The Mineral argus., 1884-05-29


Mrs. Laura Scott, a lady of color, so
deeply ingrained that it made the black
broadcloth of Judge Sullivan's coat look
pale by comparison, testified that il
1881 she lived in 80 Stevenson street
Met Althea alone in her house in the
fall of 1881. Althea had come to her
saying that she had been told that sh,
told fortunes, and told them true. Sh,
had demurred to casting the gentl
Althea's horoscope as she had no license,
but was prevailed udon at last and ran
the cards. Then Althea proved the
depths of witnesses knowledge of
charms, and finally convinced that she
was the real oracle. demanded that she
should set the machinery of her art in
motion.
"Who am the gentleman, and whar
do he live 2" demanded the colored lady,
and upon her asserting that without
knowledge on those subjects she could
not prophecy, Althea reluctantly con
fessed that the desire of her heart was
TO charm Senator Sharon into marrying
her. Said Althea, the Senator lives at
the palace. He lies sick, and subjects
himself to my gentle ministrations, so l
can give him anything l please. Ihave
tried another soothsayer, but am not sat-
isfied with the charm she gave me. 1t
made the dear old Sen. sick at the
stomach, and his hands twitched ner-
vously. Subsequently, a bottle of the
Senatorial hoodoo was shown by Althea
to Mrs. Scott. Said the witness, it
smelt like
"Never mind what it smelt like" said
Mr.. Tyler, and the witness went on to
tell how she had promised to do some
thing for Althea if she would come next
day. In the meantime the witness
bought a book called the "Wheel of
Fortune" and on consulting its pages
made for Althea a charm consisting OF
nine drops of molasses, nine pinches of
sugar, dissolved in abottle of black tea.
This she gave to Althea next day, telling
her TO give the Sen. a teaspoonful three
times a day, but kindly added that if
Althea found it did not work she could
give it to him as often as she pleased,
with the assurance that it would be sure
to make HIM love her. Althea tried the
stuff and came for another bottle; this
proving of no better use, she soughtthe
oracle q third time, in company with
tall, bJack-haired woman, and again
with an old lady, wearing her white hail
curled. This lady came back subse.
~quently and said that the stuff was
no good. Althea told her to take il
back, it was the same al
the other, only lighter in color. Again
Althea called to upbraid the woman a
a false prophecies, and demanded SOM
new charm. She had had a quarre
with the senator, and had been put out
of his room. Althea had heard that &
charm could be made from old socks
and had brouhgt a yellow stripped pail
of the senator's foot-gear for the wisC
woman to experiment with. Then the
witness told how she had tied the toes
of the socks tightly together, after dip
ping each in whisky, and how after say
ing some cabilistic words she had tiet
the socks around the rounded limb o.
Athea, Just above the left knee.
(which Lego" asked General Barnes
"The left"
"Why?"
Cease why; de left am nearer to d,
heart" The witness said she had told
Althea to wear the senatorial hosiery 81
long as she pleased, till all was quiet
Then Althea said she would have tC
continue giving the Sen. the same stuff
that she had before which smelt like
"Never mind what it smelt like, ,
said Mr.. Tyler.
This alarmed the witness, and fearing
that Sharon might be hurt, she sal
down and wrote him a note, telling him
the sort of charm Althea was ~mingling
with his drink. At that time Althea
said she was desperate-must get back
into the Senatorial arms. He must be
made to love her and marry her while
he was sick; and his family were away,
for they were opposed to the marriage
"Only arrrnge it so that the Senator
shall take me blck for one night, and
I'll give you 81, 900 and a house," cried
Althea. "She warted to get back"
perhaps the other side may object
to her reasons being given" said Gen
eral Barnes.
Mr.. Tyler-We won't object.
Witness know you won't object.
Witness told a little scheme to impose
upon the Senator a child which she was
to procure for Althea. Althea said that
with a child she would have an irresis-
table claim for breach of contract. But
before this scheme was set on foot AL
thea demanded from the sibyl another
charm, which was given. Loosening
her long hair, Althes took a pair OF
scissors, given her by witness, and cut
from the end of q lock. which was to be