The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-06-05
THE OLD-TIME SPIRITS.

THE OLD-TIME SPIRITS,
During the winter of 1891 . a circl
nf young girls was formed in Salon
Farms. which met at the house of tn
Rev. MIR. Paris, for the practice O
palmistry, and fortune telling. NEGRO
NANCY, magic. and spiritualism. I,
ms circle there were "a Elizabeth
Parls, the minister's daughter. apet
nine Yeas, who first had leading par
IN the subsequent excitements, but wa
carry removed from them by her father
S2l Abigail Williams, Paris niece
living IN his house, aged eleven q
Ann Putnam, AGED twelve, daughter Of
the parish clerk and recorder. a prom
lnent man at the Farms; az Mar,
Walcott. seventeen, daughter of iona.
than Walcatt. Mir. Paris next-door
nelghbor; 90 Mercy Lewis, seventeen
(6) Elizabeth Hubbard, seventeen. niece
OF Or. Griggs, the village physician,
and resident IN his fenaily :(7-S) Eliza.
beth Booth, Susannah Sheldon, each
eighteen, belonging to families living
near at hand ; 90 Mary Warren. aged
twenty, servant in the family of John
frocto:, who was brought to the
s SO by the girls; and 0O) Sarah
SaurchllI, a servant in the family of
george Jacobs, Sr. Her employer also
became their victim. With these ten,
otner persons were drawn to act. There
we're John Indian and Tituba, two
slaves of Mr.. Paris, who probably
we're brought to the COLONY from the
Barbados, and besides these. one or
Two others; but the girls, with the
slaves, formed Che circle. and were the
leading characters in the events which
nave Deen q horror and mystery ever
since they tfanspired. In those events
.hese girls were bold and even vicious
IN tnelr bearing, and evinced an utter
absence OF con,punction or commisser-
s!lon except in one or two instances,
displaying complete disregard of the
agony and destruction which they
Drought upon others.
In the course of the winter thew he
came expert in the arts they were learn
ing: Gradually they came to exhibit
tner attainments to beholders. At first
sneee exhibitions consisted in creepiup
INTO hoies, and under benches and
cna,rs putting themselves into odd and
unnatufai postures, making wild ges-
lures, and uttering incoherent and nm
1nteinglble sounds. Then thew were
seiled With spasms, dropped insensible
70 the floor, or writhed in agony. pre-
tending 70 suffer fortunes, with lond and
piercing outcries. Naturally thew be-
gan TO draw upon themselves general
sentIon. 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
On. as soon as Or. Griggs was called in.
ana had examined them, he declared
Lnem oewltched. In those days, and
Praor 20 those days, physicians fire.
quently disposed of difficult cases which
came before them by such a resort.
Inc profession must bear its fair share
rences.
AT once people were excited and
alarmed. They fiocked IN the oin;s M
tsr's house from all quarters. The girls
varied and expanded their manifesto.
TONS, beginning to disturb PRAYER meet
lngs and services on the Lords dav.
AT this soms PERSONS expressed disan.
probation, and, though no accusations
had as yet been made by the children
hese persons, as the sequel shows. were
Immediately marked. Families to which
the girls belonged began to fast and to
pray. Neighbors came in with the
munster, and duplicated God to deliver
them from Satan. In the intervals of
service the afflicted would break ont
prayer. '-,o
In due time the Rev. Mr.. Paris had
the ministers of the region together at
MS honse. They spent the day with
each other-the children performing
before them-and we're all astounded.
Forthwith they corroborated DIR. Grigr's
opinion as to the ailment of the "af.
hicted. saying that the devil had com
operations on a grander scale |
ana with holder front than ever before |
70 any country. This Judgment of theirs |
vas spread abroad, and public opinion |
becoming fixed, men and women left |
neids, houses, and labors, to witness this
awful unfolding of demoniac power.
AS 1t was an established doctrine of |
theology, philosophy, and law, that the
iev1l could not operate upon mortals or
mortal affairs, except through human
beings IN connection with him C..
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 it that bewitches
you was urgently pressed upon them,
ana without much Delay they began to
Indicate individuals. One after another
'hey erie1 out: "Good - "Osburn !"
: Ihuba y On February 30, therefore.
Edward Putnam, Thomas Preston. and |
-homas Putnam, all leading men. svors1
.ut warrants against these three perssns.
Thomas Preston was a son -ip-1aw of
francis Nurse, whose wife Rebecca
sur e, will be a marked fieIa tfore us.
OF III |
.uredly, until all VI going for
March ~, JoE nd Jonathan
-sorwiD, justic e from Salem
own, enter arms, and refined
p a. Zngersoll's door. But
DfOwd was found to be in at.
Ice, that adjournment was had to
he Westinghouse. The magistrates
'ok seats IN froLt of the pulpit, faced
ne assembly. and announced that they
ere ready. The prisoners we're brought
! and put upon a platform, in sight of
II present. The officers in charge of
nem said they bad made diligent search
oe images or puppets, belonging 10 the
csused, bnt had found none. PRAYER
'as offered, and Sarah Good was exam
ms woman was an object of general
i'si1ke. Her husband, weak, depend
mt person, had become alienated from
Ter; She was forlorn, friendless-
'roken down by her sad condition and
lad repu'e The minutes of her cyan
nation aro in the handwriting of Ezekiel
'heever, the village schoolmaster, as
pillows:
Sarah Good, what evil spirit have
on familiarity with ?"
None."
Have you made no contract with
no devil?"
NO"
Why do you hurt these children ?"
do not nurt them L fcotn it."
Who do you EN- ,Dloy then to do it?"
"I employ nobody"
WHAT creature do you employ,
len p
" No creature; but 7 am falsely nc
Ised."
A." Wby did vou no aUsv .nuita,ino, |