Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-08
TALBOT WIZARD CLIP
4 Wild Legend Of Old Times 10
West Virginia.
SPIRITS OF THE SCISSORS.
Story Of the sinsai Stranger and How HIS
splrit Haunted Those who He
fused Min Consolation.
(washlng,ou Post,


Jefferson county, w. Va. TO be pupiisned
this year by Mr.. Joseph Barry one Oh
Harpsrs Ferry's oldest and most respect
ed citizens.
Seventy years ayo the uncanny happeh-
ings at Wizard Clip were the great SEN
sation all through the Northern Neck oi
Virginia. and were the theme OF learned
treatise bv an eminent scholar. At that
time there were but few people OF any
grade OF intelligence in that part Oh VIZ
stnia who treated the mater Win con-
tempt, and many survivors OF the genera
tion now dying out yet cling TO II as
genuine spirit manifestation.
In the southwest part OF Jefferson
county. w. Va, within less than mile
OF the Opequan river. SO famous In our
late war, Is a drowsy. though well-to-do
village that rejoices In three names-Mid-
dleway, Smlthfieid. and Wizard Clip. The
first OF these names 1t got from its being
situated at exactly the same distance
fourteen miles--from Winchester. Mar
tinsburg, and Harpers Ferry, and this
Is the name acknowledged in the Postal
Service. The second-Smithheld-is de-
rived iron a very respectable family OF
the far-extended Smith clan that has re-
sided there a great many years. me
las.--W lizard Clip--it got from a singular
legend connected with a house that once
stood in the outskirts OF the village. This
building, except a part OF the foundation,
has long since succumbed to time. Not
far from the site Of the house Is tract
OF land known as The Priests Field"
which at one time belonged TO a resident
of the aforesaid mansion. q man named
Livingstone but now forms a part OF the
lands Of Mr.. Joseph Minghini. In the old
burying ground OF the village is, or at
least was shown a few years ago.
mound known AS THE Strangers Grave"
and these singular names will be explain
cd by the story.
Some time about the commencement Of
this century a Pennsylvania named Liv-
ingstone moved from his native State and
purchased the farm on which was the
residence above referred TO. He and his
family took possession of the house, and
for several years they prospered. Liv-
bgstone used TO say that he had been I'M
fortunate in life before his moving to
Virginia, and he was fond Of contrasting
his former failures with his success in
his new home. lie is said to have been
man Of mild and genial disposition,
was Of different temper. and that fgura-
lively she wore the garment which is sup
posed TO be the special prerogative and at
tribute of the male sex. The facts OF
our tale, If indeed they are bona fide
facts at all, appear to bear out the popu-
lar estimate of the family, with the adj
dition that Mr.. Livingstone was of
credulous turn Of mind. which exposed
him 10 the Vaccinations Of some design
ing neighbors. who took advantage OF his
unsophisticated nature. and who, perhaps,
were not sorry TO punish the wife for
her lack of amiabiity.
II should be noted that the period OF
our tale long antedates railroads and
steamboats, Goods were conveyed entirely
with horse power. and the principal road
from Baltimore and Alexandria TO South
west Virginia, Kentucky. and Tennessee
passed through Middleway. In conse-
quence. long conveys of wagons were
constantly passing along this road, which
was within a few yards Of Livingstone's
house. About three miles east Of this
residence. also on this road. lived an
Irish family named McSherry, from whom
are sprung the highly-respectable people
OF that name who now adorn nearly every
learned profession In West Virginia.
Maryland, and Pennsylvania, especially
that of medicine. Between these two resi-
dences lived Joseph Minghini. an Italian.
the grandfather OF the gentleman referred
TO as now owning the tract called the
Priests Field" The Minghini OF our
tale had accompanied the Famous General
Charles Lee from Italy when that eccen-
trio character was obliged TO fly from the
land of the Caesars, but finding himself
disappointed in his patron had set up for
himself In the neighborhood of Middle
way. So much for a preface, and now for
our story.
ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGER.
One evening stranger called at
Livingstone's house and asked for q
nights lodging. This was accorded to
him cheerfully by Livingstone. and. In
justice to the lady of the house, 1t must
be recorded that tradition Is silent on
the subject of what she thought Of her
husbands hospitality, and, being an i'm
partial chronicler, the writer will give
her the benefit of any doubt on the sub
jcct. especially as IL turned out after
ward that she had good reason to regret
having taken In the stranger" The
family and their guest conversed for a
good part of the night. as is customary
in Virginia on such occasions, and the
new acquaintance separated about 10
o'clock, Mr.. Livingstone conducting the
stranger to a sleeping-apartment, and
then betaking himself to his own. After
having slept some time the master of
the house awoke. and became aware
OF queer noises coming from the direction
OF his guests apartment. He arose,
knocked at the strangers door. and in
Quired what was the matter. The occu-
pant replied that he was very Sick and
that he had a presentment that he could
not live till daylight. At the same time
l. - - n
sent for to shrive him-that he had been
brought up In the Catholic faith. but
that he had neglected religion when in
health. Now he would gladly accept It's
consultations, for ne felt himself to be
In extremis. Livingstone replied that ne
knew OF no priest Of that faith anywhere
near. and that he could not hope to find
one closer than In Maryland. He re-
marked. however. that he had neighbors
who were Cathollcs-meaning the Nc
Sherrys and the Minghinis. and that they
might set him on the track of n priest
and he volunteered to 60 Immediately to
make inquiries of those people. On this the
wife. who. too. had been aroused, and
woman like. was listening to the CONVEX
sation, became very angry. and told her
husband that II he was fool enough to
start on such a wild-goose chase she
would take good care to thwart him.
even II he succeeded In finding the
clergyman, which was unlikely enough.
She was determined, she said to hinder
any Roman priest from entering her
house, and that the best thing Livingstone
could do would be to return to his bed
and leave the stranger to his fate The
good-natured and well-disciplined husband
submitted. and again retired TO slumber.
Next morning the guest did not appear
for breakfast, and Livingstone. good
deal alarmed, went to the strangers
room and found him dead. The neigh
bors knew nothing OF these occurrences.
and the Livingstones would not be likely
TO say much about them, unless they
were driven to disclosure by the pangs
OF terror and remorse. They. however.
had the corpse on their hands, and, OF
course. the fact OF the death could not
be concealed. A few neighbors were no.
titled, and the unknown was committed
90 a nameless grave No other designation
can be given to him than "the unknown"
because the stranger had not revealed TO
the family his name. or anything con-
nectcd with his history, except the few
remorseful words to Livingstone when
he confessed the sinfulness OF his life.
No clew was ever found to his name,
family, or nationality. but. as the Liy-
ingstones did not report any popularity
In his accent. IL Is TO be inferred that
he vas an American by birth. or very
long residence.
SPOOK IN THE FIREPLACE.
I'm. ~ a.. o..