The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-13
WICKED.
TALE TOLD By R0BT. d. JONES
OF HIS TREATMENT At THE
HANDS OF A WITCH.
How Fancy Leads the Mind of Man
When Reason Gives Place
To Superstition.

Nearly every one knows Robt. D
Jones who worked so long for Micheal
& Simons. He is a colored man of
some prominence among his peo-
pie in this vicinity. He came
into The STATESMAN editorial
rooms last evening with most heart !
rendering story of wrongs that had |
been put upon him. Now, Robert is |
very intelligent colored man. He |
writes very plain and legible hand,
and his photography is better than the
average of mankinds if the communi-
cation signed by him which he pre-
sented to STATESMAN representa-
tive is fair specimen of his chirogra-
ply. He is quite intelligent in con-
versation and seems
WELL POSTED IN AFFAIRS
of the world. We make this premise
in order that the readers of THE
STATESMAN may more fully
appreciate the imposition into which
he has been brought. Having said
this much by way of introduction for
Mr.. Robert d. Jones, we introduce
the second great character in this sin
gular tragedy. This is a Mrs. Rachel
Cramford,a colored lady p of extended
reputation among the colored popula-
ton of the capital. She possesses most
remarkable powers. Dusky lovers
seek her, and she can look into the
mysteries of the future and tell them
what it holds in store The sick and
infirm wait upon her, and by a touch Of
HEP DIrSKv HAND
the pains of the body flee hence; the
old are made young, and the infirm
strong. Whether this supernatural
power comes from the respected gen.
tleman who presides with so much
grace and dignity over the land of
sulphur mines and lakes Of fire-wSt ter;
or, from the hand of some philan-
thropicfdenizen of the pearly streets
of the Hyperian city, the interview
with the scholarly colored gentleman
did not fully disclose; but, we infer it is
the former from the tragic manner in
which she treated Mr.. Rob't D. Jones,
if the narrowing story he tells be
true-and it can scarcely be doubted
for
THE TEAR STOOD IN HIS EYE,
and his voice trembled with candor
while he related it. 1t is this: He
says he was suddenly taten sick; it
was no ordinary sickness. Its peculi-
arity greatly alarmed him. He could
feel snakes in his feet as he walked
about, and peculiar noises buzzed in
his ears. He suffered greatly both in
body and mind No wonder he was
alarmed He sought the wonder
full woman, Mrs. Crawford, and he
placed himself under her treat
ment. She looked solumn as she al
ways does when grave cases are be-
fore her for treatment. Yes it was a
searful case, but she could cure it for
$3.50. Money was no object to Mr..
Robert D. Jones
ON AN OCCASION LIKE THAT
so the contract was concluded and the
celebrated Rachel began her incanta-
tions over his poor diseased body.
Joyful tidings! He left her house a
perfectly well man. Not single
snake-not even a little badly snake
was left in his feet. No buzzing noises
sang midnight serenades in his
ears. The curewas instantaneous and
complete and Robt. d. Jones says he
was happy man. He did not have
the wealth at the time to pay her but
he promised to send it to her at once
She reminded him that she had the
power to put back what she had
removed and that the money-the root
of all evil-musJ be promptly RENTED
or the cure would only be temporary.
He at once went to Kyle, if THE
STATESMAN representative correctly
understood him, and earned 1880
two dollars more than he agreed to
pay-and sent it by postoffice order to
the preserver of his life.
BUT THAT WICKED WOMAN
had no sooner received his wealth
than she conceived a scheme to get
more of his money. He says he was
far from her, many miles, but he
heard her whisper in his ear that she
would put his terrible disease back
unless he came down. He did not
come down. Then he heard her whis-
per: "What l put on you is death %
And at once snakes began to crawl
up his legs, and noises like the rush
ing of Iowa cyclones began to play
hide and seek in his ears. Then he
heard her whisper Come down or
1 will burst you wide OPEN" He got
bands and straps and
HOPED HIMSELF
as best he could to prevent this, and
he kindly showed The STATESMAN
scribe the work he had performed on
his body to prevent the threatened
calamity. He had done a job that
would do credit to professional
cooper. We suggested that can of
dynamite couldn't crack him now !?
"Yes, it could" he replied, eff were
to go up hill l would burst open,
sure" He had sent Mrs. Ratchet
Crawford word that if she did not
take off this spell she had so wickedly
put upon him he would have her ex-
posed in The STATESMAN, and as she
had not removed it,
HE WANTED HER EXPOSED.
and THE STATESMAN most cheerfully
does so in the interest of philanthropy.
What terrible thing for woman to
get mans money and then try to
crack him open like frozen egg. just
because he will not submit to further
demands for money? He may be a
poor, Woodworking negro, and she
servant of-well, some supernatural
power-but THE STATESMAN can not
see such things pass unrebuked.