Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1877 — How a Spanish Sexton Impersonated the Devil. [ARTICLE]

How a Spanish Sexton Impersonated the Devil.

A strange story comes from the north of Spain. A moribund landed proprietor, notwithstanding the entreaties of his family and friends, refused to receive the consolations of religion. His family, thinking they had overcome his scruples, sent for the parish priest; but upon his arrival the sick man declined to receive him, and the priest withdrew, declaring that the devil would come in person to carry off so hardened a sinner as soon as be was dead. A few hours afterward the sick man died, and while the family were watching over the body the door of the room was opened with a great noise, and there appeared upon the scene a personage arrayed in red, brandishing a pitchfork, dragging a long tail after him, and smelling veiy strongly of sulphur. His appearance created so much terror that the women present fainted.and the men rushed out of the room by another door. A man servant, hearing the screams, and thinking that thieves had broken into the house, armed himself with a revolver, and made his way to the room from whence they proceeded. For a moment he, too, was terrified by the appearance of “ the devil,” who by this time had got the body in his arms; but, mastering his fears, he fired three barrels of his revolver at him, and the supposed devil, who fell to the ground, proved to be the parish sexton, who, by the orders of the priest, had disguised himself, as he conceived, as Satan. He was quite dead when picked up, and four priests, who are suspected of complicity m this attempt to work upon the superstitious feelings of the family of the*deceased, have been taken into custody.— Pall Mall Gazette.