Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-06-23
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A story Of Witchcraft.

When Lord Chief Justice Hot pres'~
ded in the Court Of Kings Bench
poor, decrepit, broken old woman, all
most ready, from Sheer limitation, to
shuttle of this mortal coil, was brought
before him, charged with a degree OF
crminality which merited the utmost
rigor Of the law.
what 10 her crime?' asked bis Lords
ship with look and toae which plainly
indicated that the Corlorn md hapless
creature had enlisted his warmest SYM
pathies.
Witchercralt said one. She's
witch # there ever was onev chimed in
another.
WHAT'S the proof against her"i
She has o charm, your Lordship,
given her by the Evil One himself
'Let me see it,
The red nosed, pimple.faced sheriff
placed upon the bar before the court the
charm, which, upon cxaminahon-his
lordship slowly aud methodically undo
iug it With his own hands-proyed to be
a small ball iormed OF bits of silk and
linen, of various cOlors, compactly
wound with threads ofas many differ
ent haes, aud in the centre Of which
was found a slip Of parchment on which
was writing, of strange language,
which had become very nearly worn
away by much handling.
And this is the charm, Is IL" said
Holt. when he had seen It's every part.
The prosecutors answered that it
was.
What other proof haYe you"
That is all, your Lordship.'
The Lord Chef Justice then turned
to the terrified prisoner and asked her
how she came by that ball.
I can swear, my Lord she answer
ed that a young gentleman gave it TO
me to cure my chilPs ague.'
And did it effect a cure?
yes, my Lord. 1t cured my poor
child and has cured many others; and L
have blessed the good youth in my heart
many a time
Upon this the prosecutors laughed
and declared that the prisoner had no
child.
'Ab, your Lordshlp,' she cried, 1t
was five and thirty years agone that the
charm was given me. Ihad children
then.'
The judge held the charm.in his hand
and regarded 1t for time in silence,
aud then turned to the jury, saying: "a
Gentlemen of the jury look ye;-
and look ye and hearken, all-Gye and
thirty years ago, with a number OF
companions as giddy and thoughtless
as myself went to this woman's house,
L
where she provided for US liberally;
and when We found that VIC had not
with us sufficient money for the pays
nIent Of ;he reckoning, 1 had recourse
| 10 what had then thought an innocent
stratagem. Observing a sick child,
bundled up in the chimney corner
which the woman told US was suffering
with ague, pretended that I could fix
4 charm that would Immediately cure
her. 1 wrote line Of Latin upon
slip of parchment, and wound 1t up
with scraps OF silk and linen which
found in basket on the table, and
cave it 10 her as a sure curative agent.
She was deeply grateful, and cheer
fully gave US a receipt in full, and we
went our way, little dreaming that we
had lett with the honest dame a thing
which might, in after eyears, put her
life iu jeopardy. That woman now
stands before me, charged with witch-
craft. aud this ball, which IS the alleg-
ed charm and evidence against her, is
tbe selfsame charm which made with
nv own hands and gave to her,
1t IS needless to add that the poor
old woman was discharged, and went
her way homeward With a lighter
| hnart