Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-22
THE HEALING TOUCH.
A Conversation with Margaret
Vickers, the Sixth Ward
nnofraSs

Nickers, the Slxth Waru
DOctress.
During the examination of witnesses
at the inquisition held over the body OF
Martin Stoetzer, it was testified that
his wounded hand had been dressed
by Margaret Vickers with a poisonous
compound, the result OF which was TO
effecth mind through bodily suffering
1t was further said that Mrs. Nickers
had quite extensive practice and had
wrought some marvellous cures, though
no one of the party could authenticate
any of these.
With view to finding out gomething
of this practitioner and investigating
the secret of her wonderful work, re-
porter of the REGISTER called yesterday
morning at her residence, back and to
the south of the Riverside spike works.
No difficulty was had in finding the
house, as every man, woman and child
in that vicinity knew its location. In
response TO our summons we expected
to be confronted by a wierd, eltrich
woman, with piercing black eyes and
hair of the same sable hue; but instead
of which, the door was opeued and we
were politely invited to enter by a
motherly looking woman OF about 10,
with silver gray hair and mild blue
ewes. She talked easily and pleasantly,
two children perching upon her lap
during the conversation. We opened
with:
"Do you practice medicine, Mrs
Vickers?"
"Bless YOU, why, MOI"
Don't you undertake cases some
times"
eyes, sometimes; but why do you
ask?
Because there has been some talk OF
YOUR attending Martin StOetzer, and
putting poisonous salve on his hand"
"Well, l have just this to say. l did
put some salve upon his hand and
dressed it IN different ways"
"Was there anything poisonous in
that salve? Have you any objection to
telling its ingredients"
Eyes, have; it's made from a receipt
that bought, and it's my property. It's
called my salve,' though it isn't really
mine. There's no poison in it; get the
ingredients from the drug store and can
easily prove there is nothing harmful
about il. use that salve sometimes
and dress sores and hurts. And then |
can often cure by laying my hands on
an injury, or by taking an injured part
in my hands"
"When did you get this power?'
at was born with me"
"What about StOetzer's case"
about five weeks ago (but my MEM
orv is not the best, and it may be differ
ent) Martin Stoetzer crushed his hand
at the Top mill, carrying pig iron. He
gave 1t no medical attention for four or
five DAYS, when he finally came with his
wife to me. put a linseed poultice on
it and told him to come again. He
came every day, and the hand began to
swell up to his elbow. At last | told
him to consult physician, as his hand
was going to 'beel. His wife commenced
CRYING and told me to go on,
that she could not pay
the expenses OF a doctors
services. So put my salve on his
hand. Mind you, his little finger was
broken. | told him he'd better get it
amputated, but he said he'd let it alone
and it would come off itself. The finger
was perfectly dead. One day when he
came up, | Just took hold of the finger
and pulled it off. The hand then got
well. met him afterward and he had
nothing on it but glove finger. He
held il up to show me. He had stop
ped coming to me because Of one OF my
little Jokes. There was no poison about
that hand, and if he went crazy it was
from suffering, for he wouldn't take my
advice and 90 to doctor. And then he
kept running out in the rain and getting
wet-wouldn't take care Of himself at
all. / didn't see him again, and don't
know anything elseabOut him."
We turned the conversation back to
her "healing touch" We said:
"What have you ever cured by the
laying on of hands?"
ooh, lots of things. Now, my hus-
band had his hand taken off in the mill,
and cured by that and my salye. And
| cured"
Here she gave the names OF number
of children of citizens all well known in
that part of the city.
"DO you know, or can you explain
how the cure operates"
ubll DlNNObN w. ~ = a. htANuieNA
gift, and | can't tell how it works, II a
finger is sore, | can draw the pain from
it by taking it in my hand. Or | can
ease the headache and other things OF
that nature"
"You say you do not practice"
"Why, no. am no doctor. have
my family to take care of. Now, child
rem, run away while am talking to the
gentleman.) People are always coming
TO me. but | send them to the doctors
| haven't time, nor do wish, to attend
to all who come to me. If any person
wants my salve, | sell it to them be-
cause pay for it myself That's about
all there is in it," This closed the in
terview, and thanking her for her cour-
tesy and making mental memorandum
of her invitation TO come again, we took
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