Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-15
TUE DAYS OF wITCHORAFT.
| New Albany Woman Bewftched-
what the Witches Placed in Her
Pillows and he'd -SuperstittOn =

A New Albany Woman Bewitchesi-
what the witches Placed la Her
Pillows and Bed -Superstiuon
Run Mad.
From the Louisville Ledger. l3th.l
Strange as it may seem in this enlight-
ened age, there are many persons who
have enjoyed the excellent scholastic
advantages so literally provided by our
public school system, who are, neverthe-
less, the victims of the grossest super
stitions; who believe in ghosts, hobgob-
Inns, witches, charms, ct cetera. The
latest case we have heard, of this kind
of superstition, comes to us from our
neighboring city of New Albany, and it
is of so remarkable character that we
give it publicly through the columns of
the Ledger.
In New Albany there lives man
named Jacob Fez. He is man of good
education and has seen good deal Of the
world, aud does not hesitate to aver that
he is not imbued with the slightest touch
of superstition yet he believes in witches
and witchcraft. The wife of Mr. Fez
had for long time been afflicted with a
disease that baffled the skill Of her ply
sicians, most of whom were gentlemen
of education, large practice, and much
medical experience. All their medica-
ments failed either to remove the disease
or even improve the patient, and she
remained for months at time bedrid-
den and great sufferer.
Finally 1--WE tell the story as Mr.. Fez
himself related it to us) the invalid wife
was given up to die. But, by chance,
Mr. Fez met negro doctor and CON
jurer, named Anderson, who made in
quiry of Mr. f. Of the symptoms and
condition of his wife, he (the negro)
having heard of her case some time pre-
vious. The symptoms were given by
Fee, when the negro doctor at once pro-
nounced the woman victim OF witch
craft "She is certainly bewitched,
said the sable son of Esculapius; but
if you will employ me | will speedily re-
lieve her from her troubles and illness.
Mr.. Fez was much inclined to inhict
upon the negro doctor severe chastise-
ment, for his presumption, but the doc
tor insisted so pertinaciously upon his
ability to speedily heal the afflicted wo-
man, that Fez went home and related to
his wife what passed between him and
/ the negro. She insisted upon having
the sable physician called TO see her, and
Fez accordingly went for him. The ne
gro doctor, upon entering the house and
making few inquiries of her, turned to
her husband and said: There no mis-
take; your wife is bewilched open the
pillows and bed-tick and you will find
what the witches have done, and the
cause Of your wife's torment. The bed
! ba taI nf ha laxs
iish tricks of these witches, ana then
rise from her bed,
The husband wrath and disgust knew
no bounds; but after relieving himself
with numerous proiane aud intelligent
adjectiyes, he, at the persuasion of his
wife, allowed the negro doctor to open
the bed-tick and pillows and search for
tho witches charms. Fec says the re-
suit of the search was startling. Hand
full after handful of smooth pieces of
, wood stuck full of feathers, every imagi-
nable kind of seed, punches of feathers
sown together in shapeless masses by
various colored threads, corn husks, and
finally, an animal in the shape of a
kitten, with quills or feathers growing
from its skin, were taken from the bed
and pillows. And when these were re-
moved the invalid wife Immediately sat
up, and was entirely cured. Her hus-
band says she had not had two hours
uninterrupted sleep for weeks; but the
night of the removal of those devices of
the witches from the bed and pillows she
slept eight hours without awaking, and
when finally roused she was greatly re-
freshed, and apparently sound and we'll
Her good health continued for some
months, when she was again seized with
great violence by her old disease, and so
severe was her agony that she was heard
at a squares distance. The negro doc
tor was again sent for, and again took
from the bed and pillows similar hodge
podge to that taken therefrom at his pre-
vious visit. This done, the husband de-
clares, she Immediately quieted down,
soon after went to sleep and awoke next
morning in the best of health. And to
all and singular of the above he AYERS
his entire willingness to make affidavit.
And now come citizens of the sur
rounding country, as far out as Orleans
and Mitchell, asking deliverance at the
T. hands Of this colored doctor from the
, witches; and they say that he never fails
to find their beds and pillows filled with
: the Internal devices of these bad spirits,
: in the shape Of seeds, cats, little dogs,
l images, corn. oats, wheat, feathers sewed
in punches, sticks, blocks Of wood, bugs,
(not bed bugs) pieces Of old horse shoes,
. etc. The persons who so relate believe
every word they say; they aver that
. their faith in witches cannot be shaken,
; because of what they have seen, and
. they look upon the negro doctor with
= nothing less than reverence, as their
r savior from the witches, If those old
= Salem chaps were allowed to stray away
e from the torrid regions where they are
Q now expiating their sins, wouldn't they
T enjoy numerous bonfres at the expense
d of these infatuated believers In witch
: craft and the colored physician, DR..
y A Apdorann2