The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-10
SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS OF
THE PAST.

During the winter of 1912 a circle
of young girls IVES formed in Salem
Farms, which met at the house of the
Rev. Mr.. Paris, for the practice of
palmistry, and fortune telling, NEGRO
NANCY, magic, and spiritualism. In
this circle there were % Elizabeth
Paris, the minister's daughter, aged
nine years, who first had a leading part
in the subsequent excitements, but was
early removed from them by her father;
(2) Abigail Williams, Paris niece,
living in his house, aged eleven C3)
Ann Putnam, ed twelve, daughter of
the parish clerk and recorder, q prom
inent man at the Farms; a. Mary
WalcOtt. seventeen, dsugbter of Jona-
than Walcett, Mr.. Paris next-door
neiRhbOr T; 20 Mercy Lewis, seventeen /;
(6) Elizabeth Hubbard, seventeen, niece
of Dr. Griggs, the village physician,
and resident Iii his family ;(7-8) Eliza
beth Booth, Susannah Sheldon, each
eighteen, belonging to families living
near at hand 90 Mary Warren, aged
twenty, a servant in the family of John
Proctor, who was brought to the
scaffold by the girls; and 1O) Sarah
Churchill, a servant in the family of
George Jacobs, Sr. Her employer also
became their victim. With these ten,
other persons were drawn TO act. There
were John Indian and Tituba, two
slaves of Mr.. Paris, who probably
were brought TO the colony from the
Barbados, and besides these. one or
two others; but the girls, with the
slaves, formed the circle, and were the
leading characters in the events which
have been horror and mystery ever
since they transpired. In those events
these girls were bold and even vicious
in their bearing, and evinced an utter
| absence of cOmpunction or commisser-
alton except in one or two instances,
displaying a complete disregard of the
agony and destruction which they
brought upon others.
In the course of the winter they be-
came expert in the arts they were learn
ing. Gradually they came to exhibit
their attainments to beholders. At first
these exhibitions consisted in creeping
into holes, and under benches and
chairs putting themselves into odd and
unnatural postures, making wild ges-
tures, and uttering incoherent and un-
Ineligible sounds. Then they were
seized with spasms, dropped insensible
to the floor, or wTithed in agony, pre-
tending to suffer tortures, with loud and
piercing Outcries. Naturally they be-
gan to draw upon themselves generSl
attention. Soon they came to be styled
''the afflicted children" In the early
stages no explanation of their condition
was so much as suggested by any one
but as soon as DR.. Griggs was called in,
and had examined them, he declared
them bewitehed. In those days, and
prior to those days. physicians fire.
queutly disposed of difficult cases which
came before them by such a resort
The profession must bear its fair share
of responsibility for succeeding occur
rences.
At once people were excited and
alarmed. They fiocked to the minis
ter's house from all quarters. The girls
varied and expanded their manifesto
tions, beginning to disturb prayer meet
ings and services on the Lords dav.
At this some persons expressed dieap-
probation, and, though no accusations
had as yet been made by the children,
these persons, as the sequel shows, were
Immediately marked. Families to which
the girls belonged began TO fast and to
pray. Neighbors came III with the
minister, and supplcated God to deliver
them from Satan. In the intervals OF
service the sfflicted would break out
with their cries, though not during the
prayer.
In due time the Rev. Mr.. Paris had
the ministers of the region together at
| his house. They spent the day with
each otber-the children performing
| before them-and were all astuunded.
| Forthwith they corroborated DR.. Grigg'
/ opinion as 70 the ailment of the - af-
| ficted, " saying that the devil had com
menced operations on a grander scale
/ and with bolder front than ever before
/ in any country. This Judgment OF theirs
was spread abroad, and public opinion
/ becoming fixed, men and women left
! fields, houses, and lRbOrs, to witness this
/ awful unfolding of demoniac power.
/ As it was an established doctrine OF
| theology, phil sophy, and law, that the
| devil could not operate upon mortals OF
mortal affairs, except through human
/ beings IN connection with him G.,
! through witches-the question speedily
/ arose. Who bewitched these girls ? The
! girls held back from mentioning names.
/ Public excitement deepened. But the
! inquiry, "Who Is Il that bewltches
You ?" was urgently pressed upon them,
snd without much delay they began tC
| indicate individuals. One after another
they cried ont GOOD = Osburn 7
" Tituba - On February %, therefore
Edward Putnam, Thomas Preston, and
Thomas Putnam, all leading men, swOrt
ont warrants against these three persons
Thomas Preston was a son in law oi
/ Francis Nurse, whose wife, Rebeccl
/ Nurse, Will be a marked figure before us
Such a step ns this was not taken, as
/ suredly, until all was ripe for gong for