The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-23
WHEN THE WITCH RULED.
old Betty Pollin Made Many Della
 wareans Unhappy.
Philadelphia Times.

Philadelphia Times.
 There was time. many years ago, when Dover. Del. was troubled with witches. These uncanny things, or rath- CT beings were all that they should be, and many time the famed Dover Green discussed the situation and mads plans to rid the town of the woman, who. according to tradition, rode aloft on a
 broomstick.
 The folk who lived in and around Do- yer were, in the early years of the eigE- teenth century. quite as superstitious as the citizens of Salem. They only diff fered in the methods of disposing of witches. Salem used the stake and
 humane, but equally effective scheme, and 1t is the operation of this plan that is told in the acompanyins story.
 One day in June, in 11l4. Dover had its worst case of witch. Growing on the
 property of Benjamin Shirmer were a
 large number of very fine trees. With
 out any apparent cause the leaves on one of the finest and stateliest of these
 turned as if touched by an autumnal
 frost and fell to the ground. Inr open mouthed amazement the villagers stood around and discussed the mystery. Then,
 upon close examination. it was discov- cred that the tree was dead. Its limbs were stripped of leaves and the sap had left it's trunk.
 'Nvitches." was the verdict reached by 
 escaped suspicion from this serious charge especially when a few days later, l the chimney of Shirmer's house fell with
 out warning. There was not a breath of air stirring at the time and no cause. | except witchcraft, could be given for | this peculiar happening.
 The next day fine horse, the property of Shirmer, was found dead in it's stall. | This was the climax for veterinarians, | who were called said that the horse had been ridden to death.
 That horse has not been out of his
 stall for two 1tsh days sad riddsa shirmer bfm the reply. Her marks are on the horse 5 flanks."
 With the death of the horse other peo- ple began to suffer from the pranKs
 played by the witcn one woman. going to church alone. in broad daylight. WIS tripped and thrown to the road by an unseen hand A small boy had been pick
 ed up and carried through the air for
 rins lly a story gained credence that an old woman nlmcd BettY ollin. Was a witch. She lived alone in &2 old weatn- er-beaten hut The report mad many be- Iievers and talk was heard of burning
 her Before any of these threats could be put into execution she disappeared And this is the way her strange disap- pea rance is acc ounted for. Absalom Cuh. a staid old quaker. was one of the sufferers. His chickens had
 died, his cows refused to give milk and tie flowers of his garden withered and died. One morning, two weeks after the death of Shirmers horse. Cuff awakened with q start Somebody, whom he could | not see was sitting on his chest. As he opened his eyes, the weight left him, but everything Tn the room was upside down. He craw.ed out of bed and, after stt mbling over furniture, managed 10 reach window. Looking out, the woods ! and fields presented topsy-turvey ap- pearance.
 T am bewttched,' he bawled Then
 he laboriously made his way down stairs, yelling that Betty Pollin was the cause
 of his trouble Then he sat down to
 He had a way of removing the spell. After considerable trouble he manage | to take down from the wall gun. He piece of silver money from his pocket. | cut it in two with hstchet. On account
 of his dcranged visilr his movements 1 were slow, Finally he was ready. He
 was going to dispose of the witch by a
 method he had heard his father tell about.
 Going out into the barnyard, he drew | on a door, with a piece of chalk, a figure despite his bewitched eyes, the figure wa $ an image of Betty Pallin. This done, he
 stood off d few feet and, taking aim, l fired. The half coin hit one of the feet. l Immediately his vision was restored.
 This convinced him that Betty was q | witch.
 Going at once to her tumble-down hut, he was surprised to hear groans. Enter | ing he saw Betty limping. and as she
 hopped around she left a trail of blood.
 And, stranger stin, her injured foot cor
 responded with the one struck on the | chalk figure.
 | Cuff accused her of being 2 witch and l thre atened to ge; together the villg and have her burned. He left for Do l yer Green. but when he and his posse returned Betty was not to be found. And
 she has never been heard of since that
 day.