The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1884-02-08

An Impostsr. j
The adage that "there is nothing new under
the sum-" Is being verified in many ways in
this land OF ours. This progressive age is i'm
proving upon and introduc cling to oil appearances,
new, which really had their origin half cen>.
tury ago.. Scothsayers, magisians. ,projSais
witches and witch doctors, have all nv
day; but we are renl seSy >solined 70 the Be.
lief that not since the earthly pilgrimage OF our
Saviour and the days Of the Apostles, have any
miracles been performed, such rs healing the
sick, making the lame to walk and the blind to
see, by mere touch or word. But imposters
have come, of whose coming have been FORE
warned. The advent of a man who calls him
Sc Dr. James Ellis, accompanied by girl he
lis his daughter, among the good people ,oEfhe
Pen Ridge section of this county, claiming to be
able to heal all diseases, by quoting certain pas
sages of Holy Scripture and the use of peou
liarly constructed plumb line. which little in.
strument directs his thoughts by its unerring
drop Is in some respects alarming. This vile!
imposter has dropped down, rs it were. and
taken up his abode among these honest, sturdy
people, and by the practice Of his nefariou4g de.
vices has absolutely unsettled and det6ronaN,
the reason OF some or the most credulous Htid
unsuspecting citizens who have allowed their
superstitious natures TO control their better
judgment, to the exclusion Of every rational hy.
pothesis and great excitement prevails through
out the neighborhood.
DIR. Nj. a. Moore, in his "Reminiscences, of
York. relates the circumstance of a wonderful
cure affected by one DR.. Brindle, o celebrated
witch doctor, (Which will serve to illustrate the
character Of this DR.. Ellis) of North Carolina
1t seems that one Mosis Grabbe had been be.
witched and was confined 20 bed all day in
stupor until between IL and IL O. clock at night
Mosie would scream aloud, jump out of bed, run
out of the house, and would not return until
next morning after daylight. lie would give as
an explanation Of his conduct, that Mrs. Big
| gert, an old witch that lived in the woods some
distance from his house, rode him every night
to a certain house, where she met other bags
like herself, spend the night in their wild de-
| lights, would hitch him under q chestnut troe,
and he would return every morning with his
| feet full Of chestnut burs. Dr. Brindlc was sent
for and when he came the 6rst thing he did was
|
eject from his stomach crooked pins, needles.
hair balls, &c. Then the doctor got q black cat,
tied the cat TO chair, and with some dead dried
hog weed, gave the cat nine clips" This was
repeated alternately by Mosie and tho doctor.
Mosie was cured and was never known to repeat
his screaming and jumping out Of bed at night
and running away. DR.. Moore, the writer of
this story, was present, went into the house
where DR.. Brindle was, and complained to the
old witch doctor that he (Dr. Moore) was suf.
| fering from severe pain in his arm, whereupon
DIR. Brindle said he could cure it; passed his
| hand up and down the arm of DR.. Moore RAPIDLY
three times, saying "in and out," then said
"Now you are WELL" YES" says Dr. Moore.
81 was well, for had nothing the matter with
my arm; simply did this to test the conjurer
paid him quarter and left" This happened'flf
1870 or 1921 Such is the power of of all such
| as DIR. Brindle and DR.. James Ellis TO effect a
cure OF diseases systematically. We hear you
| say-"But he cured Mosie Grabbie." Granted
but Mosie Grabbies nilment was imaginary
disease of the mind, and just as soon as he was
convinced that the cause was removed and
| assured by the mysterious DR.. Brndlo that the
old witch would never ride him again, his mind
was relieved and Mosie was restored We feel
profound sympathy for the converts of such as
DR.. James Ellis, and are truly astonished at tn Q
influence he exerts ameng people who have
ever been characterized for their good SENSE
Some possessing even more than ordinary intelli
genoe have resented with patriotic zeal the in
PRODUCTION of any new tangled" person or plan
fully dem natr rat ad hy tSa
given to Prof Lowe, with rocks and fence rails
when he dropped down in his big balloon.
We learn that some Of the citizens have be-
come justly indignant and exasperated at the
ruin wrought by this imposter, and have been
trying to forcibly drive him from among them,
while ohers-hs unfortunate believers--are
endeavorirg to protect and defend him, claim
| ing that the doctor possesses O charmed ife and
tina no com non gun with powder and leaden
bail can kill him. But our informant negatives
the belief that they credit the assertion, since
the doctor has not been seen, and cannot be
| found siuce he and his friends received the in
| telligence that his presence is no longer de-
sired in that vicinity. We learn that o war
| rant for his arrest common cheat has been
issued. We think that these duped citizens
could, with equal propriety; if his satanic
majesty were to step upon terra frma and
unfurl his banner, with the zeal of new converts,
clap their hands and shout, hurrah for hell -
for this man Ellis is evidently an emissary of
the devil or the Republican party.
! --------.---- . D.
Sales Day---Liens and Cash.
We do not remember ever seeing so large a
crowd Of people from the country on our streets
as was here last MondaJ, except when circus
was ia town or at county political meeting.