A family bewitched.
Jesse Miller, a farmer living in Greenville Township, Somerset county, is ready to swear that his household is afflicted with a witch. Some time ago he found a saddle hanging on a hook by the chimney. He had placed it on the balusters. This occurred three times, and every member of the family accused solemnly declared that they had not touched the saddle. Miller took it to the woodshed, and again it was displaced. He then removed it to a saw-mill and spiked it to a standard. It stays there.
His wife was washing one day and stepped out of the apartment for a few minutes. Returning, she was amazed to find the articles which she had left in the tub thrown about over the floor.
Miller was aroused one night by terrible screams in his front yard. He bounded out of bed and rushed out and found his daughter there alone. She had no knowledge of how she got there. Every window and door in the house was locked and bolted as when the young lady went to bed. Twice since she has been spirited out of the house in broad daylight, in the presence of her mother and others. The spirit of darkness that exerts this influence over the young lady is invisible to all others. She describes the witch as resembling an old woman, with hoary locks, hairy face, and wearing a white cap.
The Miller family is thoroughly terrified, as is also the entire community. Miller intends to leave the locality as soon as possible. Meanwhile he has been in Meyersdale in quest of a witch doctor, to make the place tolerable for a short time yet at least. He is firm in his witch belief. – Detroit Free Press.
Derry Journal, 2nd April 1883.