The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-07-12
From tho Santa Fe Gazette, April %.
ErRal for Murder i'm New
MeXicO.
TWO MEN SHOT FOR w1rcucRArr

TWO MEN SHOT FOR w1rcHCRArr.
We publish the trial Of the Nambe
Indians. which took place at the March
term of the United States District
Court, in Santa Fe. 1t presents one
OF tho most singular state of facts that
could be imagined, and will be consid.
cred by our readers in the United
States as something both new aud
arrange. The offence for which the
two deceased, Romero and Tafolia,
were put to death, was that of witch
craft and sorcery. Thoy were both
shot by the defendants named in the
indictment, with gun, short distance
beyond the bordera Of the Pueblo
Who would have imagined that the
scenes OF the early days of Salem
would be re enacted in the middle of
the nineteenth century, and that, too,
among class Of people hardly one
step more civilized than the savage?
That our readers may further under
stand this singular case" we will say q
word or two in regard to tho Pueblo
Indians.
ihey arc claso of people who are
supposed to have been originally wild
and savage, like the other Indian tribes
OF tho Territory, but wero converted
to Catholicism in tho early days Of the
Spanlards, when they first occupied
this country. They were then geth.
cred into small villiges, and so have
always remained, up to tho present
time, scattered through the length and
breadth Of the cop.AssJ-s..-,Iss ~ II~v13s
purposes they have been recognized
stasset:nct co.:.:l.a'::ios, and aie & quiet
and harmless race Of people. They
elect their own officers, but are not
taxed, nor enjoy any cf tho rights nor
bear any of the burdens of citizens
They retain their primitive dress Of
skins, and in general appearance differ
from the wild Indians OF the plains and
mountains. Such, in brief, are this
singular people, who pu, four of their
number to death for tho supposed
crime of witchcraft. They profess the
Catholic religion, but are wretchedly
ignorant and supcrstitious. Many have
supposed them wholly independent of
the laws of the United States and this
Territory, but this point, when made
BY tho defence on the trial, was not
listened to by the Court, which decided
that all persons within the limits Of the
Territory were alike subject to the
criminal laws Of the country. This is
al important point settled, as regards
the Pueblo Indians, and henceforward
they will be sensible of the fact that
they cannot commit crimes without
being liable to punishment. And we
hope that the nonrecognition by our
laws of the supposed crime Of sorcery
and witchcrait, and that those who in.
jure witches are liable to be punished,
will have tendency to prevent similar
proceedings in future.
The Nambe Indians were al much
frightened as though they had been
found guilty, and the trial will serve
the same purpose as though they had
been punished with death or impris
onmont; and we venture to say that
i'll future no more witches will be kill
led in Nambe. Although the act Of
the killing was sufficiently proved to
the jury, there was no evidence it was
done in the county of Santa Fe, with.
out which they could not find them
guilty. The trial was conducted in
three lanyuages--English, Spanish,
and the dialect Of Nambe and during
it's continuance deep interest Was
manifested.