The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-14
The Belief in Witchcraft.
Still Survives.
Shocking Murder of Aged
Woman Said to Be aWitch.-
A Great Matrimonial Magistrate
Talks About His Trade.


told them, and generally after perusal
there is "A feeling Of satisfaction that such
things are no longer possible. But thht
is not SO for out near Stonowall In the
Cheekasaw nation not many days ago, q
woman was brutally murdered ana her
body and everything belonging To her
burned TO ashes because some misguided
and Ignorant people regarded her rs u
witch. Near StOnewall lived quarter
breed Indian, with grown son ana
daughter. The daughter was widow,
and kept house for the father and son.
Tho fathers namo Is Joe Gllchrist, tho
son Is known as Young Joe ana tho
daughter was Mrs. Sophia Lodor. Gill
christ is the owner of quite tract OF
land. and until recently the owner OF a
large herd of cattle and a considerable
number of hogs and sheep. The Texas
fever killed off the cattle in such numbois
as TO astonish him, and 90 add TO ms
troubles cholera got into his hogs ana the
murrain into his sheep, so that they
numbered not a score altogether AT this
juncture. coming into the house one day
completely discouraged, no said 10 his
daughter bitterly: Il believe some one
has put "spell' ION me and caused. the
death of the stock. "
The woman brooded over the remark TO
such degree that in n few days she took
Gus. In the midst of her delirium she
would cry out: "Yes yes There's the
witch, She's glaring at me. oh, keep her
off: keep her off! There she goes, on "A
broomsticz Don't let heri come back
It's Lucy Mackin, and / know she's after
my blood - Now, Lucy Maekin was
poor, inoffensive old woman, who lived u
short distance from Gilchrist, in little
Old log hut, surrounded by an acre of
ground, with cow and pig and few
articles of furniture. She did not bear
the best reputation in the country, but
nothing was positively known against
her.
Mrs. Loder died in her delirium, with
her last breath calling upon her father
and brother To keep Lucy oil. T" AS
soon as she was dead the father and son
mounted their horses, armed with Win
chesters, and rode rapidly to Mrs. Mack
in's house. They found the old lady in
her hut, attending to her duties, and.
regardless of her protestations of inno-
cen1e and cries for mercy, shot her down
in her room. They then killed her cow
and pig, tore up the shackley stable and
the fence. and, dragging them all into
the hut, set fire to IL and watched 1t burn
until everything was completely de-
stroved, until not yestige remained
fearing that the least atom might breed
disease and death through the country.
As SOON as the outrage became known
there was great indignation among the
better class, but strange to say the Gil
christs had many supporters among the
ignorant half breeds and Indians who
declared they had done just right. The
murdersrs were arrested and taken before
tire Indian court, but discharged without
even reprimand, thus putting the seal
of the approval of that court upon their
devilish actions.
Many persons hereabouts have read
occasional references to Il. &. Roberts, the
so-called great matrimonial magistrate,
but they do not know in what way he
gained his peculiar title. Mr.. Roberts Is
u man of medium height. with n round.
jolly face and eyes whose quiZzcal ey-
preston cannot be hidden. He is a grain
and commission dealer, and was put OH
tho ticket six years ago as joke, while
he was away. To every ones surprise, he
was elected, and at once inserted an "ad
In the local papers To the effect that nc
WAS an Exclusively matrimonial magis-
trare." Recently he had cards printed
which read: e. g. Roberts, justice of
the peace, Lapeer, Mich. The original
and only exclusively matrimonial magis-
trate. Offices at the elevator, or First
National Bank parlors, or wherever most
convenient To the swain. Marriages
solcmnized promptly, accurately and clio
Quently Plain ceremony - legal fee
osculaton extra. EloIements speciality
Night calls answered without extra
charge. Consultation free. A fine line oi
high grade bridesmaids and groomsmer
constantly on hand To assist in the ser
vices. n. B.-My anti-blushine is war
ranted effective, and will not injure the
most delicate complexion"
Mr.. Roberts seems to take his oflica
position and actions as Joke. In th,
course of a recent interview he said: 80
course the whole thing is joke, but
have married a good many couplcs duiini
the six years have been in office Mos
OF them are from the backwO0ds districts
and good many Of them are elopeuen
cases. Near our place is n tig WOode,
district and those people up tngre ar,
sayages almost Still huyo sCmc prett
good weddings One of NV recent one
was a swell affair, and | had Prcshy
terian minister as first assistant 70,
ought To hear some of the ceremonies
make tho man promise % give tho woman
all the money she needs, while | exact
promise from tho wife 90 make lirh
bread, sweet pancakes and never 10 scOld
They take it all I'm, too. AT one of IN
recent ceremonies / started Oft with
The people Of the great Stu;o OF Michi
gan. free and independents have DEGREES
that IL is not good for man 20 1.-Two alone.
aud ycu ought 10 have seen thoir eye
stick out. Two LAWYERS, whom | had q
witnesses. had TO hide their faces to keel
from breaking out iE q laugh. My recor
l. three marriages IN half an hour ~
price is plain--50 cents; with kissing th
bridc--s5 cents.
GENERAL PORTER AT PARIS.
Paris May i4.-General Horace por
Ger. the American Ambassador TO France
has arrived here. He was received d,
prominent members OF the America,
colony, among them General Winslow
With whom he win temporarily reside.
Much i'm Little
Isespeclally true of HOODS Pills, for no med
cine ever contained 80 great curative power /
90 small space. They are a whole medcin