The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-07-08

hLINGIONs OHlO. uUe Il, looUs
To the Editor of the Standard:
Some time ago, promised the readers of the STAN
DARD letter concerning the belief in 'wtchcraft'
in early days. The following from the court rec
ords, when Burlington the county scat:
Pleas Term ss hct6n on te case for se
warranty in the sale of horse. Plea general issue.
called 4 witness prove the defendants knowledge Of
witness testified that both he and the defendant lived
at Union Furnace. in Lawrence county, and that the
the horse previous to the sale to the plaintiff, and be-
and at the time defendant purchased him, in bad
health He saw him daily employed in defendants
d rs do9P t ii and SO continued
inquired of the defendant why he had done so know
ing that the horse ways diseased or unsound
his being 6ewitched, which he did not cali EHsoaHd-
and they could be got of the horse
Rer stated that the same witches which in that
nc % na1 pee 0ne or nT To d ana m some COWS
by witch doctor, who lived on the head waters of
animal in which they were found; that this doctor
who, examination was found to be 6ewitched.
He soon expelled them, and also succeeded in ascer
going about in that and she could be got rid of
defendant from home, his wife sent for witness
and others to @ and am find out what was the matter
frantic running and pitching at every thing which
that it had madnesS The G
fendant. however, returned before the witness and
others left the lot he inspected the with much
attention, and it as his opinion that they
mistaken to the true of her 0onduct-sne
not mad, but bewitched, the which had been in
the horse, had transferred itself to the By this
time the ANIMAL from exhaustion some other cause
had lain down. The defendant then went into the lot
rope about her horns, and then make the other end
fast to tree, where he could burn her. They laughed
at the mans notion, but finally assisted him. seeing
she remained quiet-still having no belief he really
intended burning her. This being done, the Defend
ant piled up logs, brush, and other things around her.
and finally the poor cow, and then set fire to
them. The defendant continued to add fuel until she
was entirely consumed, and aferward told the wit
ness he had never any creature hard to die;
that she continued to moan after most of the flesh had
fallen from her bones, and he felt pity for her. but
die she must; that nothing but the witches in her
kept her alive long and it his belief that they
wonld come back. Night having set in be1ore the
burning was Finished the defendant and his family
up ascertain if the witches could be about
the pile of embers. Late at night some OF the
family called the defendant to the wndOw-the house
being the place-and pointed to two witches, |
hopping around and across the pile of embers,
and now and then seizing brand and throwing it
into the air, and in Il short while disappeared. The
next morning, on examination, the defendant saw
their tracks through the emberS in all directions At
subsequent time he told the witness and others,
fNe neighborhood and would never return-and to
5uIn the animal alive, in which they foHnd
The en way to get clear of them he had been fearful
hey would torment his family.
Yours truly,
BARNEY,