Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-05-27

points in law. but their cases were settled
more IN equity than many are at the present
| time. When the case was tried, Marshal
assisted Hopkison as his attorney. W. S.
Scott offered his assistance TO Murch, which
was accepted. Marshal moved that Mr.
Hopkison make statement of all the cir
! cumstances connected with the assault, made
upon him by Murch; the justice said that
wosld be proper. Hopkison commenced BY
! saying that he was called by the Supreme
Being to travel and preach the gospel, and
save the souls Of diving sinners. He called
on Mr.. Murch in a Christi.n spirit, to de-
liver his message, and TO warn him OF the
danger Of continuing in sin. Mr.. Murch
began 10 abuse him and all those poor girls
that had been tormented BY witches. lie
was ANXIOUS TO explain 10 Mr., Murch that
all who denied the existence Of witches. dis
believed the bible and the word of God, and
that they were in the gall Of bitterness and
bonds Of iniquity, and that witchcraft was
one of the devils schemes 10 send poor, sin
ful mortals to the everlasting regions Of hell.
Mr.. Scott here interrupted him. saving to the
| justice, He /. preaching about devils and
witches. not what took place between him
self and Murch" The justice said Mr.. Hop
/ klson was not in order he did not inter
/ rup, him. hoping he would come TO the
I question without being called to order; he
+ did not want to hear aRy more about the
/ devil or hi. schemes. Hopkison continued
Mr.. Muroh. after accusing me OF taking
( false oath, ordered me TO leave the house
/ but was impressed upon by power
could not resist. that i, was my duty to
. pray for thi. delud.d and sinful family be
fore left. and / 80 said 10 Mr. Murch. and
fell on nv Knees 10 pray Mr.. Mureh used
very profanc language, and seized me BY the
neck and dragged me- TO the dnor. took
hold Of the door. it being several feet 10 the
ground. to prevent nv falling Nr Mureh
chok.d me ard pitched me down 'hr steps
| fell n the mud and have been 50 lame
since can hardly walk. partly arose on
my knees and commenced 20 pray. ass
impressed not 10 leav. until had offered
PRAYER for ihis poor sinful man. Murch
came down the step. and again eaueh, me
by the neck. .ad You shall not pray on ny
premises. made no resistance, but
hc commenced choking and shaking
me. and struck me 10 ~, face sj,h hs ts,
and used horFid. hla.phemogs language.
had no power of my own. and said, % Lord
] am IN thy hands. do with me Whatsoever
thou wilt Mr. Murch said, You lie ike
The Lord has nothing to DO with YOU
you are in ms hands, and II YOU DO not
ieAy. Instant, viii shake the gixzard ou,
of YOU. was helpless. putting my trust in
the Lord. Two men came and took me
away. l have nothing further To "a, 80
The justice then asked. Have You VT
ne.ses whom VOC now wish 10 be heard r"
Marshal ,aid. We viii take the testimony
of the gentlemen who rescued Mr. II pk!-
son from the hand. of Nufch" Mr. Scott
said the gentlemen they wished to introduce
were Mr. Murch's Witnesses. and moved
that Mr.. March make statement before
their evidence be taken. Mr.. Marsha. oh-
jeeted .. Mr.. Moreh being allowed to make
statement The justice a,ked ,bc VII
ursses few questions as 10 tho ,uwmoard
them. They an.wered. We ~eFe no, sum
moned BY either paris. but invited b, both
parties to attend. ., Mr. March first w
promised 10 come wiihou; being summoned
The justice then said, "Mr Murch you can
make your statement"
M Murch said Both these men.
pointing 10 Marshall have frequentl, come
/ 10 my house and and my family have
susy. treated them a. well as We could,
have given them the best of everything in
the house. We supposed they we're what
they professed TO be. But | am sorry 70 ,ay
! have been deceived. now believe ihem 10
be inipo.tors, and guilty Of the crime of at
tempting TO take the life Of Mr.. MADDOX
II they did not FIRE IN. gun think their
firing Hopkj.on came TO my house in the
forenoon. the da, had the trouble with
him; after dinner he commenced abusing
the Maddox woman a. he called herl |
tried TO avoid taking With him on tha, sub
ec,, a. it excited me exceedingly. He SAID
this Maddox woman was trying to destroy
those poor yirl.. and those who took
part in favor Of her a, th. trial we're no
better than she was, and there was no doubt
but she was a witch, an agent Of the devil
replied, A man that profe.ses to be a
christian and makes such ridiculous talk as
YOU do IS either fool or knaye. and per
haps both, and if any persons are destroying
those girls il is YOU and those other scoun-
dreis that are with you. ! want nothing
more TO do with you, and request you to
leave nv house and never show yourself
here again, or until you can talk about
something more than witches and devils He
+ refused. said he would not leave until be
/ he'd made PRAYER in my family; | said my
! family want none of your praying. then
+ opened the door and ordered him to leave.
F He fell on his knees and commenced to
/ holler Sodom and Gomorrah. took hold
Of hi. arm, told him to stop his believing
and leave or / would put him out He
said If you put your sacriiegious hands on
me | will call down fire from heaven to con-
sumo you, a. the sinners were consumed in
/ Sodom.' said Go ahead, call your fire
! down, but out of this house YOU shall GO
( forced him to the door, he held on by the
lamb. Of the door. put nv foot against
/ him and pushed him out. | used no more
/ force than | was compelled 20 to rid nv
/ house Of him. 1t was about three feet from
/ the door-stool to the ground this door was
the one most commonly used, and the ward
! was very muddy at that time; he fell or
/ Law down in the mud. He arose up, then
| fell upon his knees in the mud, and again
commenced hallooing Sodom and Gomorrah.
/ | took him by the collar Of his coat and
said, i am captain Of this coop and you
must stop your noise and leave did not
/ choke him further than by the grasp had