The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-08-11

of his magic could render person life
less, or could afflict him with severe ILL
ness; in which latter case. on the rela-
tives supplying him with such sums of
money as he demanded, he would again
restore the patient to his wonted health
and strength. He in this manner ex-
torted money from all, and utterly
ruined many of the inhabitants, who.
from the awe in which they stood of
him, never dared to refuse compliance
with his demands, however exhorbi-
tant, and were afraid even to lodge
complaints against him in court. He
was banished from the village by
order of Punchayet, under q univer-
sal persuasion that he practiced witch
craft, to the great detriment of the peo-.
pie in the neighborhood, and was not
heard Of until six months before the
commission of the outrage against him,
when he returned to the village and
again commenced the performance OF
his diabolical arts. my son's wife,
son and father" continued the witness,
the mother of the prisoner, 'all fell
victims to his fatal spells. He came to
our house this morning, and sprinkled
few ashes over the prisoners father,
pronouncing an incarnation at the
same time, and the latter fell down
lifeless. My SON, having witnessed
this act, implored him to restore his
father to life; whereupon he threatened
him also with immediate death, and
Quilted the house. On this my SON
rushed out upon him, dragged him
back and killed him by repeated blows
on the head with flint stone"
Other witnesses were called, who
spoke of the good character of the pris-
oner. who was much esteemed in the
village on account of his mildness OF
disposition and peaceable demeanor;
and on their further examination they
uniformly deposed that the deceased
was powerful enchanter, who prac-
ticed sorcery, to the serious injury Of
the community; instancing cases
wherein by his magic spells he had
caused their cattle to fall lame. and ex-
torted money from them under the ter
ror which his fearful reputation had in
spired. The prisoner was found guilty
of murder and liable to punishment ac-
cordingly; but in consequence of the
strong provocation he had received,
and the suddenness of the act perpe-
trated under the conviction that three
persons dear to him had been destroyed
by spells, in the efficacy of which he
implicitly believed, tho court considered
Sheikh Saadut's a fit case for mitiga-
ton of punishment. and sentenced him
to three years imprisonment
Persons suspected of being witches
have been occasionally subjected to
very cruel treatment, especially If the
ordeal to which their neighbors have
recourse should convict them of the
crime. In India. as well as in Europe,
it is supposed that witch will float
upon the water; but there are other
tests by which their acquaintance with
the black art may be proved. Oil
poured in leaf. with . little rice,
forms one of these trials; should the
oil run through when the names of the
accused are called over, their guilt is
established. Similarly, there are nu-
merous ordeals BY which thief may
be detected, the one most commonly
practiced being that of causing the sus-
pected parties to chew rice, an opera
ton which however easy to those who
have nothing to fear. becomes difficult
to the conscious delinquent. whose
mouth, parched and dry, refuses its
function, and upon examination the rice
is found whole. Another continuance
which by some is considered the most
effectual method of catching thieves, is
to write tlfe names of the persons pres
emit, with those of their fathers, in q
magic square. drawn upon separate
pieces Of paper; these are to be folded
up and enclosed in boluses made of
wheat -four. A lota or brass pot being
filed with water, and all the boluses
thrown in, the ticket Of the thief will
come up and float upon the surface
Chamber Journal.