Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-11-21
AN OLD WITCH.
How and Why connoctIout hanges
Juilana Cox IA Years Ago.
From, tho Ia ford Timea

How and Why Connecticut Hanged
JuiIana Cox IA Years Ago.
From the Hartford Times.
A friend in Glastonbury sends ui
the following account, which had been
cut out of the Times away back in 1928,
and pasted in an old scrap book. Ju-
Llama Cox, we rejoice to believe, was
the only witch that was ever hanged
in Connecticut-andi it is q matter of
regret that even one such case of SUI
perstition and shame can be brought
up against the good old State. The
place Of the execution, ON 'Gallows
Hiil," IN this city, IL now known az
the commanding trsp-rock ridge by
the "stone-pits Here 10 the account
In the beautiful town of Glaston-
bury, in Connecticut, the following
remarkable event occurred In 1853.
In March of that year one Julius Per-
ry went out with his dogs to hunt
In the depths of the forest he discov-
cred Gas he alleged) an old gray fox,
and his dogs gave chase. After chas-
ing this fox upward of two miles, the
animal was holed. When Mr.. Perry
came up he heard . strange noise
over the other side Of the hole, and,
going to the spot, he there found Ju-
Llama Cox lying and painting for
breath. Her left shoulder was bleed
ing and had ON it the marks of the
dogs teeth. This was just the spot
on the gray fox's shoulder where tho
dogs had seized him. Upon this tes-
timony Miss Cox, . maiden lady of
"A, was brought to trial for the capt.
tai offense Of being . witch. On her
rraignment she pleaded not guilty,
and it was determined thata commit
tee of selectmen should examine her
person for witch marks, in order to
introduce confirmatory proofs against
her. She was therefore remaDded TO
prison. The following persons were
appointed the committee: Eben
Brewer, Alexas Jones, and Samuel
Cutworth. These men proceeded at
at once to the prison, and, stripping
Miss Cox, they began their examina-
ton. For time exceeding an hour
they could find no marks, and Miss
Cox submitted to their examination
with tears and sobs. Finally when
they had pricked many places on her
body without success, she confessed
to two marks-one little below the
right hip, and one ON the left arm.
The committee now became satisfied
that these were true marks, 40 the
flesh thereon was discolored in . slight
degree. They thereupon made their
report to the court appointed to hear
the trial.
This evidence confirming that OF
Mr.. Perry, was thought to be conclu.
sive, and on the Sd Of April the trial
took place. It was thought unneces.
saIy TO resort to further tests, and
Miss Cox was found guilty Of witch.
craft ON the evidence already quoted
and sentenced to be hanged. Strange
noises and demons haunted the jail
at Hartford up to the time that hel
execution took place, which was on
the 7th Of April, at 5 O'Clock in the
morning. There was . large con
course Of men and women attending
her execution, and, although she de.
clared that she was unjustly accused,
and that she confessed to the witch.
marks TO stop the pain Of being prick
| gu 10 cruelty Dy the committeeman
yet every person present believed hel
to be true witch and in league with
the devil. She further declared that
Julius Perry accused her wrongfully
She said she was in the forest gather
ing herbs, and that Julius Perry came
along and would have his will other
that, she constantly refusing, he se
his dog upon her, and the animal BIZ
her shoulder, and that he, fearing t.
be detected in this bad act had laid
the charge Of witchcraft against her
This she said under the gallows.-
Whereupon shout vas made among
the people to "bnrn the witch" q
hanging was too fast q death for q
foul strumpet of the devil. Will,
the people went to fetch wood to burr
her, the sheriff hung her up, so tina
she died on the gallows before thu
wood could be brought.
This account of Juliana Cox
witchcraft and death is abridged from
the statement of Dinah Jones before
. committee Of delegates to revise thu
laws Of Connecticut.