The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-08-14

7 The eldest son broke away from the
thrall, a daughter died after years OF
slavery TO her mothers eerie moods.
and three strapplng sons, under the
imposed belief that they were con-
sumptves, were kept In bed for
~ 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 witch's hus-
band had also been bent by her will,
and she rarely left the place, warning
on with a 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 Pileon OF Gran
don, Wis, accused of getting $4,000
from a credulous bfChelor in payment
for immunity prayers" rose and faced
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
munity prayers" for Is years. and, at
last, he wished to be free from her.
In the assizes court at Sassari, Sar-
dinia, last spring, a more striking
setting by far for the trial of witch,
Rosa Artura, venerable, imposing in
appearance and speech, and known
as the Saint OF Sassari, held the whole
place under her spell as she declared
herself She had been arrested along
with 30 other women accused Of be-
ing in witches league" Twenty
five OF the prisoners, during a secret !
magisteriaI 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
dred persons believed them and paid
to them thousands Of dollars from
small earnings.
One Of the victims who gave evi-
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
icular 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
are angels"
But it 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 it empty. When his pocket {
the same condition and he
lost his job, he raised his voice in
denouncing the witches.
When stately Rosa Artura rose to t
speak, the sun glinting on her snowy (
lair, her form erect and natural i'm. '
mingled with her kindly /
manner, the spell Of silence fell upon q
he place. She refused d lawyers aid, t
declaring that st. Thomas and st. '
Augustine had been sent from heaven '
o defend her; that they would advise a
Ter, unseen and unheard by others, /
md speak with her voice. S
Her speech was eloquent carrying d
he spell of conviction with 1t. 1t
seemed entirely believable, as she
.laimed that she was possessed of
powers, which enabled b
Ter to heal scores Of so-called incur Z
.bles, even raving maniacs. The Saint t
II Sassari spoke with the inspiration
4 belief, it is said; but, though the p
ourt was not insensible to the mystic
,ower Of her presence and of her v
peech, still the failure to explain why t.
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