The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-22
"A Bewitched Farm House at
Cabarac.
Showers Of Mysterious Stones
and Bricks.
SRBEuEyERs STARTLED INTO CONVICTION
investigations by Archbishop and Parish
Priest Confirming the Stories.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
MARsEILLEs Feb. 2 1872
trial for witchcraft is decidedly healthy
change from those booa-and- thunder threatenings
OF demagogues which have been long occupying
me public MIND and public press. Possibly dema-
goguism and sorcery In France not far apart,
alter all; but the latter Is in some respects
lerable profession We don't burn witches IN these
times, though yepancne, the aemagogues DO their
hest to Durn us. which Is saddlng the other horse
with vengeance.
Well, we have had trial here, not precisely to
prove that the accused was a witch, but TO prove
that she mi ured her neighDors by her familiarity
with certain highly improper old gentleman.
Here Is the story. told last Saturday before the
COURT
The accused, Madame c., living IN the Rue de
u Magdelene, mas Tor some time enjoyed among
her nelghb0rs the reputation OF being o naasQue,
best translated Dy the word imp. Every accident
or misfortune that happened IN those 'digyins''
was charged to her malign influence, ana IN conse
qaence all sorts OF extraordinary things were done
to disenchant persons and things supposed to be
anected. A number OF ingenious but inen1caclous
methods OF exorcism practised were explained TO
the Court. For instance, young girl OF fourteen
opposed to having seen her mother ON several Occa-
sions
BOIL KNITTING NEEDLES IN OIL WITH CALVES
LIGHTS.
and then place them carefully on the door Sill, the
object being to disenchant the girl. Another wit
ness, a young man Of about twenty. said that
marriage he was aDout to contract was broken
on because he had been seen several times
IN the provision store kept by the witch-a
very earthly way, 1t must be allowed for witch to
earn her bread. The plaintiff IN the case, Madame
B., swore that whenever she met the accused
sne recited some Latin words and performed other
ceremonies order to prevent the sorceress from
bedevliling her. Now, ali TINS was more than even
Dewrtched or bewitcning nesh and blood could
sand and SO Madame O. determined to prove
90 Madame B. that II she had an ''evll eyer she
had also pretty good list OF her own. and She
proved 1t. The way the fur new was q caution.
Madame g chignon was carried away, Of
course, In sulphurous whirIwind, while couple Of
GOATS FEET DANCED CONTEMPORARY
on her torn and much bedraggled cap. justice,
with beard or formal cup and all that sort OF thing,
called up the parties, adjusted those e-honored
scales ana decided that both should be punished.
But It was such tender punishment The plaintiff
was nned 81, while the witch was charged So, but
1t is by means settled that the boiling Of knit
ttng-needles. &C., shall not 20 on as before.
But now let me call your attention to this other
picture OF far more interesting well startling
character. Some few weeks ago clipped from
newspaper letter from the parish priest Of village
near Toulouse called Cabanac, concerning certain
supernatural demonstrations which had occurred
upon certain farm in that parish.
THE REVEREND GENTLEMAN
writes simply to confirm o statement made by M.
De Limayrac, a gentleman well known in the de-
partment relative to the occurrences in question.
II Is stated by N. de Limayrac, VINO visited the
ao,rn Axrtvx
parish priest. VINO also Witnessed tnom. that from
the 9Th to tie Soth Of last October large pebbles
stones and pieces of BRICK VARYING In weight from
half pound to eight and ten pounds, fell around
that particular farm, aud through the roof Of the
house, without any damage to the roof injury to
the persons struck. The minutest Investigations
hted to reveal any human agency In the matter;
and, in fact II q man see large stone descend
slowly through the ceiling Of his room, without
leaving upon the ceiling
THE SLIGHTEST TRACE OF IT'S PASSAGE,
II b not necessary to look any further. This
n what M. de Limayrac and the parish priest
have stated, adding that upwards 0f sixty other
Witnesses would testify to IT. IL was stated, fur.
ther that the Archbishop OF the diocese ordered an
inquiry and summoned before MIN the Witnesses Of
the Manifestations This was done after the civil
authorities had become convinced that there was no
human agency at work, and therefore no one to 90.
cuse or arrest
Ny curiosity having been much stimulated
wrote to the parish priest requesting further par.
nculars and, II possible, some extracts from the
mass Of evidence in possession Of The archbishop.
Ireceived very courteous and lengthy reply con-
tanning the statements or two or three, witnesses
regarded by all who knew them as unbelievers, In
noels and scoIers the best kind OF witnesses in a
case Of this kind. In short, here is goodly portion
Of the reverend gentleman's letter.
"In all my parish, IN the nelgnboring parishes
and throughout the entire canton, there Is not
SINGLE person who does not believe in the autnen.
ITCHY and supernatural character OF the extra
ordinary facts that have occurred at Cabanac con.
sisting In the
FALLING OF STONES AND PIECES OF BRICK
invariably thrown at the members OF poor family
and others happening TO be on their farm. The In.
curry ordered by rne Archbishop has been made
The same forms were observed as are usual In a
judicial inquiry, ana from fifty to sixty witnesses
were heard. Precisely the same evidence was
given by each-namely, that they saw stones and
pieces Of brick fall which were not thrown By any
human hand or by any human agency. ana Snat
those projectiles produced effects contrary to all
known laws of nature. Each witness signed his
or her deposition under oath. The Committee Of
Inquiry, presided over Dy the dean OF the canton
CHE word dean here means the Oldest inhabi-
tamil concluded in their report that all the alleged
facts were the result Of dlabolica agency. Never
theless. MonseIgneur (the Archbishop has deemed
It more prudent not to publish the minutes tproces
ceroaD and report Of the committed, for two rea-
sonshrst in order not to arouse useless discussion
in the present condition OF mems minds In France
and second, not to expose himself to insulting COM
ments In . question which might excite curiosity
without converting souls These are sound reasons.
Besides for US Catholics, We
BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL SPIRITS,
In their power and in the manifestation OF that
power in the physical as well as In the moral world,
IN their hatred OF God and their jealousy OF The
anair OF Cabanac viii not change our belief one
hairs breath, but Will only serve to confirm It."
In esxaa A.