Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-26
CONVICTED BY DREAMS.
RKEARKABLE IHsTANCES OF rRE
1a sUPERNA TURzx IN CRrzrE.

the Reign OF Chsrles 1.-The etra age
Case Of an Irish Murder ii shs Year
15S1 "A Dream COnHFmsd co she
Smallest Particulars.
Law reports of the sixteenth and sew
enteenth centuries contain numerous ref
erences to supernatural occurrences In
court and on the scaffold. One OF the
most remarkable records of this kind Ia
connected with a murder trial which
took place In England early In the reign
of the first Charles. Sir John Maynard,
one Of the first lawyers of the century,
is the authority for the supernatural
events of the trial. and in his quaint
preface to his notes he says he thought
good to report "the evidence which was
given, which many did hear, that the
memory thereof might not be lost by mis-
carriage OF papers or otherwise" One
Johan Norkett, farmers wife, had died,
and at the coroner's quest evidence was
given proving that the woman's throat
had been cut from ear to ear. At first
the jury favored verdict of felo de Sc,
and the body was inferred, but rumors
became general pointing to foul
play, and the body was exhumed. Thirty
days after the death the jury assembled
before the body and four suspected per-
sons were brought In. The only evi-
dence against the prisoners was that
they had slept In an adjoining room and
that no one had passed through that
room; therefore, IL she did not murder
herself, they must be the murderers."
What took place at the remarkable
post mortem inquiry may best be de-
scribed In the words Of witness at the
subsequent trial, who was described as
''ancient and grave person, minister to
the parish where this murder was com
mitted." This est1mable gentleman said,
"They, the prisoners, did touch the dead
body, whereupon the brow OF the dead,
which was before livid and carrion
color, began to have dew or gentle
sweat arise upon 1t, which increased by
degrees till the sweat ran down In drops
upon the face, the brow turned anu
changed to lively color and the dead
opened and shut one of her eyes, and
shut 1t again, which she did several
times. She likewise thrust out the ring
or marriage finger three times and pulled
1t in again, and the finger dropped blood
on the ground"
Naturally enough such remarkable
evidence as this was received with some
suspicion by the court, although the
witness, to again quote Sir John May
nard, was a reverend person, about 20
years OF age, as could be guessed. His
testimony was delivered gravely and
comparatively, but to the great admira-
tion of the auditory" Ample confirma-
tion of an obviously impartial character
was. however, forthcoming, and the
admiration" changed to horror, 20
much so that the prisoners were con-
victed, and two Of them suffered death
ct the hand of the common hangman.
Neither Of the victims, one of whom was
an aged woman, could ever be prevailed
upon to confess any completely in the
crime.
In 1851 an Irish murderer was con-
victed largely upon dream evidence A
Waterford publican named Rogers
dreamed that he saw man murder an
other man on green spot on the sum-
NIT OF an adjoining mountain. He was
able next day to describe both men with
perfect accuracy, and did so to many of
his friends. One of the men was exeep-
tionally strong, the other weak and
puny but it was the latter who in the
vision committed the murder. Rogers
persuaded the parish priest to accom-
pany him to the spot, which he found
without difficulty, but where there
seemed to be no traces of murder or
struggle. Hence, Rogers got rather
laughed at. Next day, however, two
men entered the saloon, and Mrs Rogers
at once recognized them from her hus-
bands description as the heroes in the
vision. Much alarmed, she fetched hor
husband, who was also certain they were
the two men. When they rose to leave
Rogers begged the one he expected to be
murdered to remain, but without
avail. He nearly tainted with fright
after the men had left, and finally per
suaded neighbor to accompany him to
the green spot on the hill, where, sure
enough, the tragedy of the dream had
taken place in reality. The murderer
was tracked and caught and Rogers WAS
the principal witness. His recital of his
dream was so vivid that the prisoner at
once confessed, adding that he killed his
companion exactly as foretold In the
dream.
The weapon used was knife, and as
eight stabs were seen by Rogers in his |
vision, so the murderer admitted that he
drove the knife up to the handle in his |
companions body exactly that number |
Of times.--N. Y. Graphic.
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