Year: 1875

A P0ttstown, pennsylvania, letter to
the Reading Eagle says: You have, no
doubt, ere this heard about the bewitched
Diener boy at Boyertown. The story is
the event of the season, and nothing else
is talked about in this region. For the
purpose of getting the facts in the case
we yesterday visited Boyertown and in
terviewed the lad and his parents. The
lad said he was nearly ten years old, and
that his name was Henry Oscar Diener.
He is of steut build, regular features,
rosy cheeks, clear, intelligent blue eyes,
and prominent forehead.


He cOnverses with ease and appeared
to have some little education. His gen.
eral appearance indicated health, and no
matter what produces the "spells" with
which he is afflicted, no bodily ailment
was noticeable. Here is what his father,
Adam Diener. and his mother, who for
merly resided at Reading, had to say
about the remarkable affair:


Last March one year ago he had the
first spell, and, with the exception of
several months last spring, he had one,
and sometimes two every day. While
the fit is on his eyes become CLASSY, face
contorted, hands cold, and skin of a livid
hue. He will spring over chairs, sit on
their backs, squirrel fashion, suspend
himself by his hands to nails in the wall,
jump out and in windows, and perform
a feat which the most expert show actor
would not dare to undertake-that is, of
walking around the room on the surbase,
the width of which is not over one inch.
He at times becomes furious, and the
family are obliged to keep their distance.
He scratches and bites, but does not raise
an arm to strike. He passes around the
floor on all-fours, like dog or any other
four-footed animal. He initiates to per-
fection the mewing of a cat, the barking
of dog, the chirping of bird, the
neighing of horse and the bleating of
lamb. While the spell is on he fre-
quently breaks crOckeryware and upsets
the furniture. but was never known to
sustain any injury to his person there
from. The fit, or whatever it may be
termed, usually lasts about half an hour,
and when it leaves him he awakes as
though from a dream, seemingly much
refreshed. He can tell all that took place
while in that state with a clearness and
minuteness most remarkable. Now the
family really believe that the boy is be-
witched, and base their arguments on
the following incidents connected with
the affair: The first day he had spell
it was brought about, they say, through
him falling out with an old woman of
seventy, residing with her daughter in
Engleville, about one mile distant. This
woman is said to be sort of sorceress,
and from some cause not explained she
took a deep dislike to the boy. He
passed her house daily on his way to
school, and upon one occasion, when he
refused to accept a piece of bread from
her hands, she went over long rigmarole
of incantations, and remarked that the
devil would take possession of his body
for certain time every day of his life
Last April the old hag visited Chester
county, and remained away until about
two weeks ago. Most remarkable to
state, the boy had no spells while she
was gone, but on the very day of hel
return they returned also. The woman
OH that day was seen by the neighbors
in front of the boys residence making
peculiar motions with her arms, and
drawing circles in the sand. Last Thurs
day week Mr.. Diener took his son tC
Reading to a witch doctor, on Neversinl
street, who now has his case in hand
No medicine was prescribed, the modu'
operandi of the treatment being purely
of the black art kind, and the family
are forbidden to divulge the nature o
the cabalistic signs and incantations they
are obliged to perform.


A few days ago while father and sor
were sitting on a settee in down stair
room, the boy broke out, and, aft e
squirming around the room. suddenl!
seemed to pick up something from tn
floor. He closed his hand, and refused
to open it, until he returned to himself
when it was found to contain twenty
five cent note. He says he saw tn
money flying across the fields coming
from the direction of the witch's house
and enter the window and drop on tn
floor. He further says that long re'
string was attached to it, which disar
peared again out of the window. Th
father saws no one in the house is know
to have had a single cent of money les
than one dollar bill. The scrip wa
placed under a glass, and, by instrut
tions of the doctor it was torn in hal
last Sunday, the one part being retaine
while the other was burned in brim
stone fire.


Mr.. Diener, the father, is man of Of
binary caliber. His wife seems, mer
tally, the stronger of the two. Both ar
firm in their belief that the boy is bt
witched. The neighbors, to a great e1
tent, share in their opinion, and in Col
sequence considerable excitement exist
in that locality. Hundreds visit tn
boy daily, and the story we have relate
here is the one repeated by the party
all those who call.


S0me Fashions.


Donoats NTH br; m, q a ra M oat hacomiu