Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-19
INSOMNIA'S VICTIMS.


At that time the son had been dead sew
eral weeks yet the mother and father
vowed they had not slept since George
died-at least not both at the same time.
His bed had not been touched, and l was
shown several witch charms that had
from time to time been found in that bed!
There were two other sons-ha ndson5
specimens OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and
Sidney, and both these young men We're
solemnly impressed by the CHASTITY lnflu-
ences at work in their home. They de
clared that they knew the witch and the
wizard who had SO blighted their peace,
and darkened their sunshine.
The story is as follows:
George Mcdaniel was in love with
pretty maid, and tried to win her affec-
ton. Her step-father set himself to
prevent the courtship and marriage. He
| locked the girl up and whipped her I'M
mercifully. and her lover stood under the
chestnut grove near the house and heard
her cries. Thereafter he was at enmit;
with the wicked step-father.'
A certain woman-a married woman, 1t
is allegcd-became infatuated with the
young man. and She too, became leaSued
with the devil to prevent him from obtain
ing the girl OF his choice.
THEN CAME A SLOW ILLNESS.
Thus it became a neighborhood feud.
ard continued until the young man took
sick with, a strange illness. My nephew
was called in and diagnosed the case one
OF slow fever. He never changed MS pro-
fessional opinion, but the sick mans fam
lily declared George was bewitcheG. When
the doctor was there ne was treated for
fever; when the doctor left he was treat
ed for Witchcraft. AT the end of three
weeks he died, and was buried in the
country graveyard. Now the grief of his
loss took possession Of the family, and
they put all the facts together, and were
Convinced.
Mr. Mcdaniel made solemn oath to
some marvellous things when I went to
interview him. He said there had been
large yellow cat that had a wonaan's
face and wore a cap, and sometimes walk
ed softly on it's hind feet, which would
come into the sicl. room at night, and Of
ten sit solemnly on the head OF Georges
bed. No matter how often it was driven
out, as many times it came back and re-
sumcd its wicked watch.
FACE LIKE THE MARRIED WOMAN'S
This cat" said Mr.. Mcdaniel, was
possessed OF e face exactly like the face
of the married woman who was Georges
former friend. and who openly boosted o1
her infatuation still for him" And strans
er still, was the story that at night the
cat with this l9onans face would come
In the daytime the woman herself came
and sat by his bed. or passed through the
house silently, or sat on the porch. She
was always there. in one shape or another.
And after she left they invariably found
the witch charms. $500
Well. it would ill volume to tell all
about the various experiences with the
witches while this poor fellow raved about
them and describe the different charms
the tangled hocse-hair ard blue yarn, the
snakes head, and squirrels jawbone, and
all the remedies used. of salt and red
pepper, and pine tree knots and nine
kinds of roots boiled together, and nius.
kinds Of herb bane tied up the chimney
and nine kinds OF switches used to switch
the air around the house at night.
NOTHING AVAILED
But nothing awaited The bottled char
burst the bottle; ths switches broke Fl
horsehair tied itself about the poor vic
tins toes. and after terrible agony n
died.
The doctor said his death was because
he drank too much buttermilk. Mr.. Me-
Daniel hooted at the idea, and declared
for the witches.
He was SO certain Of the witches that
ne did rot see any use in paying for a
doctor at all, and objected seriously to
doing so.
When he talked with me that day he
said he intended to lift the body and
search for certain infallibIe signs of death
by witchcraft, and If he found them he