The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-20
KILLED HIS SISTER AS A WITCH.
a Terrible Crime of an Alaskan In
dian Prompted by IA Medicine Man.
From the San Franclseo Examiner.

From the San Francisco Examiner.
Victoria, B. C.-That murder will OUT
is well illustrated in the case of the Kake
Indian named Ahf Chat, who is now a
prisoner at Sitka, and whose case will
be tried by Judge Truitt at that officials
last term of court before retirement.
Ahf Chat was apprehended six weeks
ago by Deputy Marshal Harry Wallace
of Wrangle for implication in the murder
of two traders on Kake Island about
three months ago. The Indian was well
known to the authorities through his abil-
ity to stow away more whisky than any
other member of the tribe and also on
account of his fighting proclivitles when
drunk. On account of past deeds of law
lessness officers have been looking for
him, but had only recently become aware
OF graVer crimes the Indian had commit
ted other than those with which he had
already been charged
Almost a year ago young Kake girl
was cruelty murdered, after being starry
ed and beaten until death came as relief.
1t was several months afterward before
1t became known, and then it was an inn
possibility to locate the Wretches who
were responsible for the infamous crime.
short time ago one OF the kakeS in
the Sitka prison, upon seeing a new pris-
oner arrive, and with Whom he was ap-
parently at enmity, told the guards the
About ten months ago Ahf Chat had
been taken so i'll that a medicine man
FAMILY
had piled up stack of twenty blankets
the Shaman condescended to begin his
weird lamentations. At the conclusion of
the performance he informed the patient
that he was a very sick man, and that
his sister was the cause of 1t, declaring her
to be a witch.
The Kakes have no religion whatever,
but in regard to witchcraft their ideas are
the same as those of many other Alas
kan tribes. They believe an enemy can
by means of spells and charms work out
md a " n -frfaxr
those they wish to, which belief is taught
and encouraged by the medicine men of
the tribe. If any one is sick he, upon pro-
pitiation, at once declares some person to
be the cause. and that person must either
confess himself a witch, and promise to
cease working injury upon the patient,
or he is put to death. The Indians are still
in a state of utter barbarism, and hold
to the old belief, AN eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth"
Upon the sister being charged with sor-
Gerry she was at once brought before her
brother and the Shaman She wildly pro-
tested her innocence, and upon her adher-
ing to it she was bound and severely
beaten. Several days passed, during which
she was given no food and only enough
water to moisten her parched lips. See
ing her determined not to acknowledge
herself witch and responsible for his i'll
ness, Ahf Chat struggled from the pile of
skins which had constituted his bed and
plunged his knife into the heart of his
helpless victim.
The Kakes know no fear, even of death
Neither do they understand such feeling
as remorse. They have always remained
on their island unmolested, making their
own laws and administering them ac-
cording to their own ideas of justice. If
the murderers now incarcerated in Stka
are hanged they freely say they will kill
the same number of white men before
they consider things even. That this last
addition to the imprisoned Kake con-
tingent will stretch hemp there can be
no doubt, providing he does not die by
his own hand in the mean time
DaSpifa all official danialS the prapffCa
of the medicine art prevails throughout
all Alaska, and scores of unfortunate
natives have, even in the short space
of one year, suffered hideous deaths upon
the decree of the medicine man that they
had practiced sorcery. With the force
a their disposal, the white authorities
cannot enforce the law as it should be-
to teach the native population the lesson
they must some time learn. The hope
of the entire territory is now fastened
upon the establishment of an American
army post in the far north. With SOL
ders at hand, such. murders as those 10
Ahf Chats account would be less fire.