Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-02-11
Capital Sidelights
BIZ VIII p. Kennedy.

0H VII r. n SHHSuy.
Representatives George J. Bates Of
Massachusetts,, longtime Mayor OF
Salem Of witchcraft fame, and E. Ed
ward Hebert pronounced "A-Bear~,
who won the Courage in Journalism"
plaque five years ago, veteran news
paperman Of New Orleans, are especially
interested in bill before the Massa-
chusetts Legislature, barking back two
and half centuries, to absolve those
hanged as witches In Colonial Salem.
H. Vance Greenslit Of New Orleans is
seeking to clear the name of an an
cestor, Ann Pudator, who was hanged
in Salem as witch September %, 1892,
one Of the last victims of the fanatical
outbreak. State Senator J. Elmer Gala
han, who filed the bill in the State
Senate, decided that it would be an act
Of simple justice to include all others
against whom convictions for witchcraft
stand. There are at least i've others
Bridget Bishop, Susanna Martin, Alice
Parker, Wilmot Read and Margaret
Scott. Ann Pudator, widow Of Jacob,
was the mother OF five children and
apparently was acting as a good samar-
itan. as accounts Of her trial disclose,
"trotting around to homes of the sick
to lend a helping hand"
But Mistress Pudator, according to
the charges against her. sat at her fire.
place sticking pins and needles into
efhgies Of her victims, also interpreted
Is causing nts in the children and In
f1icting the aged with rheumatism and
indigestion. At her trial before two
judges. one villager swore AIMS ap-
partition caused one John Turner to fall
on his head from cherry tree. A Dr.
Roger Toothaker who testified against
her was himself later arraigned as q
wizard and sentenced to prison in irons.
Belief in witchcraft came to America
with the colonists after many thousands
had been hanged and burned in Europe
in the 18th and 18th centuries. In BoS-
ton in 1648 Margaret Jones was executed.
In Springfield Mary Parsons was in
dicted for witchcraft and executed for
numbering her child. In Boston, June
10, 1856, Anne Hibbins was hanged.
William Penn presided over the trial Of
two Swedish women for witchcraft. A
woman named Glover was executed in
Boston In 1888. principally on the EVIL
dence of a l3-year-old girl. In 1892
the Governor appointed special court
to try several hundred persons, mostly
young women victims OF hysteria in
Salem. Nineteen were hanged and many
imprisoned.
Massachusetts, was the only place
where participants in the delusion had
the courage publicly to confess their
errors The General Court proclaimed
such resolution on December II, 1896.
Judge Sewall handed his minister a
confession to be read in the meeting
house. The Judge stood In his pew and
the IL jurors signed a statement ad-
hitting their culpability and seeking
forgiveness. Other witchcraft persecu-
tons occurred in Virginia in 17o6, North
Carolina in 1712, Rhode Island in 1728.
Now the Massachusetts, Legislature IS
asked to wipe its slate clean and clear
the names Of descendants of those con-
demned.
-
There are 30 many veteran employees
at the Capitol who wear out their lives
In faithful career service without public
recognition that it is gratifying to find
this written about clerk of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee in the report
Of the United States Constitution Ses-
quicentennial Commission: "It is q
pleasure to acknowledge the work done
by Boyd Crawford, secretary to the
director general Of the commission, for
his unstinted labors during the period
of the celebration and especially in as
sisting in the preparation Of this re-
port" Mr.. Crawford formerly was secre-
tary to Representative Clarence J. Nc
Leod Of Michigan and for more than 20
years has been one Of the most obliging
and courteous workers In the Capitol,
never too busy to do anything in his
power to help any one.
4 - 81
"A Union of hearts and hands as
well as Of States" is q striking epitome
coined by Gen. Van Allen, according to
no less testimony than that Of President
Lincoln, on April IA, 1865. He wrote the
general on that date as follows: II in
tend to adopt the advice Of my friends
and use due precaution. - ! thank
you for the assurance you give me that
shall be supported by conservative
men, like yourself, In the efforts ! may
make to restore the Union, 20 8 to
make 1t, to use your language, q Union
Of hearts and hands - wen - ef
statss. $"