The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-23
A Bewitched Boy.

IPottstOwn Cor OF the Eeadlng IA. Easlc.l
You have, no doubt, ere this heard about
the bewitched Diener boy AT Bovertown. The
story Is the event of the season, and nothing
else is talked about in this region. For the
PURPOSE of getting the facts in the case, we
Yesterday visited Bovertown and interviewed
The lad and his parents. The lad said he was
nearly ten wears old and that his name was
Henry Oscar Diencr. lie is OF stout build,
regular features, rosy cheeks, clear, intelli-
gent blue eyes, and prominent forehead
He convcrses with ease and appeares to
have had some little education. His general
appearance indicated health, ard no matter
what produces the spells" with which he is
afflicted, no bodily ailment was noticeable.
Here is what his father, Adam Diener, and
his mother, who formerly resided in Reading,
had to say about the remarkable affair:
Last March one year ago he had the first
spell, and with the exception OF several
months last spring he had one, and sometimes
two, every day. While the fit IS on, his eyes
become CLASSY, face contorted, hands cold and
skin OF llvid hue. lie will spring over
chairs, sit on their backs squirrel fashion,
suspend himself by his hands to nails In the
wall, lump out and in windows, and perform
feat which the most expert show actor
would not dare to uudertake-that Is, of
walking around the room on the surbase, the
width of which Is not over one inch. Tie at
times becomes furious, and the family are
Obliged to keep their distance. He scratches
and bites but does not raise an arm to strike
He passes around the floor on all fours like
n dog or any other four-foOted animal. He
initiates to perfection the mewing of cat,
the barking of dog, the chipping of abird
neighing of horse, and the bleating of
lamb. While the spell is on he frequently
breaks crockery ware and upsets furniture,
but was never known TO sustain any Injury
to his person therefrom. The ut, or Whatever
1t may be termed, usually lasts about huff an
hour, aud when it leaves him, he awafs as
from dream, seemingly much refreshed.
He can ;ell all that took place while i'd that
state with clearncss and minuteness most
remarkable. Now the family really I'D ieve
that the boy is bewitched and base ther ar
guuents on the following incidents connect
ed with the affair:
The first day he had a spell il was breight
about, they say, through him falling outkith
an old woman of seventy, residing with her
daughter in Englevlle, about one mileldis.
tant This woman is said to be a sort oflsor-
ceress, and from some cause not explained
she took a deep dislike 10 the boy. lie lass-
ed her house daily on his way TO school snd
on one occasion when he refused 10 accept a
piece of bread from her hands, she went liver
a lon q rIgmarole of incantations, and reElirk-
ed that the devil would take possession ofhis
body for certain time every day OF his liie.
Last April the old bag visited Chester county,
and remained away until about two weeks
ago. Most remarkable TO state the boy had
no spells while she was gone, but on the very
day of her return they returned also. The
woman on that day was seen by the neigh
Al. 4V,r~
peculiar motions with her arms, and drawing
circles in the sand. Last Thursday MIR. Die
ner took his son to Reading to a witch COO
tor on Neversink street, who now has his
case in hand No medicine was prescribed,
the moius operandi of the treatment beng
purely of the black art kind, and the family
are forbidden to divulge the nature of the ca
balistic signs and iRcantatiOIs they are
obliged to perform.
Yesterday, one week ago, while father AID
son were sitting On settee in down stairs