Supposed Witchcrafft In Wist’ shire

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 436, 11 January 1890, Page 3

Supposed Witchcrafft In Wist’ shire

A considerable amount of commotion has been ere >ted in the neighbourhood of Salisbury by a case of supposed witchcraft at Homington, a village about four miles from the city. The person said to have been bewitched is a little girl named Lvdia Hewlett, aged nine, and her father is a Primitive Methodist local preacher. Some time since the girl said she saw a gipsy steal some onions belonging to a neighbour, and subsequently mysterious knockings were heard in the cottage where she dwelt. Some boards of the bedroom where they seemed to be were pulled up, but the rappings were nob explained, and by-and-by it was noticed that the noises seemed to follow, as it wore, the little girl. The knockings were, it seems, generally heard near the girl, and when no one but the latter was in the room, bub it has been alleged that when some one else has been with her the rapping has been heard. Some one conceived the idea that the child was bewitched, and a number of questions were put to the supposed ‘spirit.’ According to the replies (given by means of knocks), the gipsy was the cause of all the tiouble. She(the gipsy) had dark hair ; was 4fb Sin in height, was married, had seven children, and was 28 years of age (the num ber of years being indicated by 28 raps). The questions were preceded by the words, ‘ln the name of the Lord.’ Canon Kingsbury heard knockings, and believed that the girl herself did nob cause them, but another clergyman with him was more sceptical. Tne Rev. J. Harper,a Primitive Methodist minister, also heard knocking, and did not believe there was any shamming on the part of the girl. A doctor who visited her believed that she herself did it. Superintendent Stephens, of the county police, went to the cottage with the determination of finding out if there was any deception, and he stood at the foot of the stairs and watched the girl whil-b listening to the knocking, but saw nothing suspicious in her conduct, and believes that she herself did nob do it. One night, when twomen were staying in the same room as the girl, mysterious knocking was heard. The girl (who looked ill andweary)has been admitted into the Infirmary at Salisbury, and the Strange sounds at Homington have now ceased, whilst she herself is very much better than at the time of her admission.