The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-08-14

Tne eldest son broke away from the
thrall, a daughter died after years of
slavery to her mothers eerie moods,
and three strapping sons, under the
imposed belief that they were con-
sumptives, were kept in bed for
II years, until recently liberated by
the law The physicians found them
still under their mothers influence.
but could discover absolutely no trace
of organic disease. The witchs hus-
band had also been bent by her will,
and she rarely left the place, warning
off with shotgun inquisitive visitors
who approached the house Of mys-
terry"
1t was an unusual sight, one bit
terly cold day Of the present year,
when Mrs Margaret Plleon of Gran
don, Wis, accused of getting $4,000
from credulous bachelor in payment
for immunity prayers" rose and faced
the Judge She was a gray witch,
and, though she did not desig-
nate the color, she impressively ad-
mitted that she was a witch and
could wish any good or evil. She
had been giving Bachelor NORM i'm
munlty prayers" for IS years, and, at
last, he wished to be free from her.
In the assizes court at Sassari, Sar-
DINA, last spring, more striking
setting by far for the trial Of a witch.
Rosa Artura, venerable, imposing in
appearance and speech, and known
as the Saint of Sassarl, held the whole
place under her spell as she declared
herself She had been arrested along
with 80 other women accused Of be-
ing in a witches league" Twenty
five of the prisoners, during a secret
magisterial examination, declared that
they were compelled to work under
the powerful spell Of six leaders, who
professed mystic powers in locating
treasures, to work miracles, to call up
spirits of the dead with the certainty
OF the Witch OF Endor. Several hun
bred persons believed them and paid
to them thousands OF dollars from
small earnings.
One of the victims who gave evil
dence. was the former governor Of
the prison, who had been threatened
with dismissal because Of the escape
Of a ferocious brigand His guards
failing to capture the fugitive, and
anxious to save his position, he con
suited the witches. Certainly they
could aid HMM fact. they were the
only ones who could give him the par
ticular service he needed
The witches promised to overtake
the brigand in his mountain fastness
and have demons seize him, and
speeding through the air, return him
safely to his cell In the prison.
Heaven be praised" exclaimed the
distressed governor. you are not
wltches-you are angels"
But 1t proved that he was the "an.
GEL" for he spent all Of his pri-
vate means. Each day he went to
the cell to see whether the trained
demons had done their work. and
found 1t empty. When his pocket
reached the same condition and he
lost his job, he raised his voice in
lamentation, denouncing the witches.
When stately Rosa Artura rose to
speak. the sun glinting on her snowy
hair, her form erect and natural i'm.
pressiveness mingled with her kindly
manner, the spell of silence fell upon
the place She refused a lawyers aid
declaring that st. Thomas and St,
Augustine had been sent from heaven
to defend her; that they would advise
her, unseen and unheard by others,
and speak with her voice.
Her speech was eloquent, carrying
the spell of conviction with 1t. 1t
seemed entirely believable, as she
claimed that she was possessed of
supernatural powers, which enabled
her to heal scores of so-called incur
ables, even raving manlacs. The Saint
of Sassari spoke with the inspiration
of belief, it is said; but, though the
court was not insensible to the mystic
power of her presence and OF her
speech, still the failure to explain why
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