Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-03
OF A v
Strange Persecution Of a Nova Scotia
Girl by Unseen T~Ormenters.
New York Herald.l

New York Herald.l
MONTREAL, January %, 1S79.-The
girl Esther Cox, a resident of Am
herst, N. s., who some months ago
created a good deal of comment among
citizens and the clergy, has been quiet
for some weeks and little has been
heard of her. The case, as reported
at the time, looked very much as
though Miss Esther was possessed of
a devil. Some of the freaks of the
evil spirit are curious, and one of them
was a handwriting on the wall warning
her hat if she did not leave the
house of her relative, Mr.. iced, shoe
maker, the house would be torn
down about her ears. She asked who
made the threats, and the writing
on the wall answered, The evil spir-
its" That night she slept in the
house and the noises of pounding
upon the roof was terrible. In the
morning the house was set on fire in
five different places and Esther was
forced to leave. She went away from
the village and the spirits ceased to
trouble her. A month afterwards she
came back. This was about the end
of November, and she had been but a
few days in the village when the man
ifestatiops commenced again and the
poor girl was distracted. A press
reporter visited her at Amherst AID
received corroboration of the above
stories from the Rev. Mr.. Temple, the
Methodist minister of that place, and
from DIR. Carroll and from the first
citizens of the town. Since that time
manifestations have been heard of
from time to time.
A shoemaker who was well read in
mesmerism, was blamed for the girls
trouble, and it was called a cast of
animal magnetism. To-daya telegram
announces that Esther Cox, who has
been suffering from diphtheria, has
recovered" Her friends have ascer-
tanned that the young man connected
with the early history of the case. and
who is now in a distant part of Cum
berland county, had the disease about
the same time, and thus accounts for
her illness.
The evil spirit has been remarkably
lively during the last week, at times
terribly so, arOusing the fears of Mr..
leeds family so as to make them, as
well as the principal victim of the
manifestations, objects of sympathy.
The developments have been most
curious. Matches have been struck
and the premises very much endan-
gered, while threats of the most ap-
palling kind have been made by a mys
FERROUS voice. Though closely watched
it has been found impossible to con
meet Esther with the manifestations
which have occurred night after night.
On Monday night the unknown be-
came extremely accommodating. By
raps it repeatedly, in all cases so far as
ascertainable, gave correct replies Ia
all questions, which, in most cases,
could only be answered by one among
those present.
How many dollars have | in my
hand?' The person did not know
how many he had, but verified the cor.
rectness of the answer by counting
them.
Both Mr.. iced and the young mar
to whose influence are attributed the
troubles, are shoemakers. Teed says.
Can you make us a boot" Answer.
yes Mr.. Teed then directed the
modus eperandi in order, from lasting
to finishing, and throwing the last OIL
the floor, and the distinctive sounds IN
the various operations in detail were
audible to every one in the room
Both parties have worked in the Am,
herst shoe factory, where tho pepginr
is done by a p%onderous machine, which
makes a loud and peculiar chatter. Mr..
iced declares that the sounds through
out were most perfect.
Mr.. leeds family feel very much
worried and Frustrated blythe constant
excitement and terror. Mr.. Teed, al.
though willing to maintain his sister.
in-law, does not feel able TO bear tho
additional expense incurred by hel
being a member Of his household
They do not feel that there is any
danger from FIRE except in the house
..lela l. = 80. 49,.