The Sunday mirror., 1880-07-25
DELAWARE wITcHcRAFT.
Interesting "reminiscences About su'
perstition of Recent Date.--The
Delaware Law on the
Subject.

Reed by name, who was remarkably shrewd
and enterprising. Few, if any, could get
the advantage of him in bargain. In after
years he became, probably, the most exten-
sive merchant in the town of Dover. He |
was a most enterprising, useful and valuable
citizen, and believe was the only one who
ever built vessels in that county, and sent
them to get freights in Europe. Some of his
ships sailed up the Mediterranean Sea, and
brought cargoes from there to New York
and Philadelphia. He died about IS years
ago, one of the richest men in Kent Coun-
ty. His widow, most excellent and refined
lady, died in Dover some four or five years
ago.
Living at that time within about 10 miles
of Dover, was colored man, whose family
was greatly troubled by sickness. His resi-
dence was close to mill pond, and this af-
Fiction to his family was undoubtedly caused
by the malaria arising from this body of
standing water. This colored man thought,
however,it was brought about by conjuration,
and suspected an old negro, who lived near,
of affecting his family by his wiles in this
manner. There was another colored conjur-
er living near Milford, and he determined to
go and consult with him upon the matter.
| Accordingly he went to Milford, saw the
conjurer, and made known to him his sus-
picions.
The conjurer told him that the disease Of
his family undoubtedly arose from conjura-
ton, and described the old colored man
whom he suspected as being the author Of
it. He went home excited by the informa-
ton, and upon entering his house found two
of his children in convulsions. Acting on
the impulse of the moment, and filled with
revengeful feelings against the supposed in
iurer of his family, he seized his axe, and
rushing to the old colored mans house, he
at once, with this terrible weapon, Glove his
skull. He was Immediately arrested, and as
the laws of Delaware did not acknowledge
conjuration as an excuse for murder, the
prospect appeared to our worthy sheriff, who
had great repugnance to take life, that he
would have to hang him. This he desired
to get out of, and he was equal to the occa-
sion.
At that time in all portions of our State
the belief existed (amongst number) in
conjuration and witchcraft. The Sheriff
then, according to our law, selected the
; jury. Our Sheriff. therefore, in accordance
with this duty, summoned body of very
y respectable and substantial citizens, but
every one of whom 6eiieved in 7Oitchcyafi
y and continuation. The lawyers who de-
Tended the poor criminal knew this, anc
shaped their defense accordingly, and, to
the astonishment of every one, he was
n acquitted by the jury. They believed the
old colored man caused the death of his
children, by his conjurations, and that
: "ki2ling" him &C. zOas no mNrdsr."
n The belief in witchcraft and conjuration
was quite prevalent in Delaware not more
than 25 years ago. Amongst the whites it
was witchcraft. Amongst the colored peo-
pie it received the name of conjuration. In
some portions of Brandywine Hundred the
belief was very strong, and numbers OF
worthy old people were greatly annoyed by
that charge being brought against them.
: A fortune teller named Roback, living in
J, Philadelphia, drew great deal of money
II from certain class who held this belief
h About 40 years ago an old woman named
Jaquette did quite business at fortune tell
,e ing in Wilmington. Her charges were 1:
N cents for lady and IS cents for gentle
s man. Crowds called to see her, some will
h a strong faith, others simply for amusement
4 She. always gave first rate fortune for tn
lie money. Her visitors were, generally, tn
er young, who desired to know whom the
S, were going to marry. The ladies wer
< always foretold they were to have rich
handsome husbands. The gentlemen, gen
nv orally, beautiful ladies with good doweries
ry Who would not pay from IL to rs cents 70
lg such anticipatons?
D. During the first years of my publicatio
of of the Blue HENS Chicken newspaper,
II. fortune teller sent me an advertisement
,e from Philadelphia. of course inserted i
is as similar advertisements were then inserte
,g in all the papers of the country. Visitin
es Philadelphia, | called upon him to receW
1t, payment. was first shown into backroor
D. filled with those who appeared to be poe
C. working women, both old and young. Fac
ed was waiting her turn. sent up my card a
d, requested by the girl in attendance. Upo
of her coming down she took me into a fror
room. Here alone was young lady wit
beautiful and classic features almost dis
tracted with mental pain. What her grit
was of course never knew. Immediatel
afterward the girl again came down an
took me up to the " "sanctum sanctorum "
es the conjuror. He told me of his immens
business and how it was increasing. TIL
women came one day, and then he fixed tn
hour of their appearance for another day
My bill amounted to a good round sun
After paying me he informed me that h
was "higher art" and that he wa
"superior" to ordinary fortune teller.
Hey tOiu Wy int cdiuSs l1S tolu
a "inspection of the stars" And evidentl
n. not liking so much money to go away witt
- out getting some back, he informed me ths
iA he chad consulted the planets in my espe
se cial case" and that he had great deal I
en- tell me. They had foretold to him " that
On was coming" etc. Then l did not mind S
70 much little humbug, for l had seen grei
deal Of it, and got used to it. According
n l asked him his price. If it had been do
lar or so would have paid it. But he tol
me my affairs were "qOeighty," and til
price would be SIG. This thought W.
tai paying too much. accordingly told hi
lin al knew some little iasf a Hftls) of a
ire tronomy. was in hopes he would take II
lat hint, and think that | was afraid that Il
of planets, rushing upon their swift cours'
on round the sun, would not vary their specs
af- and turn aside from their path in the leas
in to take cognizance of the poor affairs Of sue
nd ito them, the planets) an insignificant ii
Ill dividual as myself. AS said before, 9
R. knew little Of astronomy. But the f,oa6
me was he k,rezO nothing of that science, an
at did not take the hint. So | bowed myse
The out and declined at present to get a kno,
TX, ledge of my future. have had my fortur
wi, often fold in NV life by various fortur