The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-11-17
A BeMitching Witch.

biographical, genealogical,
and antiquarian societies to print
everything they can find concerning the
early history of their section of the
very many important docu-
ments elude their search. 1t was the
good fortune Of the writer to recently
discover in New Haven an ancient
musty manuscript giving detailed ac-
count of the trial and execution for
witchcraft OF young woman named
Patience Delight. This document is the
more curious because commonly only
weather beaten old hags were summon
ed for that offense. l am of the impress
sion that this case is the sole one on
record describing the conviction of a
handsome girl-as theprisoner evident
ly was.
The manuscript commences IA trew |
account Of the trial. of Patience De
light, spinster, daughter Of Called to
Grace Delight, and Affection his wife.
May "a, 1902. This being the day sett |
apart for the trial. of that atrociuus
Lacquer with Sathan, l tuck brother
Condemned Fish and Reverend Re-
member Lots Wife Parkinson to sit
with me in judgment, we being thereto
specially commissioned. Opened court
In the meetn house with prayer. The
pris'ner was brought in by the sheriff
thickly vailed so that Sathan might not
prevail upon the court thro' her devil
ish eyes, and her arme straitly chained"
The usual fOrmalities being gone
through with, there was read the afii-
davit of a man named Havery, who
: seems to have been the principal wit
ness against her. 1t was as follows:
81 was up into my broad hollow wood
lot, cloast by Goody Delights, mother
of pris'ner, felled hickory, and safe
thereon resting and meditating. Then
comes a certain rustlin' in the bushes
hard by, and turning my head, 10
see thorow the tanglements, two sharp
piercing eyes that overcame me with a
strange dread. 1 thought first it should
be wild cate, or painter, the sharp
ness thereof was so severe. But reach'n
for my axe and rising up, see pris'ner
pluck'n berries. She looked at me again
and then looks away, and thereupon
was / seized with unaccountable desire
to keep looking at her, and could in -
wise keep my eyes from looking at her.
Which the tempter seeing, and waxing
bold, she saieth good evenen to me with
much sweetness Of voice that ran like
tingling oil of Egypt thorow my mar.
row. She keeps pick'n and look'n and
shuten into my body the most distrust-
Ing contagion, insomuch that was
near beside myself. Presentile, on pre-
tense Of pluckin' berries, she cometh to
where safe, stillshuten at me with her
eyes, and when she comes cloast by me,
restraining grace was utterly banished
out Of me, and 1 was wholly possessed
with the devil. Harken not to my weak
ness, but to the power Of sin. Then saied
I, Patience, how old art thou p And
she answered and said, Sixteen years
and nine months, worthy SIR Then
Sathan takes my hand and makes me to
lay hold on her, and draw her to settle
by my side. She struggles and makes
outcrte, and sales she, "The man Is be-
witched.' Yes sales /, 'and thou art
the witch that hath bewitched me, and
thou shalt cure thine own poison Then
did l press her upon my breast.bones,
whereupon she uplifts violent Glamour,
and know not what else goes on, until
my brother, Condemned Fish, passing
by, comes up and clappes me on the
shoulderre, saying, 'Hulo! brother Ha-
very, what's the matter?' And at the
touch of that holy man Sathen departed
out of me strait-way.
Sworn in open court this "a May,
1892. [Signed.
PERsEvERE 10 THE END HAvERY.
Precious Smith, Head Deputie."
This estimable Individual was follow
ed by "the young men Barnabas Ware,
Boaz Daniels and Walk Meekly Smith,
They testified that the prisoner had fas-
cinated them at sundry times and in
divers manners. "Saied Barnabas saith,
last Sabbath two weeks ago he couldn't
keep his eyes off pris'ner all meetin'
time. Saied Boaz saieth for several
months he had been constrained, de-
went into meetin' to look for pris'ner
and that alwaies look from her went
thorow him and filled him with dred-
full formulation. That the fascination
was paineful, but natheless full of de-
light. Witness saieth it was like the
prickin' of pins all over him, but when
he searched there was none to be found.
Walk Meekly Smith saieth that he went
to home with pris'ner from singin'
schoole two weeks agoe. That he did
30 because he was thereto fascinated,
and she moved him by her behavior so
to do, having state by his side in schoole
and singin out of his booke, and that
he had near done the like before, being
subject to his father. That there was
nothin' In pris'ner's walk and mannera
that night which might show forth the
presence of the Devil; only the cum
hinge puttinge on of MODESTO, and
lOOkin' strange sorts of earnest looks
thorow her eyelashes bent down, and as
1t were resting on her cheeks, which
were seemingly all In glow Of devilish
fire. But next day and ever since, wit
nesse hath been sore distressed with
lOsse of appetite and melancholie, and
constant desire to be In companies with
pris'ner, but is afraid to touch her, And
he swears she hath bewitched him."
Next came a woman witness. Ruth
Daniels being sworn testities that she
knows that prisoner hath bewitched
Walk Meekly Smith, for that he now
shunnes witness, whereas he used to be
familiar and good friends, being wit
ness third cousin. That last Sabbath
week, in the meetin', pris'ner tried to
fascinate witness. Witness looked at
pris'ner to rebuke her for not minding
to this discourse. Pris'ner turned up
her nose and gave her such fierce look
that witness was fascinated to take up
the hymn booke and was near about to
throw it at pris ner's head.
After her came brother Condemned
Fish who said that he remembered the
witness uplifting the book, and how he
stayed her rash hand. He concluded
by abruptly asking. "Isnot this enough?
Shall we not suddenly seize the tempter
and cast out Sathan from among us?"
"Thereupon," continues the manu-
scripts. ''up starts pris'ner and thrOWeS