The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-28
TRIAL FOR WiTCHCRAFT.
Experts ON ~Demonoiogy Testify In . liza
varian Court.

Experts ON D~em0noiogy Testify In u na-
varinn Court.
Berlin, Dec. 27.--The court or oich-
ataatt In bavaria has just given Judgment
IN the action FOR Islander arising out Of tho
extraordinary case Of exoroism which 90
Cured aome months ago in Bavaria, whom
a certain Father AureliAn exercised a boy
named Zilk In his parish, who was said TO
be possessed OF a devil.
Father Aurslian declared TINT che evil
spirit entered the boys body through the
witchcfaft OF a Protestant woman named
Herr, and the latter accordingly instituted
proceedings against him for HlRnder. Tho
ceremony Of ex0rcism was performed In
the presence of q Capuchin ftiar named
Wolf. and other persons. and Father Azure
lian. in the report which he drew up Of the
case, declaring that the devil only quilted
the boy after long resistance.
Friar Welt. who was one OF a long liss of
witnesses called for the defense, confirmed
the correctness of the Defendants report az
to tho circumstances under which the exor-
ciam had been performed.
Father Primer, the provost of tho cathe-
dral. who was called to give evidence as to
the theological aspects of the matter, testi-
fed that according to the teaching Of the
church the possibility of demoniao posses.
sion was indisputabie; and no gave an &C
connt Of the doctrine concerning demons
and evil Spirits. He declared that Father
Aurelinn had recognized the signs of
possession ns taught by the schools,
and had acted as be ought 70 have
done under the circumstances After point.
ing ont that even the civil law recognized
the possibility Of covenants between man
kind and the devil. he went on to affirm
that the church could compel the devil to
speak the truth. This was to support the
line Of defense set up by Father Aurelian
that before quitting the body of the boy the
devil himself, speaking through tho ros-
sessed, had informed him that Frau Herr
had bewitched the boy by means of some
fruit which she had given him.
Prior Schneider. who was summoned as
nm expert In d~emonologv. also explained
his views on the spirit world.
A report was put in in which 1t was certi-
fed by the district superintendent OF DON
auworth that the boy Iilk had no recoliec-
tion whatever of having been exercised.
Herr Straub, the public prosecutor, there
upon observed that it was satisfactory that
the court was thus relieved from the neces-
Rity of pronouncinR upon the efficacy of the
exorcism. The question before the court
was not whether Father Aurelian had trans
whether he had slandered the plaintiff.
This, he maintained, the defendant had
done. and he demanded damages to the ex-
tent of 10 marks, asking this sm8ll sum te-
cause IL was not commended that Frau Herr
had suffered any material loss through the
allegations made against her.
Frau Herr, in evidence, denied having
bewitched the boy, and declared that the
fruit had not been given to Ziik by her, but
by q maid-servant. Her own children had
also partaken OF the fruit without suffering
any ill-effects. Ever since the SANDER
spread by Father Aurelain, however. she
had been called ga witch" by the whole
neighborhood, and her children had been
called witch children" by their comrades
in school.
Ultimately the court gave judgment In
accordance with the public prosecutors de-
mand, finding that Father Aurelian had
uttered the SANDER and imposing upon him
n fine Of so marks and costs, or five days
imprisonment.
In consequence of this decision proceed
ings are to be taken against the Kolnische
Zeitung, which published Father Aurelian's
report on the exorcism. This case will be
heard at the Cologne district court on the
29sh inst.