The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-17
W1roHoRAYr IN A1BAxn
A asrmsn wsuaan Charged with Pr.ct,c,,r \.
on n Hoy.

on q hoy.
ALBANY, Nov. 16.-For the past two weeks
the alleged effects of witchcraft have beon the
cause OF much alarm among tho friends and ac-
quaintances Of the Blended family, consisting
OF father, mother. and hvo children, who 1.-Two in
q story.and-a.half frame house on Third street.
Three weeks ago last Wednesday Frank. tho
eldest son. who is 90 years of nge and n rudy,
robust, and rollicking German boy. began TO
complain Of q loss OF strength. He had been en-.
ployed in tho West Albany car shops, and was
able to accomplish ton hours n day of the
hardest kind OF manual labor. Ho has never
been weak nor slckly. His appetite did not
leave him. yet for some unaccountablc reason
he became weaker and weaker. thinner and
thinner, until before two weeks had gone by he
had lost twenty-five pounds and became so
weak that be was unable to drag himself along.
Resident physicians were called in. but their
medicines were OF no avail.
Mrs. BLENDED, having had similar experience
before. became convinced that her sons condi.
ton was due to the efforts Of a nelghbor. whom
she charged with practicing witchcraft to bring
disaster upon her home. She consulted an old
German living by who during his early days in
the Fatherland had some success In breaking tho
spell OF witchcraftery. Diedcrich Wygant Is his
name.
That section Of tho city is almost exclusively
settled by, Germans and Mr.. Wygant has
aid the suffering when the efforts OF physicians
were. f%ruitlcss. Mrs. Blended turned the boy
over to the charge Of the old German and tho
effect OF three days treatment was magical. In
five days tho boy was able to DO about. He be.
came stronger each day until now he has eeen
enabled to return to his work.
The discussion OF the circumstances attend
ing the lads illness became so heated that the
woman who was charged with practicing witch.
craft applied for n warrant on Saturday for Mrs.
Blendels arrest, which the magistrate refused
to issue. Two years ago Mrs. BLENDED and the
woman whom tho says Is responsible for her
sons condition had n wordy war. 1t resulted
In Mrs. Blendel's becoming very angry, and in
the heat Of her passion called the woman a witch.
The two women had a quarrel again about
seized with the spell of weakness, and this fact
only strengthened Mrs. Blendel's belief that her
Mrs. BLENDED when seen by mi Sun cor.
q number of her German friends who were pres.
much wrought up over the evil spell which sho
said the German woman enemy had cast over
her family, and exclaimed:
If 1 have another similar experience In my
family will pursue n different remedy
Frank. the afflicted boy, bore out the state.
apparent illness had accompanied his recent
,"sureiv / was bewitched." he said, land I
able to break, the spell. The old German who
last attended me and my mother,both told
me that l was bewitched, and there was
every evidence. OF 1T to my mind. l have
always been well and strong and could eat any.
thing at any time. 1t was an awful feeling to
my strength until 1 was unable to move about.
I was ambitious to remain at work. but was
old German broke the evil spell I have gained
considerable and now weigh i20. Mr.. Wygant
after he had aGr' Bnried s Sser nS S %hich b s,% ssidi
would break the spell. From that time / began
to recover my strength and to gain flesh"