The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-09
From the New York IIeral1.l
POSSESSED OF THE DEVIL.
A Remarkable Case Defying Medical Sap
lenCe

A Remarkable Case Defying Medical Sap
fence.
SpRINeBoRouGH Crawford county, Pa,
March 3, 1S76.-William Hutchinson is a
we'll TODD farmer, residing about mile
from Springfield, Erie county, Pa. Du-
ring the greater part of his life-he is now
in the vicinity of so years of age-he has
resided there, and has raised quite Il large
family of children. He was always a re-
markedly healthy man, never was troubled
with any disorder whatever, except those
incident to childhood, and is devout chrie-
tan and well respected by all who know
him. One winters evening, IL years ago,
he was suddenly seizes with violent con-
vulsons. His violence was such that it re-
qured the united strength of five men to
hold him. His eontortions are described
as simply horrible-eyery muscle in his
body seemed to writhe and twist, his limbs
and arms were flung about convusively,
his face was contorted to a hideous degree,
and, as one of my informants said, he
"would assume all manner of shapes, ac-
tually tying himself into a knot, until it
seemed as though every bone in his body
must break" These commissions lasted
nearly two hours, and finally passed off,
leaving the victim in state OF unfeizned
bewilderment. lie stated that he was con-
scious during the whole time, but had no
control over himself He experienced no
pain, and after they had left him felt per-
iectly natural.
PHYSICIANS IN vAIS.
The affair caused considerable comment,
and was regarded as a most remarkable in
cident. The general astonishment was
much increased, however, when the follow
ing evening, at the same hour, and in the
same manner, the gentleman was again at
tackled. The same involuntary exercises
were gone through with, and after two
hours had elapsed the victim arose, feeling
if possible, more bewildered than ever.
But the end was not yet. The next night
and the next, and every night for upward
of two weeks, Mr.. Hutchinson found himself
compelled to conduct himself in this ex-
traordinary manner Physicians were
called in, but all in vain; they could not
grasp the case, and their remedies were
alike useless. Chloroform produced no
more effect upon him than so much water.
Morphine, taken internally and injected
into the blood, proved as useless as the
chloroform. They even piled him with Ii
quor and made him dead drunk, but as
soon as the hour arrived for his "vistahon'
the effects of the liquor disappeared, and
after "convulsing" for the usual time he
w ould emerge sober man. The case was
wholly incomprehensible, and long after
the disorder left him was the talk Of the
town. The remainder of the winter Mr.
Iutchison was entirely free from these
strange attacks, and during the following
summer pursued his ayocaten as q farmer
in peace, with nothing to diaturDhim in re-
gard to the affair except in the way of oc-
casional unpleasant "reminiscences. The
anniversary of his first attack approached
and finally arrived. 1t was not necessary
for Mr.. Hutchison to look into an almanac
TO see whether it was the anniversary. HI
was reminded in more forcible way by {
sudden return of his dread malady. The
same performance was given as the yeal
previous, and after the spasms had passed
Mr.. Hutchinson began to wonder what kinC
of man he was anyhow. He laughed an(
joked over the matter, and spoke of putting
his strange visitations to advantage by join
ing some circus. These attacks lasted thu
same period as the year before, coming ev
cry evening at the same hour and remain
ing with him for nearly two hours, ant
then they left him as suddenly as before
MEDICAL SCIENCE NoNpLUssED.
The following year Mr.. Hutchinson wa
again attacked and for two weeks indulge(
in these mysterious gymnastics. He began
to grow tired of it. There was too mucl
sameness about the manner and time Of con
Quoting these ceremonies. He went to
medical institute in Cleveland and ther,
submitted himself to the watchful care 0
60 physicians, who all witnessed one of hi
"turns" at the same time. The stupendou
knowledge and ponderous brains of thes,
men Of many pills when all piled together
failed to throw any light upon the subj
and Mr.. Hutchinson passed his time in tum
bling around and making an involuntar,
fool of himself two hours each day, AM
the rest of his waking hours in wondering
what he did it for. The years slipped by
but brought him no relief. Each succeed
ing anniversary saw a return of his disease
if disease it can be called No remede
could be found to act on him during hi
"struggles." Being of humorous turf
of mind he suggested that they put rop,
around his neck, and, when the attacl
came on, string him up and leave hin
hanging an hour or two, and see if tina
wouldn't stop it; but, singularly enough
they declined to try the experiment. AS
last resort, and being possessed of ampl
means, Mr.. Hutchison concluded to travel
to visit foreign countries, and endeavor Il
shake it off in that manner. He visitet
England, made a tour to Europe, went t.
the West Indies, to Australia--in fact, ev
erywhere-but it constantly pursued him
making it's annual visits with punctualit,
which exceeds that of an office holder draw
ing his pay. He found that different eli
mates produced a change of the date of it
appearance, but none in its duration or Sc
verify. In despair he returned home ant
has since resided on his farm, distance o
IA miles from the place from which write
and there he lives now.
is 1T OF SATANIC POSSESSION?
The sum and substance OF the whole i
this Here is man, healthy, hearty ant
stout, who was suddenly taken with con
vulsions November IA, 1858, which LASTED
until on or about the 2Sth. Every year fol
IS yerrs he has been similarly attacked
Medicines are of no avail whatever. liz
is as healthy and as strong as ever, ant
entirely well with the exception of these
attacks. His commissions are terrible t.
witness; nothing like them has ever beer