Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
FIRM BELIEVERS IN WITCHCRaET
Fanatics Cause Much Excitement in q
Methodist Church I'm Ohin

A Columbus, Ohio. dispatch to the New
York Times says: The good Methodist
brethren In eastern Stark county and the
western part of Columbiana county are
greatly excited over the recent witchcraf,
outbreak in their church at Harris Corners
about ten miles east of Alliance. The sec.
ton Is good farming district, and the
church in question is a large country con-
gregation but for some time the prevalence
OF a belief in witchcraft has been a disturb.
Ing element, and 1t now threatens the dis.
ruption of the church.
Last spring the matter first came to the
attention OF the authorities when Miss Sadie
Loop was tried by them for asserting that
Jacob Culp, wealthy farmer who has al
ways been Jealous member Of the church
was wizard and in league with the devil
TO work evil. Her strange statements were
the outcome OF a series of peculiar events
which might easily have been explained
on rational grounds, but through the agency
or an octogenarian witch doctor who lives
In Alliance, and is ignorantly believed to be
master In all dark arts and is consulted
by the superstitious for score OF nnilas
around. had been made the excuse for pro
nouncing Culp possessed of evil spirits Al
that time Hoff, after a great pow-wow and
many painful sflences. had declared the gods
had decreed Cups destruction, and Miss
Sadie Loop. among the rest, looked for his
speedy death.
Culp was not pleased by these develop
ments, and had Miss Loon brought before
the church. She refused to disayow the
superstition, and was expelled from the con-
gregation. Her friends continued to lool,
upon Culp with great fear, and waited for
him to be called to his last account When
he was thrown from a hayrack in Septen-
Der, and his arm broken, they shook their
heads and said. II told you So" to all who
would listen. The arm knit again, however,
and the judgment Hoff had predicted
strangely hung fire.
A week ago the excitement was again
brought to fever heat. Howard Hughes. a
young farmer, had dug a well on the side
of little hill. He failed to get wafer al
the depth he expected and at once conclud.
ed something was wrong. He believed some
witch had cast spell upon his well and
ruined his undertaking. The strange old
herb dealer and quack, Dr. Hoff. was nj
once consulted with fear and trembling,
and persuaded to go down to Hughes farm
He burned herbs beside the well and went
through an incarnation, ending with the
declaration that Culp was the man respon-
slble, and that there would never be any
water in the well as long as Culp was al
lowed to live.
Thereupon Hughes and a dozen other
families refused to have anything to do
with CUP. They were not yet wrought I'D
to point where they were ready to dis
pose of him, but they boycotted him with
out mercy. special meeting of the church
was convened, and the pastor the Rev. j.
iiOi' N"hCu upoii the WITCH DeneVerS
to recant their nonsense, but was met bv
the. prompt declaration that they would
leave the church first. Hughes said he
would never speak to Culp again as long
as he lived, and the Loops and the Breens,
TWO other families were vehement in as
sorting the evil presence of Culp
The whole community is aroused over
the case. which is one Of the most remark
able in the history of Ohio, and the malign-
ers or Brother Culp are to be tried by the
Methodist Church authorities as soon as
possible. The disturbance promises to break
up the congregation at Harris Corners and
yet leave the superstition as far from be.
ing stamped out as before