The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-04
SHOT THE WITCH TO DEATH.
The Court Approved of the Murder.
A Remarkable Story.

A Remarkable Story.
Oklahoma Correspondence st. Louis Re-
public.
An affair has recently developed near
stonewall. in the Chickasaw nation, which
recalls the stories of witchcraft, witches
and spells of the time of Cotton Mather.
While the witch in this case was not
burned alive, she was murdered, her body
given to the flames and all her belongings
destroyed.
Near Stcnewall lived a quarter-breed In
dian, with grown son and daughter. The
daughter was a widow, and kept house
for the father and son. The fathers name
is Joe Gilchrest; the son is known as
Young Joe. and the daughter was Mrs. So
phia Loder.
Gilchrest is the owner of quite tract OF
land, and until recently the owner of
large herd of cattle and a considerable
number of hogs and sheep. The Texas fe-
yer killed off the cattle in such numbers as
to astonish him, End to add TO his troubles,
cholera got into his hogs and the MUIR
rain into his sheep, so that they numbered
not score all together. At this juncture,
coming into the house one day in Feb
ruary, completely discouraged, he said 10
his daughter, bitterly:
Il believe some one has put spell on
me and caused the death of the stock.
The women brooded over the remark TO
such degree that in a few days she 100.
took sick and was soon delirious. In the
midst of her derium she would cry OUT
Yes! Yes! There's the witchl She's glar-
ing al me! Oh, keep her off; keep her on!
There she goes, on a broomstick! Don't ee
her come back! It's Lucy Mackin, and
know she's after my bloodr'
Now, Lucy Mackin was a poor, inoi-
fensive old woman, who lived a short dis
lance from Gilchrest, in a little old log
hut surrounded by an acre of grounu,
with COW and pig and a few articles
of furniture. She did not bear the best
reputation in the country, but nothing
was positively known against het
Mrs. LOder died in her delirium, VIA
her last breath calling upon her father
and brother to keep Lucy Off" As soon
as she was dead the father ana soi
mounted their horses, armed with WIN
chesters, and rode rapidly to Mrs. Mack
ms house. They found the old LADY W
her hut, attending to her duties, and re-
CARELESS Of her protestations of innocence
and cries for mercy. shot her down IA n-r
room. They then killed her COW ana pls'
tore up the shackley stable and the ZEN,
and dragging them all into the nut ses
fire to IL and watched IL burn until eNeIl
thing was completely destroyed, until nos
a vestige remained-fearing that the ieaSs
atom might breed disease, and dea'"
through the country.
As soon as the outrage became kno"n
here there was great indignation aniol,
the better class: but, strange 20 say wv
Gilchrests had many supporters aAios,
the ignorant half. breeds and indians VIZ
declared they had done just right
murderers were arrested and taken
fore the Indian court, bub dischal7s
without even a reprlmand, thus pulS,rrl
the seal Of the approval Of that eO
upon their devllish action.
Mrs. Lodcr's funeral was very ~
one, and the rites at the grave weie ~
the ancient character, with the ide" ~
keeping away ghouls and witches
carnations, drum-beating and hafanE
by the medicine men weF the ~ ~
features. The effect has been thA
better class OF citizens are very ~,
frightened as the ignorant Indians
worked ~ 20 a frenzy