The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-11
Interesting Case in Which Several
HOodoOs Figured.
THE BR0WN-DAVlS FACTIONS.
\ Tale Of Adventure Down i'm Peni-
Tertiary BOttom-Dcputy Mar
shal Sam Bendit Trails an
Alleged Offender TO Her
Lair - Tampcring
With Letters.


H. Smith. both colored. were arrested yes
terday and committed to the city Jail
Both persons are charged with alleged
violation of the postal laws and Deputy
United States Marshal Samuel Bendit
served the warrant in each case.
Lizzie Brown was taken into custody on
a warrant charging her with violating sec
ton 3se9 r. 5. L. $. The letters. which It
is alleged were sent BY Lizzie Brown.
were addressed to Mrs william Davis.
Sls south Second street, Richmond, va"
The woman to whom these letters were
addressed IS also colored and is the wife
of Henry Davis.
BAD BLOOD EXISTED.
Behind the sending Of these letters there
lies a very interesting story Of "conjuring'
in which the Davis woman figures as the
victim Of the evil visitation.
Bad blood it appears has for some time
existed between the Davis and Brown
families. There had. on more than one oc-
casion. been meetings of the beligerents
and the lie was passed. Each accused the
other Of attempted SANDER and the -four
hundred" of the classic section OF 'Beni-
tcntiarv Bottom" were wrought up 10 high
pitch Of excitement over the various stories
that found their way from mouth 10
mouth.
Matters went from bad to worse until
Lizzie. according 90 her statement. refused
10 have anything whatever TO do with
Henry. and Henry. she claims planned re-
venRe. In the meantime Henrys wife was
having troubles OF her own with another
member of the Brown contingent. but
she was outclassed. and claims that her
antagonist "tricked' her as the latter
was possessed Of mysterious power.
THE SPELL - on.
One day CONSERVATION reigned in the
ranks OF the Davisites. Henrys wife
found that something was wrony with
her right arm At times she was almost
Doweress in that member. Outlines az
night she. according To- Henrys version
of tho affair. would DE "racked with pain"
and her existence was one Of misery No
thing seemed 10 relieve the afflicted wo-
mans pain ana the case seemed beyond
human comprehension.
I'm the meantime there was war and
runners of war" Con lecture was rife and
suDDOsitiou supplanted sunpOsiti0n and
theory. theory. The sources 20 which this
misfortune was ascrbed We're various and
widely different. Finally. like bomb
thrown into the camp OF the Davisites.
came the assertion that the victim was
cOnurcd.
Conservation re'pred. A doctor" was
sought out and consulted. Henry bought
two dollars ard seventy cents worth of
consult and he learned 10 his terror that
his suspicious were confirmed. The "speP'
was ON.
TWO HOODOOs' FOUND.
The uerpetrator OF the "spelr" evidently
wlnted to make a good job OF So. for two
trick bottles" were found. or course.
there was some trouble finding these
omens OF evil and the Doctors Won
derful powers Of diyination were alone,
St seemed able TO locate the cause of tho
trouble. one OF these mysterious work
ers of evil was found In the yard but
the other was found buried under the
steps OF the Davis Mansion. This. 70 Is
claimed. was done for the purpose OF
giving increased effectiveness to the
charm. for I'm this case the person for
whom 10 w.s intended would have 10
walk over it.
Now that the charm was found another
difficulty presented Itself Whp would
De willing 90 Gift it?" OF course. no one
wanted TO have the awful thing" on
them. but the doctor" again came 10
the rescue and saved the day. he, IN
order to give good measure for the two
seventy. was willing TO risk II. All the
Davis faction turned out en- masss 10
witness the deed After much prepara-
tion the operation began. Henry dele
gated seven friends 10 stand with him
and act as special witnesses. The "doc-
tor" reached forth his hand 20 pick 10
the bottle, but What surprise was in store
He did not even touch the mysterious
thing. but on his reaching il. the
bottle jumped from its resting place and
into the doctors" oDen palm.
TROUBLE NOT ENDED.
The removal Of the offending object
did not. however, act as a panacea for the
ils OF Henry wife. Though the pain
diminished. the ihrobbng in her arm
still continues and during the truce be-
tween the two factions the search for
another 'hoodoo' will be prosecuted In
the meantime letters containing such ex-
pressons as would make Anthony Com
stock desperate, were received by the
Dayises, and Henry finally decided to in
woke the aid Of Uncle Sam A warrant
charging Lizzie with the authorship and
the sending Of these unwelcome epistles
hind the bars.
A truce has been temporarily declared
and quiet reigns over the rivaN camps In
historic and poetic Pcnitentiary Bottom
SMITH OPENED LETTERS
Thomas HoratiO Smith Is a young coll
ored man whose reputation has hereto
fore been recorded as spotless. and his
career has been OF the most severe stripe.
and anything but checkered This fact
may probably act as "a buffer between
Thomas Boratio and the law
Thomas. up TO last night. was employed
As a bell boy at No. west Grace street.
but ne spent last night as the govern
ment's guest and this Is the reason why:
Mrs. Hal p. Mosbv. Of Bedford CITY.
has for some time been the guest Of her
mother at the above address Mr.. Mosby
mailed three letters 10 Mrs Mosby, but
she received none of them. tracer was
sent out and an effort made 10 hnd the
missing letters.
Letter Carrier Philip Dawson left a
package at that address. and In Smiths