Ellsworth American., 1886-04-29

VI ufNe tHeui ion INC community. lhen
he called upon those who had been torment
ed by witches, to relate what they had seen
and heard. He would first request Mrs W.
TO inform them what she supposed was the
cause Of her daughters being afflicted in the
way she was
Mrs. W. would say she had good cause to
believe that a certain woman vas a witch ;
and she had threatened her daughter Han
nah with her vengeance, on account of an
accident. for which her daughter was not in
the least TO blame. Hannah, with a Mad
dox girl by the name of Abigail. and several
other girls, had been iu Reeds heath pick
ing blueberries. On their way home, they
had to cross bad quagmire about ten feet
vide, on some small logs, and Abigail Mad
dox fell into the bog, and came very near be-
ing drowned, before the other girls could get
her out. She lost her shoes and bonne, and
her clothing was badly torn, as j, required
all the strength OF several Of the girls TO
pull her out Of the quagmire. The Maddox
g'rl said ,ha, the W. girl pushed her into
the quagmire.
The mother Of Abigail saw her daughter
the day after she fell into the bog, and said to
her You hussy' you pushed Abigail in
to that qusgmire tonight will give YOU
fits - About nine O'Clock in the evening Of
the same day, her family we're sitting in a
room, when Hannah said. "Mrs Maddox is
looking into the window" She looked TO
the window, and saw large black cat upon
the window stool. glaring into the room. Her
son went to the window, raised the sash and
rte cat instantly disappeared, but the mo-
ment the window was closed the cat was
went to the door. bu, the cat could not be
found. Her daughter was instantly seized
with oonvulslons. screaming. Take away
that woman; she is choking and punching
me :" She continued in this condition un,i.
morning. When Mr. J. came, he said she
was heWi,ched; and he prickcd her hand,
and face with knife he brough, with him.
which relieved her in a moment.
Stores we're told By others. Une man
who bad some difficult, With a certain fami-
iy, frequently found his cattle IN The morn
.ng IN all parts Of his barn. some Of them
tied by their legs to the post Of the barn ;
others by their tails TO the stnnehions his
sheep on the top Of the hay NOV. he had 10
bring down on Ladders. He was advised b.,
Nr J. to nail old horse shoes on the doors
and windows Of his barn which he did. and
had not been troubled since.
Several more stories we're o.d.-all Of the
same stamp and too ridiculous 10 nc repeat
ed, viii. however. in another article. y,ye
The story Of one Young man whose name
was Simmons, as II WAS afterwards told bs
Capt. Louder. HIS Ior, vas very remarks a.
ble. but did not take well with J. and the
ministers bu, many Others were well pleas
cd with II. and believed tha, Simmons WI.
hoaaing them, which seemed to Le true. as
It was afterwards proved that be va- the
leader Of party that made a mubbny at
tack on the two pretended ministers
They had got about through with their
meeting. when the W. girl was taken ~lth
one Of her spells. and while J vas preparing
70 operate upon her with bis magic knife.
Capt. Louder took from his pocke, knife,
passed It 10 j., said he purchased II in Lon
don, and that It was made Of Toledo steel,
such as the Spanish swords we're made Of d;
Il was highly finished and splendid lookin,
knife. Capt. Louder asked J. to l., him
PRICK the glrF. hands with the knife. J.
readily consen'Ing, the Captain wen, to the
bed with the knife in h, hand, where Al
could see II, The glrl ~as surrounded BY
men and women. After waiting awhile and
speaking TO several of them. the Captain
proceeded 10 prick the girls face and hands.
saying. Il do not believe the old witch can
stand this" Tie girl instantly came out Of
the spasm., and looked around smiling.
and held out her hand 10 Hopki.on. who
took her hand in a loving and brotherl,
way. Capt. Loader held up hi. hand with a
'oo'h-piek made of goose quill. between b.
thumb and finger. saving This is the article
have used 10 drive away the witches, and
You al! see that II operates just a. well a,
an instrument made Of Toledo blade"
Both the ministers we're very angr, ;
Hopklson said in loud voice, The devil j.
very busy down in the village, and could not
come here himself, but has sent his agent,
Jack Louder, among US, to do hl. helii,h
work :"
j. was raving mad, and said to Capt. Lou
der, You have insulted me and this dis
,ressed family, and if you do not leave tn.,
house instantly, We will throw YOU through
the door,
Capt. Louder replied "l have not insult
ed YOU or the family; if any one has been
insulted, or cheated, il is the witches or
wizards suppose this is public meeting
and | shall leave when | am ready; and il
you, or any one, attempts to put me out, |
think you will 90 with me as far a. the door
yard, and you will be exceedingly glad to
get back into the house again when am
done with you"
The Captain was accompanied BY several
friends, who were in hopes that J. would
make an attack upon him, knowing that the
Captain would walk through a dozen Of
them.
This was damper on their proceeding
for several weeks, until Capt Louder lef,
the village. Sson after he left, the people
were thrown into great excitement by an
attempt of some Of those crazy bigots to
shoot Mrs. Maddox in the night. her hus-
band being from home. This caused, in the
end, two criminal law suits and the mobbin,
Of the two ministers, Marshall and Hopki-
son. The particulars will give in another
article.
April q, 1886. Jim.
Address Of Judge l.. A. Emery, at the
Opening of the Hancock s. j. Court, in
the New Court House, April IA. 1886.