The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-06-01
THE uAusrED HOUSE OF WOOSTER.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF WOOSTER.
The evil spirit. or IT, haunting the
house of Mr.. David Hoffman, in the
suburbs of Wooster, continues in its
turbulent ways, and still remains
mystery. 1t is the theme of CONVEX
sation and speculation among all
classes of the city, and creates the
sensation of curiosity, amusement or
fear, according to individual temper
ament. Practical people charge that
the so-called spiritual manifestations
are the legerdemain tricks of the liv
ing female members of the family,
but thus far have no facts to sustain
the theory, although considerable de-
tectiye ability has been exercised.
The family Indignantly deny, and
with plausible 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 are very anxious to be
relieved of their unknown malignant
enemy, who is running them financial
ly, and in every manner giving them
the greatest discomfort. They are
afraid to sleep in separate chambers,
and therefore bed in one room, fire.
quently disturbed and frightened by
unearthly noises. Nothing they pos
sess appears safe. Clothing, furni-
ture and provisions alike disappear.
Crockery ware flies to pieces, five
dollars worth of lard, a quantity of
butter, eggs and several other things
pertaining to the larder, unceremoni-
ously disappeared lately.
So many persons are constantly
calling at the house that the family
admit but few, on account of pres
sure. About three hundred were re-
fused last Sabbath. On one occasion
several were declined admission be-
cause some spiritualists were at that
moment deep in the mystic rites of
holding " circle" to which faith it
is said Mrs. Hoffman is almost per-
suaded, having no other particular re-
ligion.
The evil genius of her house, she
sometimes is constrained to believe,
is the spirit of her deceased sister,
who died in Holmes county, Ohio, a
few months before it began opera
tions. Again. she imagines that IT
might be the ghost of her father yet
thinks he wouldn't have the heart to
bewitch her family. And SO on, un-
til many are under suspicion of not
being as good as they might be.
In fact for "ways that are dark"
the operations at the house are pecu-
liar. Mr.. Hoffman, who is common
place man, and one well known for
many years in Wayne county, as an
upright citizen, can not see through
the milestone, although himself a mil
ler. He wants to go away, for IT
never molests him only when he is
with his family, when the spirit busi-
ness is above par, cutting up his
clothes, purloining his money which
he works hard for, and taking away
provisions he provides for his fami-
ly. All his good clothes are gone
His old working suit he protects from
the destroyer by placing it under his
pillow at night. His money-what
little he has-he saves by wrapping
his pocket book in handkerchief
which he ties around his body, un-
derneatb his shirt. He remains with
the family because of their beseech-
ing tears to stay as their protector
They become almost frantic with
grief if the old man offers to go. He
is kind father and good husband:
and if the outrages upon him are
committed by members of his family,
it would be ungrateful, if not worse.
When his boots were returned, all
cut to pieces, a copy of the New Tes-
lament lay over them, opened at xviii.
chapter of Acts. At two subsequent
times the Testament mysteriously
opened at iii. of Acts, and xiv. of St.
John. The leaf was turned down in
each instance, but no verse marked.
Many seemingly strange things are
done. Tor example, a trunk was
packed and locked preparatory to
moving. When no one was near it,
the lid was raised by an unseen hand
and the clothing thrown out upon the
floor. The trunk was repacked and
locked; again the lid was lifted, and
a muff at the bottom thrown out,
without the least disturbing the ap-
parel on top. This manifestation
finally concluded by IT saving the
lock out of the trunk.
Night appears to be the season of
greatest annoyance, full of noises,
and general disturbance
One night the two daughters were
awakened from sleep by the sensation
of being punctured with pins, and
sprang from bed and ran into their
room, where they remained
the remainder of the night, afraid to
return to their own chamb Der. The
clothing of the family having nearly
all been destroyed, the spirits turn at
tention to that of visitors, and play
havoc. Several persons clothes have
been cut while in the house, one lady
having her dress ruined, and another
rent, and this, too, done in daylight |
in the presence of individuals who |
were ON the watch for such depreda-
tions.
One afternoon lately, at the request
of G. M. Kenton, editor of the Shreve |
Mirror, our reporter accompanied him
and two other gentlemen to Mr.. Hoff-
mans house, where they were shown
every courtesy, by way of exhibiting
piles of cut up garments, etc., and re-
lating the various annoyances to which |
the family were almost daily and |
nightly subjected. When about to
take their departure, it was found |
that the reporters hat 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, OF the action
would have been observed. The cuts
were clear, as if done with some Ian
of instrument.-W Wooster Re-
publican.
A LITTLE MIXED.-An editor wrote
two paragraphs-onea an account of q |