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

Inc attempt "a The aie o! Mr.. Maddox
VS. made BY some Of those ignorant per
'"H' w'o e!l. probably, believe in witches
a.- vHcaoTAt'. and we're urged on BY 9TH
''- Who e4niro.lrd them. hy keeping up the
-r.I-'oa, TOT purposes Of their own.
NJ. MADDOX aud her i've children we're
a.''e ta ,tt house on the evening q the ai
'rupt ~ shoot her, Nr Maddox being
lH.eH; ana Eo, expected TO retl1n for sew
a-a. G4H-- The oldest child, the onc
'rli .c- 7r wls pushed INTO lhr bog,
va. ~ p: fifteen wears. In the evening
o-t aluf o'D.olA. her thl.lrrn being iH
h.., Nr> MADDOX vas sitting in her room
sowing. GEAR iIy mouth of = brick oven.
-leh a- was common at the time. Ihese
ovens generally had br.ck shelf at the
bottom 81. the mcuih. where lights ANA
otter articles werc frcqne'.t!, placed, anI
'Ae mouth q 'ae ''rn e-a'r': "'ta p'for q
square pink, called an ovef-.aSer Mr.,
Maddox "a' s'it..s near thr shelf on which
hrr ''sn' "s~ placed "hen sln "a' hfed
through the window the hght knocked from
'A' 'he.' ana 'A'InsH''aea' the charge pass
Ing - near her laA' Sash was cut on The
s'ar 81 Aef bead The glass from the VIII
do" vas scattered through the ROOM pieces
falling IA her lap, and She VA SO frightened
'ar Gould '-ei move for some time. She
"a" several men running from the window
aaa sae tholsh 'he recognized one Of
iLem- Her children we're awakened BY the
report ot The gun' she fled with them
screaming sud cfliEg and half-dressed,to her
nearest nelshbors. where they remained
uat. ae. husband returned home. The sell
tiers were terribly excited by this ouirsge.
Naut persons weat to the house in the
morning. found the cAndie-stick shot to
? ~ce<. the charge lodged in the oyer-layer
from Wh.ca r Sa- cot and which proved to
BE- silver d, liar c4l ia several pieces. these
fanatics having been made to believe tbs,
no,h'ag but silver fired from gun would
A.i witch.
Every etiort was made BY the citizens 10
bring The perpetrators Of this outrage TO
condlsn punishment. Two men were ar
rested and we're on ;rIsl two days, but moth
us eer'ain could be proved against them.
hopkI>ou s"ofe, as did severs! Others, that
the aroused were at another place on the
night of the outrage. Mrs. Maddox would
not swear positively mat She could recog-
NE either ot'hem, and they were acquitted,
although a very large majority OF the cltl-
z"us believed them guilty.
Soon after the trial, Hopkison who had
taken very active part at the trial. called
on family by the name Of Murch, where
ne had been IN the habit OF calling, and
where he was always received in friendly
manner. Mr. Muroh was considered By his
neighbors as worthy man and much re-
sprcied. lie was rather rough in his con-
versation. speaking his mind freely regard
less OF friends OF foes After dinner Hop
kison spoke OF the trial, abusing those Who
were IN favor OF Mrs. Maddox. Mr. Mureh
9~A '-'7 N-'''4 - 80 - N''S''-
saving thar IN ms opinion the witnesses for
the accused were guilty of perjury Tbs
irritaied Hopklson, and ne said, MIR.
Mnrch, you are great SINNER and with the
worlds people, and not tit Judge IN case
Of this kind. There is strong reason TO
believe that this Maddox woman Is witch,
and if she had lived in Salem, she would
have been hung years ago. And all those
who we're so anxious TO convict these two
good men are on the road to the bottomless
pit, where their journey will end among
devils and the damned - Mr.. Murch be-
came very much excited and SAID, 81 want
nothing more 10 do with man that sane
tions the shooting of poor woman, with