flies to pieces, nve dollars worth
oflard, a quantity Of butter, eggs and several other
disappeared lately. so that, without food or raj
ment and worried, as Mr.. Hoffman expresses
II had better cease from troubling and let the
weary be at rest
house that the family admit but few, on account
Of pressure. About three hundred were refused
last Sabbath. On one occasi. n, several were de-
clined admission because some spirituaiists were
Al that moment, deep In the mystic rites Of hold
ing 4 ~"circls," to which. faith II Is said, Mrs. Hoff-
man is almostp persuaded, having no other parti-
cular religion.
The evil genius of her house, she sometimes Is
constrained 70 believe, is the spirit Of a deceased
sister, who died in Holmes county, Ohio, q few
months before IT began operations. They used TO
qua rel a great deal about their clothes before the
sister put on immortality; and it may be that the
force Of habit was so strong as to lure the departed
one, when IN q wsyTard mood, from the bright
with her sister, and cut up her clothes. Such, at
least. is Mrs. Hofftnan's idea, when she rejects
Again, she imagines that IL might be the ghost Of
her nther; yet thinks he wouldn't have the heart
to bewiteh her family. And SO on, until many
dead are under suspicion of not being as good as
In fact, for Iways that are dark" the operations
at the house are peculiar. Mr.. Hoffman, who is a
common place man; and one well known for many
years in Wayne county, as an upright citizen, can
miller. He wants to go away, for IT never molests
hmm only when he is with his family, when the
purloining his money, which he works hard for,
and taking away the provisions he provides for
his family. Ali his good clothes are gone. His
old working suit he protects from the destroyer
by placing It under his pillow at night. His mon
ey-what little he has-hs saves BY wrapping his
pocket book 10 a handkerchief which he ties
around his body, underneath his shirt. He re-
mains with the family because OF their beseeeh-
almost frantic with griefif the old man offers to
60, He is a kin father and q good husband; and
II the outrages upon him are by MEM
5ers Of his family, it would be ungrateful, If not
worse.
When his boots were returned, all cut to pieces,
acopy OF the New Testament lay over them, open
ed at XVIII chapter of Acts. At two subsequent
chapter Of Acts, and XIV of ST. john. The leaf
marked.
Many seemingly strange things are done. For
example, a trunk was packed and locked, prepar-
atory TO moving. When no one was near 1t, the
lid was raised by an unseen hand and the clothing
thrown out upon the foOr. The trunk was re-
packed and locked again the lid was lifted, and
2 mum at the bottom thrown, out, without in the
least disturbing the appareal on top. This mani
festation finally concluded by II saving the lock
out Of the trunk.
full Of noises, rappings and general disturbance.
One night the two daughters were awakened from
pins, and sprang from the bed and ran into their
parents room, where they remained the remain
der Of the night, afraid to return to their own
The clothing OF the family having nearly all
been destroyed, the spirits turn attention to that
clothes have been cut while in the house, PPne Isdy
having her dress ruined, and another rent, and
this, too, done in daylight in presence OF indivi-
duals VINO were on the watch for such depreda-
tions.
One afternoon lately, at the request Of G. NJ.
accompanied him and two other gentlemen to Mr..
house, where they were shown every
courtesy, by way Of exhibiting piles Of cut-up
garments, etc, and relating the various annoy
ances to which the family were almost daily and
nightly subjected When about to take their de-
partNre. 1t was found that the reporters lat was
slashed, so to speak, into ribbons. The hat was
upon a small stand IN the room, where all were,
and could not have been moved from its place, or
the action would have been observed. The cuts
were clear, as IL done with some lancet-kind of
acknowledgement expertly, and upon the
principle; what thou doest, do quickly" It was
afterwards learned that IT mistook him for an
orthodox minister of the gospel; hence his loss
Is some preachers gain.
There are many other strange incidents, ntoo
numerous to mention"
However. 1t is confidently believed by very san
guine persons that the mystery Of the Bewitched
will soon be solved, from the fact that Mr., s. B.
Cooper, n well known and respected citizen Of
Wooster, has written the celebrated clairvoyant,
Madame Thompson, OF Cleveland, to come to this
city and lift the veil that shadows the house Of
Hoffman. The Madame gave him valuable in
Formation on two occasions; the first q triumph;
but the second, digging for treasure at 2 o'clock,
A. NJ, in the hillside near the Railroad Depot, was,
unfortunately, not a success, on account Of the
Interference of the police.