Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-05-04
STRANGE DOINGS IN
WOOSTER.
A Family Bewitched--Spirits on the
Rampage.

have his hands full of business in
this city,at the house of David Hoff-
man. near the corner of Pittsburg
Avenue and J. Stibbs' Lane. The
family is said to be haunted by ma
lignant spirits, who are uncomfort-
ably rampant in there evil doings,
diabolical in their transactions, and
mysterious in their ways.
The matter has for some time
created considerable interest and ex-
citement in the community, and re-
wives Spiritualism. Our reporter
visited the house last Sabbath after
noon, and gathered the following in
formation:
The family consists of five per
sons-AIr. Hoffman, who is about
fifty-fve years of age; his wife,
about fifty; two daughters, respect
lively aged about twenty and seven
teen years, and son, probably fif-
teen years old. They formerly lived
in Holmes County, Mr.. Hoffman be-
ing employed as miller in Sharp's
mill, two miles south of Mixers
burg, where the family were regard
ed as respectable, intelligent and
Christian people.
He stated that he was doing well
at the mill, had a good salary and a
good home, and in every way in COM
Portable circumstances, until disor
der, in a mysterious way, visited his
family. 1t first commenced, he said,
a year ago last June, by his missing
two dollars from his pocket book
after which he privately hid his
money; but that, too, disappeared
in the most unaccountable manner.
Articles of food and clothing, in
daily increasing quantities, went the
same way. Crockery ware fe.l from
shelves and broke to pieces; stones
and gravel, eggs and other things,
were thrown about in the house, ap
parently without human agency, the
badness seemingly having head
quarters in the cellar. The family,
from being annoyed, at length be-
came frightened; and imagining that
change of abode might bring re-
lief from the spirits, removed to
Wooster last Summer, Mr.. Hoffman
remaining at the mill, where he was
unmolested by any evil visitation.
But his family, who lived in Mr..
Snook's house, West Liberty Street,
was not so fortunate. The trouble
became even greater. 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 found
some secreted in out-of-the-way
places; for instance, all their under
clothing was stuffed into the mouth
of the cellar drain, a silk dress hid
under a wood pile in the cellar, and
skirts, &C., buried in sand. Many
written notes were thrown, apparent
ly from the cellar, bearing all kinds
of messages. One was, s,that if Mrs.
II. would come down to the foot of
the cellar stairs on her knees, on a
certain specified day and hour, she
would their find q 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 backwards on her knees, Mrs.
H., afraid of bodily injury, was dis
suaded by neighbors from making
the hazardous attempt. But she
went to Holmes County and brought
her husband to Wooster, hoping that
he could get the lucre, and by his
presehce abate the Spirits . or IT,as
she calls the evil agents of her fire
side. Another note was received,
stating no one could get the money
but herself. 1t has not been secured
up to the present time.
Some of the prominent Spiritual
lists of Wooster, learning of these
transactions, held a circle meeting,
but received no signs to that
other ''bourne." .......-
| The troubles ragged on. Mr.. H.,
at q sacrifice, was compelled to give
up his situation at the mill and join
his family in Wooster. A few weeks
ago they moved from where they
now reside, followed by IT.
i BY request of the family, clergy
man of Wooster visited them, and Of
cred prayer. Shortly afterhe left, a
scrap ofpaper dropped strangely on
the floor which was written, that, as
they (the family had 'prayed to
Got" the spirits wouldn't bother
them for awhile. All was quiet for
a few days. Then more clothes were
taken, which, latter an absence of one
or two days, would be found in the
house or yard, cut to pieces. About
ten days ago. while another reverend
gentleman was there, piece of new
calico, sufficient for three dresses,
disappeared. A neighbor lady next
day found it, uncut, under pile of
wood, land blanket shawl, under
box of potatoes, in the cellar.
Frequently at night there are
poundings on the walls, stones, from
pebbles to those as large as a mans
fist, thrown in the rooms, and gen
eral rumpus created, as if imps were
holding high revelry. On one occa-
sion Mr.. H. called on IT to cease,
without avail; whereupon he indulg-
ed in little swearing, when all be-
came serene. A young man called
there last Friday evening; said that
if the spirits could cut up his hat or
handkerchief they were welcome. A
small stone dropped on his head
which, when picked up, he found
red hot; and upon taking out his
handkerchief discovered it cut to
shreds. AS another instance very
peculiar, a young gentleman, and
confirmed skeptic in Spiritualism,
with other persons visited the house
on last Sabbath afternoon, ,and:.on his
return to his brothers residence. to
the amazement of all found at least
twenty holes were found in his hand
kerchief, which had not been out of
his pocket at the haunted house.
Mr.. III. answered one 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 floor by his side-all his fam
lily present.
Until last Friday, nothing of Mr..