Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-08-30
IN The DAYS OF
WITCHCRAFT
How Anne HolliWeIl Was
Saved From the Stake.

1t to my father. and my father gave
IL to me-
Anne Holliwell when she was eight
cen years old was accused OF witch
craft Mark Spooner. a big. strong feL
low. wanted to marry bS.< but he was
wicked one-they said Se had secret
the woodland Anne would have moth
ing to do with him. Moreover she
loved Joel Hallitt. son OF Deacon Hal
lit. who went Off with the Roger VIII
Iiams people. Joel WAS the reverse OF
Spooner. being small. pale looking
Young man. but with very intellec-
tual countenance. He was not In IA
vor with the congregation. however.
because he openly denied the right of
the church to burn out woman's
tongue with n redhOt iron. Indeed. so
great was the indignation against his
heretical protest that Joel came near
paying the penalty OF his rashness
with his life.
Now. am not going TO vouch for
what | intend to tell you. I'll give II
as | got IL from others and their In
depreciation or IT, II you choose to
take different views concerning II. |
shall have no objection.
Anne Holiiwell was accused. rs l
have said. or witchcraft- My grand
father used to say that Mark Spooner
was at the bottom or the accusation
with view TO getting Anne into his
power. but this was not current at the
time. However this be. Anne was
tried and sentenced TO be burned
When the fagots were prepared and
Anne was being bound to the stake
tall man stepped out of q wood nearby
and advanced TO the party. He wore a
purple doublet. bordered with red. and
red hose, while on his head was n con-
zeal bat with single feather In II
There was something so singular IN his
appearance that the people turned
from Anne Holliwell. the stake and the
fagOts to look at him.
What do you with the wenchr' ask
cd the stranger.
We're going to burn her. She's a
witch"
"A witch?" The speaker threw back
his head and. displaying white. point
] ed teeth. gave laugh. At first II wns
Il simple ironical ha. ha! Then II had
the ring of trumpet In It. Then came
back an echo. though there was no en-
ineuce or cliff to send II. .
who are your asked one of the
pillars of the church who were con
Quoting the execution. You strange
ly resemble Mark Spooner. but you
are not Mark Spooner. for Mark is but
twenty-five. while yOu-you may be
young or you may be old"
mo matter who / am. / have come
for the wench."
stand on" cried several OF the most
pious men present. who had no minC
that the Lords will should be inter
fered with. but the stranger. drawing
his sword. stepped up to Anne Holli
well and. cutting the cords. led hel
away toward the wood. Some saiC
that sparks were seen to fly from tn,
point of the sword. some that his fac,
suddenly from being quite handsome
beca so demOniacal that every maj
gave way instinctlvely before him. A
for Anne. from the first she shranl
away from him. but he took her b.
the wrist. and. though he seemed t
make no exertion. he dragged he
! away from the fagots. after which sh
/ walked beside him passiveIy. a
though under n spell. In this way h
took her to the edge of the wooC
, where the two disappeared
An hour later Anne Holliweli. az
cOmpanied by Joel Hallitt. came bac
into the town. She was not turtle
-. molested by the people. 1t was ne
generally known why. though the ma
= ter OF ceremonies who was to hav
presided at her execution after Ion
. Interview with her gave out that 81
could not have been a witch becaus
the devil had tried to rescue her All
had failed. My grandfather elaine
to have got the story OF what happe
ed after she disappeared with Il
stranger from one Of her children.
,s Joel Hallitt on the night before Il
Y expected execution. instead OF giviI
N way to HIS grief. spent the hours {
"a his knees praying that the Peep
'r might be absolved from the supers
y tons OF witchcraft and persecutio
When the hour OF the execution can
he was seized with an impulse to
n and save the girl. Seeing a swo
u standing In the corner whose hllt w
70 shaped like cross. be seized 1t al
E. sailed forth His course lay throui
al the wood. and after entering 1t he III
ID the stranger. leading Anne. ApproaC
Of ing them. he asked whittier they we
10 going. Anne gave her lover an q
Ii penling look. and the man glared
Of him with such a demoniacal coun
"A. nance that Joel instinctively held
~ the sword I'm his hand between hi