Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-02-06
A Witch

In the beautiful town of Glastonbury
Connecticut, the following remarkable
event occurred in 1853. In March of
that year one Julius Perry went out
with his dogs to hunt, In the de; this
of the forest he discovered (as he alleg-
edD an old gray fox, and his dogs gave
chase. Alter chasing the fox upward
of two miles, the animal was holed.
When Mr.. Perry came up he heard a
strange noise over the other side OF the
hole, and, going to the spot, he there
found Juliana Cox lying and painting
for breath. Her left shoulder was
bleeding and had on ii the marks OF the
dogs teeth. This was just the spot OIL
the gray fox's shoulder. where the dogs
had siezed him. Upon this testimony
Miss Cox, a maiden lady of II, was
brought TO trial for the offense OF being
a witch. On her arraigEment she plead
ed not guilty, and il was determined
that a committee of selectmen should
examine her person for witch marks, in
order to introduce confirmatory proofs
against her. She was, therefore re-
manded TO prison. The following per-
sons were appointed on the committee /:
Eben Brewer. Alexas Jones, and Sam
uel Cutworth. These men proceede.;
at once to the prison, aud, stripping
Miss Cox, they began their examination
For rinan axnaaiinn hour that-
could find no marks, ard Miss Cox sub
mitted to their examination with tears
and sobs, Finally, when they had
pricked many places on heI body with
out 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, as 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 conclusive, and on
the 3rd of April the trial took place.
1t was thought unnecessary to resort TO
further tests, and Miss Cox was found
guilty of wltchcraft on the evidence
already quoted, and sentenced to be
hanged. Strange noises and demons
haunted the Jail at Hartford up to the
time that her execution took place
which was on the 7th of April, at .
o'clock in the morning. There was a
large concourse of men and women
attending the execution, and, and al
though she declared that she was unjust
ly accused, and that she confessed to the
witchmarks to stop the pain of being
pricked so cruelty by the committeeman
yet every person present believed her
to be a true witch, and in league with
the devil. She further declared that
Julius Perry accused her wrongfully,
She said she was in the forest gathering
herbs, and that Julius Perry came along
and would have his will of her; that she
constantly refusing, he set his dog upon
her, and the animal bit her shoulder,
and that he, fearing to be detected in
his bad act, had laid the charge of
witchcraft against her. This she said
under the gallows. Whereupon a
shout was made among the people to
'burn the witeh," as hanging was too
easy death for so foul a stumpet of the
devil" While the people went to fetch
wood to burn her, the Sheriff hung her
up, so that she died on the gallows be-
fore the wood could be brought.