The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-02

How FARMER WAS CURED OF HIS SUPER
sTITIoN.-A month OF six weeks ago an Oak
land county (NIich.) farmer named NJ. =.
Foster had two horses stolen from his prcmi-
SEES; at least he concluded that they had been
stolen, although there was equal reason to
believe that they had stl7lyeu away, they
having been turned into lot from whence
it was easy to escape to the highway. He
hunted for them several days, and not find
ing any trace, concluded to so to Detroit and
leave notice with the Chief of Police, think
ing that the detectives might render him
some assistance. He went there some time
ago, but relating his loss to an audience on
the Campus Martius, one of his hearers dis
suaded him from going to the City Hall.
He was told that the chief would charge
him hundred dollars if lie recovered the
horses, and lots Of other such nonsense; and
he was then advised to accompany the man
to the house of a travelling clairvovant in the
northeastern part of the city. lie went With
the man, who gave his name Il, Leveter, and
in an interview with the woman was told
that he could recover his lost animals for the
sum Of twenty dollars.
Foster was delighted with the proposition,
being somewhat superstitious in his nature.
He came into the State last fall from Penn
sylvania, coming from section where spirit
mediums, ghOstly rappings, and speeches
from those long mouldered to dust had often
excited the community. He accordingly paid
over the money, or SIS of it, and the woman
Topped over on her chair, closed her eyes, and
after few minutes of travel in the spirit land
and conversation with her dead sister, re-
ported that his horses were in the possession
of man named Leroy at 4 hamlet in Oakland
county called Four Towns. Firmly believing
that such was the case, Foster departed, agree
| ing to come up again within week and pay
the balance of the $40. lie went to -Four
Towns, and his confidence in the spiritual
| business was considerably shaken by learn
| ing that his horses were not in the possession
of Mr.. Leroy, and could not we'll be, as no
such man lived in that locality. He re-
| turned to Detroit next day and had another
| interview. The woman told him that she
| had ascertained her mistake soon after he left
| the house, cher sister" informing her that
the horses were ut a hotel barn in Pontiac,
where they had been sold by the man who
stole them. g.,9 sf: .sa~E III.
She described the thief-tried to describe
the horses-and the foolish farmer went to
Pontiac. Of course the mission was unSuc-
cessful, and he returned to Detroit week
ago last Tuesday. He came early in the
| IuOl lOuuN tuO NoLluh ah ioiiiS ,
and remained all day, all night, and caught
her sat home" at noon next day. She pro-
fesscd to believe that he had not visited
Pontiac, and then declared that the reason
he did not find his horses was because he
had not paid her enough money. He was
cajoled into giving her $50 more, and this
time she "found" the horses near Ann
Arbor. 1t so happened that Foster had Il
friend there and saved the journey by drop
ping letter to the man. The answer came
back day or two ago that the horses, were
not there, and the farmer came to town on
Thursday with blood in his eyes.
There was, however, no chance to murder
any one, as the family in which the;woman
was living exhibited letters from her posted
ut Toledo, to which place she .journeyed last
Friday, fearing that she would be exposed
and arrested. Foster says that she was a
foreigner, French woman, he thinks, as she
| gave him name as long as broom.handle,
and claimed to have been the Emperors
right-hand "man' in matters Of prophecy.
She came to Detroit about ten weeks ago,
| and the farmer is not her only victim by any
means. Foster" tore around" for while,
but finding he was victim, at length con-
Guided to make the best of it, although VOW
ing that he was SO entirely cured OF his iSno-
| rant superstition2 that he would kick the
ghost of his grandfather if he ever had the
| opportunity. Iii ~ ma, -. 4