Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-23
A Peg
Leg Ghost
BY Wellington Esndiven
Copyright. by Shortstory Pub. Coz

NANNY and WAS imhued with all the
super st:tions OF my foster mother. Ana
though I've lived to have many 81
them knocked out OF me. there are
some that have worked in deeper 'han
the skin. There was an old 'cun1ah
tconjus~) Niger on my fathers plan
tution when | was lad. ANA l be
lieNcd just as firmly in his miraculous
powers AS | now trust In the enicacE
of-x recently decided case. why. iVei
seen him do things that would MAKE
your hair stand on end. and that MOI
book OF philosophy I've ever read
could account for.
Every darby within ten miles OF
that place would have suffered death
before arousing the ennity OF that
cid "cunjah" doctor, and no Young
buck or maid ever began counting AT
fair without first procuring u love
charm from old Cato.
left the place and grew up to man
hood. and had almost forgotten all
about cunjuring and such trash. when
an incident In the trial OF crIminh!
case recalled 1t ali again very WILDLY
was called on to defend a splendid
specimen OF the negro race for killing
his wife Ho was q Hercules III
bronze and had lived happily with a
ouadroon wife until he had the mis-
fortune 10 lose his leg in falling from
the roof OF a house-he being a car
penter by trade. After this his wife
seemed to have lost affection for him:
she allowed the attentions OF other
men. and worked him into frenzy
with her Hirtations. He demonstrated.
she continued: ne threatened, she re-
piled with counter threats: and one
day. when fully convinced Of her In
fidelity to him. he came to town. pur-
, chased a pistol. announced his inten'
ton to kill her. hobbled mile win
the loaded pistol openly In his hand.
and reaching home. followed by curl
Gus crowd, he deliberately walked up
to his VIE, put the pistol against her
bosom. and shot her i've times: then
stumped away. leaving her dead. with
her clothing burning.
Well, he sent for me to come to the
jail and arrange about his defense.
When I reached his cell he related
about what ] have told you. and
frankly told him ! cav but little chance
to prevent his being hanged. Not
single minute did that darky wait be.
fore breaking sut in loud horse
laugh.
20. Lawd. colonel" said he. "dar
amt q bit o. danger O dat. I've got
cunjah charm on me. made by Old
Cato Feels, that's a sartin 'ventive q
death: you Just go long and make
ycur poration an your 'jec,icns, an I'll
come out all right"
1t was no use talking to the fellow,
and SO prepared the best defense
could under the circumstances. Great
Iy to my establishment. the Jury after
| being out four days sentenced him to
the state farm for six years!
But I haven't got to the stranSest
part Of the story yet. The negro gave
| m. a deed 20 his little home, mile
from the town. as a fee; there were
about two &cres Of land. a fine well OF
water. and a comfortable cabin on IT..
tried to rent the cabin, but couidn' I
get a darby to occupy 1t for love nor
money-they all said II was haunted.
In the meantime. Harry went to the
state penitentiary. and. after arriving
there he wrote me that Id have to get
some conjure doctor to "obeah-t
Is. remove the spell from the house.
or no negro would stay on the place.
Finally I got mad and had the cabin
torn down, and every vestige OF the
timber burnt up. and I built tvo new
and modern cottages about 100 yards
west of the former location. and quite
near a public street But all my ten
ants in the new houses remained but a
| few days, and folded, up their tents
| like the Arab.
Well. I was az my wits end. About
this time I received another letter
from my client In the penitentiary,
asking IL the place had been "cbeaed.
and urging that ! employ old Cato
| Feels to fix il so the ghosts wouldE
walk there. That came like an In
| SEPARATION. and ] sent q Niger 30 miles
with a horse and buggy to fetch the
| old rascal. He arrived three days
,aier-but he wouldn't put foot on the
place unit! midnight on the first mgr.
| the moon began to wane.
went there with him on the night
selected. and the mayor. tao drum
mers. and Cniversalist preacher ac-
companied me.
You see. the Tniverzaiis; was jus:
one OF these fellows who vas always
looking into the curious. and came
| along anyhow.
Tic house had beer situoicd on top
Of a little plateau about - yards
square. and the soil there was a slaty
| white clay mixed with sand, vas dead
| level. and clean Of grass and rubbish.
! The old daTky had on I'D WOO
blanket. which he wore Mexican Pom