Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-07-02
The Recent Burning of :, Witches" in
Mexico.

nc IblltWlUS lIdnSIullpnS OF inc
official communications to their superiorS
from the officials of the Mexican village
of Concordia, State of Sinaloa, will GER
tainly astonish the reading public of this
day and age, as they are the Government
variations of the arrest and burning of
two unfortunate creatures accused of
being witches 1t is but Just To say that
the educated people of this country are
horrliied at the occurrence, and that the
State and Federal authorities have ar
rested the guilty parties, and are now
trying them for the crime of murder:
ORDER or ARREST
SUPERIOR COURT or JACoBo.
inform your Prefecture that this afternoon
! ordered to bc arrested rs witches Joseph n
Bonilla and Diego Lugo, who for six months
past have bewitchcd Sylvester Xacarias
Yesterday the citizen Martin Porras, in
order to drive the devil out Of his body gave
70 the bewitchcd three drinks of holy water.
The undersigned, in union with the people of
this place, feeling indignant against the
witches, has ordered that they should be ar
rested and burned alive, which execution will
take place nj ten o'clock tonight.
Independence and liberty
lGNACIo CASTILLO.
To the Citizen Project of the District Concordia
JACoBo, April 4, 1874.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTION.
ST. JouN OF JAcoBo,
April 10. 1874 ,
On the morning of the 7th of this month
the witches, Diego Lugo and his son g.
Porras, were executed in the public square of
this place, having failed to cure the be
witched Sylvester IaCnrias, as they had com
promised themselves TO do
They were To have been executed ON the
night of the 9th The execution was ordered
at ten o'clock at night, the witches being
placed in the center of the bonfire, and II
square being formed of sixty men armed
with Mexican knives. The place itself was
then encirccd when il was ordered that the
persons who had at different times assisted
the witches should light the fire, which was
done Immediately.
Soon after the fire had commenced to blaze
the witches cried out MIR. Judge, put out
the fire and we will give up our idols An
order was given aud Immediately carried out
to cXtinguish the fire and loosen the witches /;
whcreupon the multitude present commits
stoned MIR. Damian Lerma to proceed with the
witches to their house and receive the idols
which they offered to give up, which was
done, the latter handing over little pouch
shaped loadstOne and the stones from the sea,
enveloped in cotton and paper, which were
deposited in the court. At the same time the
witches denounced as accomplccs Joseph NJ.
Mendoza Francisco Mendoza, and their
father, Rafael Mendoza. The people, ndig-
nant at such acts, asked that the execution
Of the witches and the burning of the idols
they had presented should be carried out,
which was done as ! have already announced
In the moment of his burning the witch
Geronimo Porras told his mother to give up
the other three idols, shaped liked monkeys,
which she had. Diego would not give them
up, but looked frowningy upon her son for
l.. 4
daughter, Dionisia, calling upon her to give
up the idols, but she refused.
The witch Joseph y, Bonilla was held in or
der that ne might cure the bewitchcd Sylyes-
Ter Iacarias, he having offered to bring mcdi-
cincs to cure such evils.
] send the burned idols to your gcfatura
(otlice) for your examination. In regard 10
the cure of the bcwitched will advise you in
due time. The ease was very sad one, NJ.
Project, but necessary in order TO restrain the
evils which are being committed from time to
time; for Notwithstanding the execution |
learned yesterday that the accused, Joseph NJ.
Mendoza said that "sooncr or later we would
pay for all this So you SEQ NJ Project the
soothing OF such persons; but in the meantime
have taken my precautions.
The accused Mcndozas Ned from fear. Why
have they fed, If not on account Of their evil
doiugs? Because the rope which il clean does
not need any soap.
This is the manner In which ! have passed
the morning mentioned, and of which ! placed
YOU in knowledge.
Independence and liberty! April 10, 1874.
j. MoRENO
70 the Citizen Project Of the District Of Con
cordia.
As already stated, the superior author
tiles have arrested and are now trying
these murderous fanatics.
According to Dir Workman it has been
calculated that, from 1908 to 1850, the
total number Of so-calcd witches put to
death by regular legal processes alone
was about 70000.-Nerico (Nay 22) Cor.
n. y. UT0id.
A Dog Story.