The Greenville times., 1874-10-03
Edltor's Drawer.

y JuHu HUN, Loiu &Ai'i NstANe VI
esteemed by his eontcm-
as we'll as by men of
after-ages, as an embodiment both
ofthe law aud of justice, was pre-
siding at the assizes held in and
for hls native county of Oxford.
A dccrepit old woman was put on
trial, charged with the crime of
The history OF she
case. the oflcnse of which the
prisoner was alleged to be guilty,
were laid before the jury by the
Acknowledgement prosecuting for
the Crown. The Chief Justice
listened to the opening of the case
with unusual carnestness, for
there was recalled to his memory
a curious incident connected with
his own early life. When a stu
dent at the University of Oxford
his habits were wild and irregu-
lar. and he gave no promise of his
great future eminencc. In COM
pany with several other young
students he had been for several
days on q carousc through some OF
the country places In the vicinity
of Oxford. Young Holt had scpa-
rated himself from his compan-
ions, and riding up to q way-side
inn, without any mouey in his
pocket, he vet directed his horse
to be fed and an ample 6inner pre-
pared for himself Strolling into
the kitchen he noticed the daught-
er of the hostess was sick, and
was told by her mother that she
was q great sufferer from fever
aeue, and that the doctors had
been unable to cure her. Tie
young collegian at once declared
his ability to effect cure. TAX
inf piece ofparchment, he wrote
upon II a cabalistic word in the
Greek characters, boundit tightly
upon the wrist of the girl, and
assured her that while she retain
ed 1t she would have no further
return Of her chills and fever. lie
remained at the inn for several
days, andthe girl had no return OF
| her sickness. When demanding
his bill, the grateful mother said
she had 10 charge against him
and only regretted that he limitet
means would not permit her *
make him more ample paymen
for the healing of her daughter
lie rode away in triumph. An'
now, as he sat on the bench as tn
Lord Chief Justice of England, h
knew that the decrepit old woman
on trial for her life before hin
was the daughter of the womal
who kept the way-side inn, AM
, upon whose wrist he had boun'
the parchment charm forty year
:, before. as. -
She had followed in his ow
. footsteps, and had boen using tn
: charm for the beneft Of her neigl
bors and friends. The Chief jus
, tice called her up, and as she III
= folded some old greasy rags, sll
!, presented to him the well-wor
parchment with the Skalisti
: word in his own hand writin
! written upon it. Ii is needless |
j. add that the woman was at one
h discharged. II The great Chi
q Justice had previously entertain
. cd any doubts on the subject |
y witchcraft, they were now n
il moved.
There is a curious sequel to I'll
incident above related. Son
twenty-five years ago the writer
this article was sitting in I'll
k private office in Wall Street of II
= late Mr.. S., then wealthy II
d tired merchant, and acting pres
n dent of one Of the principal Wa
o Street banks. Iic was quain
l. curious man, fond of the marv'
l. lous, and disposed to belief
u spiritulism, then first coming int
, prominent notice. Our conversi
k tion had been continued for SON
n time, discussing Scottish secont
sight. supernatural appearance
:, ans especially Kidd's buried treal
u ures, when he suddenly change
4 the subject, saying, abruptly, :
II can cure the fever and ague." o
d asking how, he produced q sna
piece Of parchment with 9 cabali'
> tic word written on it inthe Gree
\ characters, saying it must b
" bound on the wrist, and the dis
% ease viii disappear or 20 ava,
. He did not tell me how or whe
! he had obtained the wonderf'
" charm. Nor was | II that TIM
=, aware Of the trial before, refeffe,'
d TO. and sure am / that he coul.
a have had no knowledge OF II. z
II hundred and fifty years had com
and gone since the tallacy ha'
been exposed BY Lord Chief jus
,e t;ee Holt. It's probable that a
d sometjme during the forty year
h nrecccding that trial the woman
k possessing the pretended charm
IS Ind communicated the secret, ans
) given copy to some friend emf
3 Grating to America, and that !
q may have boon handed dowi
. 4l.,,,,.h eu.wn-eivn pnprratiONa