The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-28
COULDN'T ENDURE A WITCH.
ADAM HEIDI HELD FOR THE MURDER
OF GEORGE MARkERE

OF GEORGE MARkERL
4 Strange story OF spelis, which Laste,
ss- Years. U~s.- which Heidt and III,
Family suRered mud for which They Hei.
Markert Responsible Superstition, Al
most IacreaibIe. that Followed the nnno
cent strokins OF Ola Mnn's BEARD nm,
.r May Account for MS Murder-Bsr, burn
~ sngs and Death Attributed to IN,
- Murdered Mau-Thrests Against Him
.CALLicooN. Jan. 27.-1n the Empire State o
New York. within 140 miles OF tho great cit,
OF New York. In tho centre OF prosperous
farming community In county where thous
ands Of dollars are expended annually for the
purpose Of education and thousands more fol-
tho advance Of Christianity. there are persons
who believe 80 thoroughly In the ancient
bugpboo called witchcraft that they have
committed murder to rid the community Of a
peaceable old man who had lived among
them for forty years. He was accused OF
bewltching a man tnling him with pain
and. strange sensations by merely strok-
ing his own beard. and by the same
,moaps these foolish people soy he killed the
.bewitched ones horses and afflicted his cattle
till they died. He was also said to have caused
. ruflan to kill the bewitohed ones mother
in-lnw and his son to fall from n load Of hay
and bronx his neck. He was also accused Of
causing the bewitched ono's brother to be
killed by the cars and OF doing other things.
oil Insane twaddle that would fit we'll the
pages OF history Of tho day OF witchery.
Tho witch was met In tho night. was shot.
and then bounced upon by n man or men
armed with heavy clubs. They beat his head
In. and when he fell dead they knceled beside
hin, and fred lvo shots into him to make sure
OF their bloody work.
A few facts have been told regarding the
murder Of old George Markert on Jan 10. two
miles outside OF the village OF Jefferson, and
within stones throw Of his own house. So
certain were the people OF the town that they
knew the murderer. and know his idiotic mo-
tive. TINT thoy arrested q man even before the
body OF Mnrkcrt was discovered. or before 1t
was known positively that murder had been
committed. This man and his son. youth Of
~ years. whose head had been filled with tho
twaddle his father had retailed among his
neighbors for years. were committed yester-
day to the Sullivan county JUL. Every bit OF
evidence points toward them. or one OF them.
- guilty.
METHODS OF BREAK1No THE WITCHES SPELLS.
The place where this crime was committed
10 called tho Hallway House. Ittnkes its name
from tavern that has stood on tho main high
way as long as tho oldest inhnbitant can re-
member. It is ten miles from Callooon and
eighteen miles from Monticello. tho county
seat. There are very few poor pcoplc there.
The farms nre large and rich and we'll stocked.
OF tho 200 people who form tho community
there are probably twenty who are believers in
witchcraft When neighbours barn burns they
say that he has incurred tho anger OF the
witches When neighbours child falls sick they
resort to mysterious devices and nominations
to get 1t out OF the power OF tho witch. They
cut out OF the mud the footprints Of the sus-
pected one and roast them and break them
MP and strew the ashes to tho four winds.
They put chalk marks on the doors to keep
the evil spirits away. and carry charms about
their necks. They hang stove pokers up for
bfot>ction. and do many other strange things
MRt have been handed down as means OF pre-
venting evil.
y These people are ashamed Of thcir super-
ttttiens and only talk about 1t among thom-
ielvss. but Adam Heidi was tho most super
Stttious Of them all. aud didn't hide tho fact so
much as did the others. 1t was he who was
possessed. He lives on a little mound called
oWlss HILL. which Is half mile or moro from
the Hallway House. He was born In Sullivan
county. and hos lived there all his lilo. He is
called l" Old Man HEIDI" though he is only ~
years old. His family. besides himself and his
wife Barbara. who is possessed OF consider |
ably moro sense than her husband. consists OF
Joseph. % years old: John. IL. and teacher |
Ia public school: Rosie. IA: Anthony. IL.
and Mary. g. Heidt's farm covers 1873 acres.
most OF which 10 cultivated. tt ono Of the |
llrgest In the community. and his stock Is |
among the best
:. George Msrkert was ~ years old and prob |
ably was tho poorest man in the community.
His farm was only q fifteen acre plot. He was |
Heidts broth r-in-law. having married Heldt's |
sister. His farm was Just a niche chopped |
out OF . larger one and 1t was within Mailing |
distance Of Heidts land. Markert was honest |
And respected by nearly all Of his neighbors. |
He worked for many Of them in odd limos. for |
his own farm wasn't large enough to occupy |
ill his time.
f' HEIDI BECOMES POSSESSED.
Ever since he was 20 or 22 years old Heidi |
has been ailing. He says no was possessed. |
It was twenty years ago. no says. that Markert |
cast the first spell upon him. For two years |
10 has talked about 1t constantly. He has |
threatened. In his neIghbors' hearing. to do |
away with his old brother-in-law. He has |
visited doctors and iakirs and worn charms and |
papers. but he grew no better. Tho last year |
he has been especially fierce against Markert. |
On Tuesday night week ago Markert |
oU0ub tuo ONcuAHS oL lho way I1OuSe, as |
WAS his custom three nights every week. He |
Left the tavern at 10 O'Clock. However reached !
his home. On Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock |
Casper Won Bergen. Bergens stcpson Johnnie. |
md John Kohler were going through the |
woods when thoy came across bloody cup.
There was u bloody trail leading from it and
rom tire highway A hundred feet further
Ehcy found big pool Of frozen blood. and tho
snow. Beside this imprint WINS one of
rail- led back again. and there was evidencs
hat . body had been dragged 1913 feet back
through the brush to the highway and to n
bridge that crosses tho creek at that point. 1t
had been tossed over into tho wafar The
iesrchers soon found an overcont and other
srEsrts. they Went to Markerts R boase t nnd
tiled him."
The others agreed. They went and arrested
ssearehsd for the body. There were seventy
mile and then went back ngain. On tho ro-
on root Of a tree In tho water, and then male
Vas Markert. Heidts house was acarchcd
Two reyolvers wore found. Tho family told n
story OF their movements on Tuesdnv
Pnd on Tuesday night. Tho only one of tho
(emily WHO had been out WINS tho young mnn
JOS0Dh. who had Qona IN Kapoyn 7 a N IN. .,is |