The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07
Farmer Accuses old Woman OF
Practicing Black Art.
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Auburn, Me-, June pa hard work
ing and active young farmer who lives
few miles out of the village Of Lime
stone, in Aroostook county, is a firm be-
liver in witches-a statement that reads
strangely in these modern days.
A short time ago the man came into
the village OF Fort Fairfield and consulted
a lawyer in regard to a certain old wo-
that she had bewitched his cows. He said
that the old woman was also doing other
things to bother HIM. He told how a few
days before he was driving yoke OF
oxen. which drew a two-wheeled cart. He
said that when they were passing along
a piece of road that skirted a lake the
witch, making herself invisible, pulled the
linchpin out of one of the axles, and
away went the wheel. 1t rolled down
through a pasture. so the farmer de-
clared, the witch steering It and keeping
II upright. until splash. into the lake It
went.
The lawyer explained to the farmer that
in all proba bility the linchpin droped out
accidentally and that the wheel rolled
away on its broad tire. driven by its own
momentum. But the man would have
none of this explanation, and was greatly
offended when the attorney informed him
that witehcraft wasn't recognized in law
in these days.
Takes Law Into His own Hands.
The farmer went home declaring that
he would take the law in his own hands.
Out of his determination has come a rath-
er singular case in court. II seems that
accused OF witchcraft, owns some trou-
blesome live stock.
One day "Goody'' Collins SOW and fam
lily of little pigs slid under the division
fence and began roofing in a potato field
owned by the farmer. The farmer was
ready. He had nodded some bullets, into
the center of each OF which he had put
a little square of sumach wood. For years
this wood has been known as witch
wood" and it is said by those who be-
lieve in such things that Il Is a sure charm
to overcome BLACK art" The farmer
took down his gun. put in one of the
sumach bullets, and drew a bead on the
sow. He dropped her at the first shot
and the motherless litter fed home
sqnealing.
A few days after the tragedy OF the
potato held another of "Goody" Collins
barnyard families. bustling. cluclxing
hen with brood OF fuzzy chicks made
her way through a hole In the old fence
and got into newly sown wheat field.
once more the farmer loaded his gun and
he stalked the old hen. Bang and the hen
was draggled bunch of feathers, and
the brood was motherless.
Farmer Flees From witch Broom.
When "Goody" Collins heard the sound
Of the gun she guessed what was going
ON, and despite her so years. she rushed
out of her little house aud climbed the
fence, carrying "a broom. The farmer saw
her coming and fed incontlnently he
had no mind 10 face that octogenarian
wrath. and moreover. he had heard OF
witch brides" and witch brooms"
Aunt" collins. however. did not pur.
sue him She collected In her calico apron
the chickens that we're scuttling about Ma
TIE grass
Now this was TOO much for the ola wO.
man 10 bear, ana che brought suit against
ne farmer The case came before = 10
eel 1ntilce at Fort Fairfield. II attracted
much attention, Tor the larmsr asserted