The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-06-04
THE OLD-TIME SPIRTIS.

OF young girls was formed in Salem
Farms, which met at the house of the
haV. MIR. Paris, for the practice of
palmlstry, and fortune telling. NEGRO
NANCY, magic, and spiritualism. In
this circle there were On Elizabeth
Parls, the minister's daughter. aged
nine years, who first had G leading part
IN the subsequent excitements. but was
early removed from them by her father:
- Abigail Williams, Paris niece,
living IN his house, aged eleven 81
Ann Putnam, aged twelve. daughter of
the parish clerk and recorder. a prom
Inent man at the Farms; a. Mary
WalcoCI. seventeen, daughter of JOna-
tham Waicett, Mr.. Paris next-door
neighbor % Mercy Lewis, seventeen;
io} Ehzabeth Hubbard, seventeen, niece
Oh Dr' Gnggs, the village physician,
ana resident in his family ;(7-S) Eliza
peth Booth, Susannah Sheldon, each
eighteen, belonging to families living
near at hand ; CO. Mary Warren, aged
twenty, a servant in the family of John
IroeI9T' who was brought to the
sGanold by the girls; and 90 Sarah
SnurohlIl, servant in the family of
TeOrge jacobs, Sr. Her employer also
became thelr victim. With these ten.
were John Indian ard 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
nave been horror and mystery ever
since they transpired. In those events
these girls were bold and even yIciOus
IN their bearing, and evinced an utter
aoSehce OF cOmpUnctiOn or cOmmisser-
atIcl except In one or two instances.
displaying complete disregard of the
agony and destruction which thew
brought upon others.
In the course of the winter they he
came expert in the arts they were learn
ing. GRADUALLY they came TO EXHIBIT
their attalnments to beholders. Atfirst
THESE exhibitions consisted in oreepino
INTO holes, and under benches and
chars; putting themselves into odd and
unnatural postures, making wild ges-
lures, and uttering incOherent and nm
Inteillglble sounds. Then thew were
seized with spasms, dropped insensible
20 the floor, or writhGd in agony. pre-
tending TO suffer fortunes, with I01d and
piercing outcries. Naturally thew be-
gan to draw upon themselves general
attention. Soon they came TO be STYLED
the afflicted children" In the early
stages no explanation of their condition
was 30 much as suggested by any one :;
O"I As soon as DIR. Griggs was called in,
ana had examined them, he declared
Chem beWItched. In those DAYS, and
PRIOR to those days, physicians fire.
quently disposed of difficult cases which
ian name before them by such resort,
ne profession must bear it's fair share
o1 responsibility for succeeding occur-
renCes.
At once people were excited and
aiafmed' They flOcked to the minis
Ter house from all quarters. The girls
Narieu anu expanded their manifesto
Siohs, beginning to disturb prayer.meet-
lu8s ana services on the Lords day.
Al TINS som ersOns expressed disap-
Prop8Vloh, and, though no accusations
iau as yet been made by the children.
theSe persons, as the sequel shows, were
Immediately marked. Families IN which
the girls belonged began to fast and TO
pray. NeighbOrs came in wifi tbo
minister, and supplcated God to deliver
them from Satan. In the intervals of
service the afflicted would break ont
with their cries, though not during the
prayer. viz
., In due time the Rev. MIR. Paris had
Sie ministers OF the region together ut
his house. They spent the dav With
eaCl other-tho children performing
before thcm-and were all astDunded
forthwith they CorroLorated DR.. Grigp's
opinion rs to the aiIment of the :" af
hlcteG, saying that the devil had com
menced operations on a grander scale
ana with holder front than ever before
IN any country. This Judgment of theirs
was spread abroad, and public opinion
Incoming fixed, men and women left
heids, houses, and l3bOrs, to witness this
awful unfolding of demOniac power.
AS IL was an established doctrine of
theoiogy, philosophy, and law, that the
ueNll could not operate upon mortals or
mortal AFFAIRS, except through human
beings IN connection with him r..
through wltches-the question speedily
arose, Who bewitched these girls ? The
girls held back from mentioning names.
fubllc excitement deepened. But the
inquiry, "WhO is it that bewitches
yon ? was urgently pressed upon them.
and without much delay they began to
indicate individuals One after another
they crIei ont : Good :" Osburn -
Iltubs = On February 20, therefore.
Edward Putnam, Thomas Preston, and
Thomas Putnam, all leading men, swOre
out warrants against these three Dersons
Thomas Preston was a son -in-l8w of
Francls Nurse, whose wife. Rebecra
Nur e, viii I've marked figure before MS.
Such step as TINS was not taken. as
suredly, until ell was ripe for going for
ward and accordingly, on the next dav
lharch ,, John HathOrne and jonathan
0orWln, Justices of the peace from Salem
Town, entered the Farms, and refined
up nj Nathaniel Ingersoll's door. Rnt
SO Greas crowd was found to be in at
tendance, that adjournment was had 10
the meeting house. The maoistratas
took seats in front of the pulpit- faced
the assembly. aud announced that tbev
were ready. The prisoners were brouCht
IN and put upon platform, in sight of
AL present. The officers in charge of
them said they had made diligent search
TOR images or puppets, belonging 10 the
accused, but had found none. PRAYER
was offered, aud Sarah Good was exam
ind.
This woman Was an object of general
dislike. Her husband, weak, depend-
ent person, had become alienated from
her. She was fOrlorn, friendless-
broken down by Der sad condition and
bad TepUe The minutes of her exam.
ination ave- in the handwriting of Ezekiel
Cheever, the village schoolmaster, as
follows
Sarah Good, what evil spirit have
yOu familiarity witn2"
None
Have you made no contract with
the deyil?"
mo"
Why do you hurt. these children ?"
81 do not nurt them | scom it.
"Who do you EN- Jloy then to do it?'
employ nobody"
What creature do ynu employ,
then ?"
"No creature; bnt am falsely &C
cused." we
Why did you go away muttering
from Mr. Paris house?'
al did not mutter, but l thanked him
for what he gave my child"