Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-04
A SoRCERESS IN JAIL.
Her Methods of Fulfilling Her Prophecies
Cause Her Arrest.

A S0RCERESS IN JAIL.
Her Methods of Fulfilling Her Prophecies
Cause Her Arrest.
MoDEsTo, CAL, August 3.-For several
years the more ignorant Spanish residents
of this section have been intensely interest
ed in the performances of woman calling
herself Mariana Muriatta, who is the widow
of the once famous bandit, Joaquin. Mali'
ana has a reputation as seer, soroeress
and prophecies, and such an influence has
she exerted on people Of her own nationality
that at times they have been practically un-
controllable. She obtained her power over
hem by telling fortunes and making pre-
dictions which she took pains to have come
10 pass Some Of these latter were so in
consequential that it is now wonder to
many that they were imposed upon by her at
all.
On one occasion, when man and woman
called at her abode for advice as to the
future, she told them that they would yet
be rich for he would come upon gold
mine of fabulous value without effect on
his part. When asked to be more exRlict
she refused to say anything, only adding
that his good fortune would come upon him
suddenly The fellow was greatly inter
tsted in the matter, and made several efforts
10 get further particulars from her, all of
which were unavailing. About week later
s Mexican with whom he was acquain-
ted met him casually and asked him to ride
with him. The invitation was accepted
and they rode many miles together. To-
ward evening they came upon some absn-
doned diggings, and the prophecy of the
sorceress came into the mans mind. His
companion remarked incidentally that he
owned the property and had worked it once.
He had faith in it yet, but had not had the
tune or the money to continue operations.
At first be did not want to sell, but when
his companion came up to $4,000 the bar
gain was closed. The purchaser worked
the diggiDgs for months and
never got q color. He had
b en- taken in by partner Of Mariana
How She Worked the Game.
The womsn's fame for prophesying cor.
rectly in small matters was prodigious.
Coupled with some gorgeous prediction
would be one 20 the effect that her visitor
would see black cat on the road home,
would have a narrow escape from some
danger, or would lose horse by sickness
and death These things always came to
pass. She would have one OF her attend
ants 90 down the road and liberate black
cat Just ahead of the party. She would
,suse some one TO disguise himself as q
ramp or hunter and on meeting the people
his gun would 90 off, accidentally, OF course,
and seeing that the wayfsrers we're trightsn-
ed half 20 death he would declare that their
escape was providential and that he
was delighted to know that they had not
suffered by his carelessness. On several
occasions the horses OF her visitors were ia
ken sick on their way home, and either died
On the highway or soon after reaching their
tables. In such awe was she held that no
me thought to question the mysterious dis
pensation of Providence, and every such
case only increased the superstition with
which she was regarded. Though the
woman prophesied good and evil the evil
vas about the only thing that came to pass.
a few times when predictions of lucky finds
were made, gold pieces were found in wagon
boxes or whip sockets; and once to family
Who had long been promised daughter a
child came in their absence from home, no
one knew from whom. The woman got
large fees for her predictions, and in the
cases of several of her patrons who believed
in her implicitly she was made the reci pien
of rich gifts.
She Predicts the End OF the World.
A year ago she predicted the end of the
world, which caused great excitement among
her believers and recently is supposed to
have poisoned child in order to fulfil her
prophecy, details of which were given in
these dispatches at the time. The next day
man named Chyvo called for some advice
and was told as he was about to 90 that he
would laugh and cry on his way home. He
did laugh when he got about mile away
and found ten-dollsr gold piece on the road,
and mile further on when both of his horses
we're taken sick and had to lie down he did
not exactly cry, but he swoCe as only q
Greaser can. tie vent back to the womans
o1se and srent his ten dollars for board
and lodging before be could ret away. In
the course of Time it dawned on him that it
was rather singular that the money he had
found bad gone into the pocket of Mariana
as well as considerable more, and when he
heard Of his child's death he made up his
mind that there was crookedness some
where After consulting with several other
victims it was decided TO have the woman
arrested and make a thorough investigs-
ton of some Of the dead horses, and more
especially of the stomach of the dead child.
This plan is now being carried out. The
woman is held in Fresno, and the physi-
clans are looking for poison in the remains
Of the child.
Another Odious Appointment.