The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-02-06
The Hidden Cause.
lOriginaI.1.

GOriginaL1
The essential points OF this story
are true
In 1862 at Salem, Mass. a number
OF young girls went into fits and ac.
cused several persons Of having be-
witched them. This started the In
nous wltchcraft delusion. While the
frenzy was at its height n woman about
forty years old was brought before the
court. court that had condemned Der
sons for vomiting crooked pins anc
sailing In sleeves, but Il court cons titut-
ed In exnctly the same form US our
courts OF the present day There WINS
the prosecutor. the advocate. the Judge.
ana jury Of twelve good and true
men. The judge was venerable
man nearing threescore years and ton
He was dignifed. as all judges are sun
posed to be. and made an impressive
appearance In his robes OF office The
prisoner was accused Of healing the
sick miraculously and therefore with
the help Of the devil.
How do you effect your cures p"
asked the prosecuting attorney
Il have charm which l hang about
the neck OF the sick person.
LET me see it,
The woman produced a bit OF rolled
paper and handed it to the attorney
DE unrolled 1t. uncovering some odd
characters scratched upon it. Then he
gave 1t to the jury for inspection. AS
each juryman looked at it the moor
womans doom might be read in his
omlnous look. When the examination
hau been finished the prosecutor turn
ed again to the prisoner.
did Satan give you the charm?'
when was a little girl. One dav n
young stranger came to nv mothers
house and asked for lodging. | was
Ill with the chills at the time, and the
stranger asked my mother WHY she
permitted me to remain sick when |
couio SO easily be made we'll where
upon my mother asked him to cure me
men the young man took that bit OF
paper. scratched upon it the charac-
tiers. and hung it about my neck. He
to!d my mother that the next morning,
would be well. What he said came
10 pass. never had another chill
from that day to this"
AND does the charm always cure?"
Not always, usually. Some have
1alth and some are doubtful l have
noticed that the doubtful are seldom
helped"
Describe the young man who gave
it you"
He was about the height of his
worship. and with features something
like only. being young. he was much
handsomer''
Come now, mistress. confess. as YOU
nope for mercy for your sin, did YOU
see horns on the young mans head or
cloven foot?"
His brow was smooth, but as for his
feet l could not see. since he wore
boots to his knees"
Did you believe him to be the
devil?"
i did not. else 1 would not have
worn his charm or used il unon
Others"
The prosecutor turned to the Jury
and said:
That this woman received the
charm from the devil is proved in
this: That she has healed a number of
persons with it who are ready TO tes-
t1fy to the Fact We shall show that
she healed one Hiram Oldershau one
Annie Gaunt and Margaret Sherwood
the hrSt OF q palsy. the second of a fa-
yer and the last of chills Healing by
divine power has not been possible in
hfteen centuries. All healing is b..
divine power or by the devil. ergo
TINS charm came from the devil. But
Satan first bewitched the child to
"hon ne gave 1t, and she has been
possessed ever since There ia bu+
one way to stamp out these works OF
bell that are being worked among US" .
Meanwhile the judge sat looking h.
eddy at the prisoner. He seemed to he
II a revery. to be reaching back as
through a mist for some bygoue scene
When the prosecutor ceased he asked