The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-25
is IT VITCHCRAFT?
Aaron Wager Tells Of His Wife's
Strange Malady.
Pofessor steen Called Upon to Drive
Out the Evil Spirits-A Curious
Case.

listened to the narration of story few
days since which in its various details
outrlvals the most fanciful flight of fic-
ton. Yet, strange as the story undoubt-
edly is, it is claimed to be true in every
statement.
I'm 1885," said the narrator. there
came to the little town of Healdsburg,
Sonoma County, young physician
named Maurice 81. Strope. He seemed
well educated in his chosen profession
and was soon famous for the cures he eff
fected among the sick in the little hamlet
and in its vicinity. But there was some
thing about the man that made people
fear him, and it was brave man who
could look him in the face. 4
"A few months ago Mrs. Ruth Wager the
wife Of Aaron Wager, an estimable citizen
of the village, fell i'll with violent head
aches. 1t was probably due to neuralgia
or some similar complaint, as she was not
otherwise lndisposed and had been in the
best of health before that time. The
headaches continuing, young DIR. Strope
was called to attend her. He left some
medicine and departed. The suffering
was not abated in the least, and he was
sent for second time. What ne did at
that visit cannot say. He made some
caballstlc signs on her forehead and said
some words over her, and the pain left
her at once; but she followed him around
like child, and from that time forth
knew little or nothing other than what
the doctor told her or pointed out to her.
She would obey his commands implicitly
and he could do anything with her, but
to everyone else she was as deaf as a
statue of marble.
1.-THE members of her family became
alarmed and Xy0nHaral hot hn IL
could be-. She got no letter, nor in fact
did she change for the worse, but from
that day to this she has remained in eX-
actly the same condition. She isn't sick
and she isn't well. She lives and sleeps
and eats, but her faculties have all left
the symptoms Of insanity. What is the
matter with her? l have no idea, but if
you will see Mr.. Steen in this city he can
give you further information, as he is in
correspondence with the husband of the
woman at this time, believe"
Charles n. Steen, the great spiritual ex-
poser, mind-reader and second-sight
artist, who, with his wife has created no
little wonder and comment by their Won
derful performances on the coast of late.
was found at the Western Hotel and
asked if he had heard of the strange case
Of Mrs. Wager and DR.. Strope. "Yes,
smiling, "and perhaps know more about
it than anyone else, for the reason that I
have the story from the lips of her hus-
band, or rather from his pen, and if YOU
will come up to the room / will show YOU
what he writes"
The reporter accompanied him and the
letter was produced. 1t was as follows:
Mr.. Charles ". Steen-DEAR SIR: / tele-
graphed you yesterday from Healdsburg and
write you to-day from my home. Had /
known sooner that you We're in Healdsburg
could have seen you, and it would have saved
me this trouble. What want to know is this:
My wife having been mesmerized Tor psyche
logized, as the clairvoyants call it, and then
turned into witch, / desire to know whether
or not you can be of any help to her. This was
done by German doctor and his wife His
name is Maurice FL. Strope and his wifes
name is Iill1e. OF course do not know what
powers you or Mrs. Steen have, or whether YOU
can read minds at distance or not If Won
can, and can do her any good 1 am willing to
pay fair price therefor Must / meet you at
some place or can you write to me, so / can
snow 1t to people, as there are some here who
believe in such things? am convinced that
there Is some reality in it, and for the sake of
suffering humanity write you. / cannot tell
blythe play-bill in my possession whether the
lady with you is your wife or sister, but it
makes no difference, she is very good If
she is, the stranger and will leave it entirely
with you to do the business. Yours respect
fully, AARON WAGER
Healdsburg, December IA, 1890.
''It is surprising thing to me-" said
Mr.. Steen, that people will never aban-
don such foolishness as witchcraft, spirit
ualism and such things. This is only
one case out of several that have come to
my personal notice during my last sea-
sons work. | am advertised as mind
reader, or rather Mrs. Steen and myself
are so advertised together. People who
see our work and talk about it be-
lieve that our powers are more than
natural, but that is all stuff and nom
sense. Do you suppose Mrs. Steen could
do her act on the stage and tell all the
queer things people want to know if I
were not there? Could l do if she were
not there? Well, not much. 1t is nothing
but clever study and trickery, and have
always plainly said so. This second-sight-
seventh-son-Of-a-seve business is
all rot. No, it's only sharp memory and
well-planned programme, with endless
variations that enables us to do what we
do. Now, / have made this explanation
to you and don't care what you do with
it, to show you how absurd it would be
for me to go to this mans house, humbug
him into the idea that was materialized
spirit or bean-eating witch-killer from
Boston, and to make him believe that 1
could cure his wife,
Its nonsense"
How do you account for the strange
condition of his wife?"
simply that this doctor, whoever
he was, was man possessed of
animal magnetism to a high de-
gree, and having the so-called mes
meric power, which is the same thing.
He probably found her very weak
minded woman, and used this force ex-
perimentally. Once he subjected her
will Ito his own, he couldn't release her
to save his life and left her in that sad
condition."
and what is to follow? How will she
get out of it?'
Il give it up. Ask me an easy one.
Perhaps it viii wear off in time, and then
she'll be relieved of the witch that is
bothering her."