THE "STROKE OF A DEAD MAN'S HAND."

Temuka Leader, Issue 1628, 1 September 1887, Page 3

THE "STROKE OF A DEAD MAN'S HAND."

The following appears in an article on "Rural Sussex" in iho Queen :—"There , are o'd stories connected with the p'oce —notably that of the wife-heater, whoso tombstone in tint pretty old churchyard still records, in eeulptured condemnation, the story of how John Shotter dragged his wife out of bed and trampled on bet arm, before throwing her downstairs to her death. In the corner is a skeleton, or Death, bending towards him 'in a threatening attitude from the top of on adjacent tomb.' As John Shotter, however, married again after be bad done his wife to death just a hundred and ten years ago, it is to be presumed that be escaped the punishment of the law—no lynx-eyed press being then in existence. A grimmer story is connected with a place called North Heath, whjcb had once its gallons like any other civilised part of England. It stood where the mail was robbed in the early epring of 1799 ; and on it swung in chains the bodies of two brothers Drewit, found guilty, of robbery, and executed at Horsham one black thirteenth of April in the same year. They were then brought to the place of offance, and there they swung as a terror to evildoers, according to the barbarous practice instituted by the second of the Georges. ; To the last the younger brother asserted his innecence, and swore that he had had no hand in tho affair. Naturally he was not believed, and the sentence took effect. Now it is almopt certain that he was not guilty, but that be died in lieu of bis father, who was. ' After the execution the miserable father spent the remainder of his days at the foot of the gibbet on which swung the bodies of | his two sons.' Suwex, like other places, believes in the magic ' stroke of a dead . man's band ' —now for this cure and now for that benefii. Here it is good for all affections of the throat, and people walk long distances for the good of the miracle. The younger Drewitt's body ' hung many months, he not being guilty, and having on the new pair of deerskin breeches in which he was taken ;' and while he remained there children were held up, and bis ghastly band was swung across their throats to cure the cough or croup, or what not, with which they were afflicted."