Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-11-24
SACRIFICED HIS SON.
A Mormon Father Kills His Child While
Laborins Under Alleged Divine Inspirs.
fiOn.

Mormon Father Kills His Child Will
Laboring Under Alleged Divine Inspirs
fion.
Josiah u. Smith, the father who killed hi
boy because. he said, he had revelation from
the Lord to do so, is forty years old. He cam,
10 Westminster five years ago, and since then
with his wife and family, has been picking al
a meager subsistence by odd jobs Finally tn,
family settled down to fish ng, establshin,
their hon. on desolate island on the coast
which could only be reached by boat 1t wa.
seldom visited except by hunters AMI fisher
men. who hir d the boat which the murdered
boy had charge of. The murder wa.
committed on the 4th inst, but was
not discovered until last Thursday
when party of hunters who called out
from the shore for the boy were told by old
man Smith that the boy was dead, and that he
had been inspired by the l. to kill hid
child The hunting party secured the services
Of a younger boy. and coolly went on with
their sport, only reporting the crime to the
authorities that night. A constable and
doctor went out neat day to the scene OF the
crime. They drove down TO the beach and
shouted TO Smith, and he rowed over to them.
On making the object OF the visit known he
gave himself up quietly. The mother and
children were then brought from the island,
and the eIsire family taken TO Westminster
Friday morning. Before the officers arrived
the boy had been buried about thirty feet
from the house.
On arrival of the prisoner and family at
Westminster. an inquest was ordered, and
Justice Aldrldge, accompanied by Dr. James
Mccoy and others, SIN tn included, returned
TO the beach and rowsd across to the island.
smith pointed out where the body was
bured the grave was opened. a rough box.
which the father had made, was raised and
tho lid lifted. The sight is described as most
scken:ng. Decomposition had set in to such
dNgres rs to render ths moving of the body
q dltiic alt and dsagreeable task The un-
natural parent looked ON complacently and
spoke of the murder with no feeling. Finally
In reply to a question as to how he struck the
blow, he stopped over the corpse, thrust his
knfe into II, and drew 1t oui of the cavity
without a sign of emotion. The weapon was
an elgat-inch butcher knife. Mr.. Mccoy care
fully examined the body, but, aside from the
fatal cut, found no sign of any violence. Ona
eaihdealing blow was struck just in the cen.
tes OF the chest, and with sufficient power to
cut the breast bone and enter to the fun length
OF the blade. making horrible cash, eight
Inches dcep and four inches long
A few weeks ago Smith gave up fishing, and,
being asked why, replied that the Lord had
commanded il, and had promised to hereafter
provide for him. From that time on he has
made, and has commanded his family TO
make no effort to gain livelihood. The boy,
however, put no faith IN his fathers belief,
and from time to time pur hased tea, sugar,
ETC., with his own money. On the Wednesday
before the murder the boy purchased and took
homc some sacks Of Hour. WHICH angered his
'aiher, and this was found emptIed upon the
srounl. together with some other provisions.
Hose TO the spot where the murder was COM
nntted. Except a few green apples, nothing
found in the house.
The crime was comm tied about three hun
dred yards from the house. The hoy was
parents being present. They claim that he
knew ho was to bc sacrificed, and made no
resistance whatever. hut calmly knelt before
Ihem, ready 10 he offered up. while in this
position. the father struck the fatal blow.
One OF the first questions asked, on the ar.
ival OF the family at Westminster, was
whether they would make further sacrineos
Dsfheir children. aud both father and mother
replied that IL the Lord called on them 10
'acrifice all, IL would have to be DONE AT
me examination neither Smith nor his wife
made any effort TO conceal anything. but
old the whole story in hs horrible
ictails. Smith pleaded guilty as charged, and
vas committed for trial on The charge Of mur.
icr. He is now imprisoned In Los Anreles. |
From the first the murderer has shown no feel |
ns whatever. and regards the crime no more
han he would the Hing OF hog. He has
'een quite n purchaser OF Canada lottery |
ickets. and said the Lord was going TO send
lin money from Canada to pay for buryinp
pc boy. Tho family are Mormons In good
fand ng. They have been cons dered cGen
iic, but not crazy. The mo her begins to feel
reat remorse, and TO doubt the divinity Of their
Ffancisco Special % 81. Louis
siobe- Democrat.