Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1894 — BELIEVE IN THE "EVIL EYE.” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BELIEVE IN THE "EVIL EYE.”

A Trial for Witchcraft in a Modern Town of Salem. The town of Salem, Ohio, was the scene recently of an extraordinary trial, which carries one’s thoughts back to the Massachusetts town of the same name that hanged witches in the seventeenth century. Salem has a pretty

little Methodi* Church,at which farmers worship. For the past two years several families attending the church have been possessed with the idea that they are bewitched. Last Bum me r Howard Hughes, a well -known farmer, dug a well on his place,

but after digging to what he considered a sufficient depth failed to strike water. He was nonplused for the moment, hut, having a half belief in witches, came to the conclusion that his well was bewitched. He went to Alliance to consult with a Doctor Hoff, a septuagenarian, who claims to be a witch doctor. Hoff went back with Hughes, and descending into the well built a fire, and throwing several powders into the blaze went through a powwow performance. On coming to the surface Dr. Hoff told Hughes that William Culp, a trustee of their church and the wealthiest farmer in the neighborhood, was causing all the trouble with his evil eye and that the well would remain dry until after Culp’s death. Hughes told the Breen and Loop families, who also had a weakness for witches, that Culp was the wizard who was bringing all the lad luck on them. From time to time the deluded people kept clear of Culp, but denounced him as an evil man to all who would listen -to them. A month ago some cattle belonging to Norman Breen took sick and died and then a relative of Hughes fell and broke his leg. Culp was blamed for all this and the families have been very active in denouncing him as a wizard and dangerous person and advised their friends to keep away from him. Their belief bscame so annoying to the pastor of the little church that he concluded to have the superstitious ones expelled and, preferring charges of witchcraft and defamation against them, he organized a church trial, which took place, the presiding elder of the district acting as judge. The trial occupied the whole day and, as a result, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Breen and Howard Hughes were expelled from the fold.

TRUSTEE CULP (of the Evil Eye).