Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-10-02

nanny and was imbued with all the
sp1perstitions of my foster-mother. And
though I've lived to have many OF
them knocked out of me, there are
some that have worked in deeper than
the skin. There was an old "cunjah"
Jconjure) niger on my fathers plan
fation when / was lad and l be-
.fieved just as firmly in his miraculous
powers as l now trust in the efficacy
of a recently decided case. Why, I've
seen him do things that would make
your hair stand on end, and that no
book of philosophy I've ever read
could account for.
Every darky within ten miles of
that place would have suffered death
before arousing the enmity of that
old 'cunjah" doctor, and no young
buck or maid ever began a counting af.
fair without first procuring a love
charm from old Cato.
left the place and grew up to man.
hood, and had almost forgotten all
about conjuring and such trash, when
an incident in the trial of criminal
case recalled 1t all again very yividly.
was called on to defend a splendid
specimen of the negro race for killing
his wife. He was a Hercules in
ibronze, and had lived happily with
quadroon wife until he had the mis-.
fortune to lose his leg in falling from
the roof of house-he being 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 a frenzy
with her flirtations He demonstrated,
she continued he 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 pistol, announced his inten-
fTion to kill her, hobbled mile with
the loaded pistol openly in his hand,
and reaching home, followed by curl
srops crowd, he deliberately walked up
TO his wife, put the pistol against her
bosom, and shot her five 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 1 reached his cell he related
about what have told you, and l.
frankly told him l saw but little chance
TO prevent his being hanged. Not a
single minute did that darky wait be-
fore breaking out in a loud horse.
yaugh.
20, Lawd, colonel" said he, "dar
=. amt a bit o. danger o. dat I've got a
cunjah charm on me, made by old
Cato Feels, that's sartin 'ventive o
death; you just go long and make
your poration an your 'jections, an I'll
come out all right"
1t was no use talking to the fellow,
= and so 1 prepared the best defense l
could under the circumstances. Great
Iy to my astonishment, the jury after
being out four days sentenced him to
the state farm for six years!
Hut I haven't got to the strangest
part of the story yet. The negro gave
ME a deed to his little home, mile
fruTn the town, as fee; there were
about two acres of land, fine we'll of
= water, and comfortable cabin on 1t.
4 tried to rent the cabin, but couldn't
ger a darlty to occupy 1t for love nor
Ezoney-they all said it was haunted.
An the meantime, Harry went to the
'saate penitentiary and, after arriving
Mere he wrote me that I'd have to get
zn1ae conjure doctor to ''obeah
IN. Esm0ve the spell from the house,
or no negro would stay ON the place. |
Finally got mad and had the cabin
torn down, and every vestige of the
timber burnt up, and l built two new
and modern cottages about 100 yards
west of the former location, and quite
nsar public street. But all my ten
ants i'll the new houses remained but a
few days, and folded up their tents
IKE the Arab"
Well, was at my wits end. About
this time i received another letter
from my client in the penitentiary,
assiking IL the place had been "obeaed,"
and urging that l employ old Cato
Feels to fix it so the ghosts wouldn't
walk there. That came like an in
spiration, and l sent niger so miles
with a horse and buggy to fetch the
aid rascal. He arrived three days
Eafer-but he wouldn't put foot on the
place until midnight on the first night
she moon began to wane.
went there with him on the night
selected, and the mayor, two drum
MEETS, and a Universalist preacher ac-
,Ssompanied me.
You see, the Universalist was just
one of those fellows who was always
looking into the curious, and came
along anyhow.
The house had been situated on top
OF a little plateau about rs yards
tho coil tharn a olntV
white clay mixed with sand, was dead
Level, and clean of grass and rubbish.
The old darky had ON red wool
TIlanket, which he wore Mexican-Pon-
,s.F1o fashion, a queer kettle-looking iron
Eaf, and was bare-footed and bare.
legged. He made lis all stand at