Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-09-12
WITCHCRAF'T.
A CASE Of ALLEGED SON.
CE1Y IN PENNA.

Not many weeks ago there was "a
alleged case of witchcraft among thu
colored people residing on Greeley
street, that caused considerable excite
ment in that section of this city. The
woman who was said to have been the
victim of a sorcerer died, and it would
be hard task to get many of the colO--
ed people residing in that locality to
believe that her death resulted from
any other cause than witchcraft. Tha
supposed author of the trouble was
compelled to flee from the neighborhood,
to escape personal injury.
A case is also reported from Phil
adelphia, in which Mrs. Mary A.
Bowman, who at present resides at No.
1903 Summer street, alleges that a Ger
tain Charles Clark of Pottstown has
cas- spell over her and bewitched her,
so that she has, and still suffers great
mental and bodily injury. The lady
who makes this singular charge is high.
ly respectable, and owns property in
Pottstown, where until recently she re-
sided with her husband and children.
She states that she has been married
thirteen years, and until three years ago
lived q happy and contented life. One
night about that time, while she was
undressing her children preparatory %
taking them to bed, she heard mems
voices, which she at first supposed came
from the adjoining room, but she sOOu
satisfied herself that this suppositim
was incorrect.
She heard the voices mention things
about her family affairs and also about
her and her family before she was mar
red. They then commenced to talk
about her in a shocking manner and
passed remarks that caused her to hide
her face in shame and rush to the bed
room with her children, very badly
frightened. 1t seemed to her while she
was listening to the mysterious voices
that the men were looking right at her
all the time.
The lady says that from that night
until the present time she has had no
peace of mir, and misfortune and
trouble have constantly followed her.
She has frequently heard the voices
since, and from what they said to her,
the persons to whom they belonged
seemed to be endeavoring to effect her
ruin and disgrace. At first she says
she was doubtful of their power to do
her any injury, but she soon became
satisfied that the men had cast spell
over her. Although not personally ac-
quainted with Charles Clark, she says
that she knew he was the leading spirit
in the persecution.
The voices told her that they intended
to separate her from her husband, and
on one occasion one Of them said that if
she would leave her home and family
and marry him, he would leave his own
wife, and everything would be well
with Mrs. Bowman. Sometimes she
would not hear the voices for days, or
even weeks, and then they would return
more persistent than ever. She Was
also threatened that if she did not acceed
to their demands, a spell would be put
on her little baby, and in a short time
afterw ards it sickened and died.
Threats were then made tlat her hus-
band would be placed under an influ-
ence that would cause him to take to
drink, and finally abandon her. Ina
short time afterwards her husband did
20 on a spree, although he had not been
addicted to the use of liquor, and spent
Ill his wages. These things almost
broke her heart, and she was so near
distracted that she did not know what
% do.
One of the voices told her that if her
eldest child should die her husband
would leave her, and she says it did die
IN short time after wards, and her hus
)and Immediately left her, taking $3.50,
md she had not seen or heard from him
since. So firmly convinced is she that
,hese doings are the result of sorcery on
5he part of Charles Clark, that she has
placed the matter in the hands Of Nlr.
Corsen, one of the best attorneys at the
NorriStown bar. and he has had a capias
issued to the Sheriff of Montgomery
county for the arrest of Charles Clark,
IN the charge of sorcery and witchcratt.
The defendant, who will be called
lpon to plead to this singular charge, is
we'll and favorably known at Potts
own and is employed at the Reading
Railroad station at that place. He says
he whole affair is very distressing to
lin. but that although it is very
erious, he has no fear of the result.
he recital of this case seems like a
eturn to the days Of Salem witchcraft,
When if child was taken sick or
erson died, the nearest neighbor or a
egular visitor to the house was liable
D be arrested and dragged before the
uthorities to answer the charge Of
The superstition which reirncd su.
rene in those days has not by any
leans been obliterated by the light and
lcreased knowledge of the nineteenth
.utury, for if it had, the,many fortune
'llers and protessed necromaucers of
le larger cities, whose advertisements
IN be seen daily in the papers, would
'on have to quit the business. Many
these people advertise that they will
luse absent friends to return, re-unite
lose that are parted, or enable young
an or young lady to secure and re-
in the affections of those of the oppo-
te sex.
In recsnt case I'm Philadelphia,
here a young man was shot down in
e street by his discarded mistress, his
other, AS she was standing alongside
the corpse, said to a reporter that she
ieved the woman had put spell on
IN that he could not remain away
Dm her. There is "A gentleman in this
ty, man Of education and refine.
ent, who holds responsible position,
ho if he sees pin lying on the side
ak with the point toward him, will
op and pick it up, no matter who may
with him, and he is fearful if he
ould pass it bad luck would certainly
me upon him.
Others have horseshoes over the doors
their residences or places of busi-
ss to insure tn. III good luck, ard an
server is lead to the conclusion that
in greater or less degree,
one of the heir looms of man hat has
scended from the dark ages, and that
q case that has been related above
lch will soon be before the Pennsyl-
mia Courts, is but an eXempifcation of
9 truth of the old adage, that " his
y repeats itself.
DIR. klmms' Pain Searcher.