The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-11
A LAWSUIT OVER A SAINT.
Queer Legal Dispute OF the Acomn
and LaRuna Indians.

From the Chicago Record.
One of the most remarkable lawsuits IN
the history of Jurisprudence appears upon
the records of the Supreme Court Of the
territory of New Mexico in 1857, under the
title of the Pueblo Of Acoma VIZ. the Pue
bio of Laguna."
In many of the Indian vllages-in fact,
in most of them-are still standing veneer
abe churches that were erected by the
Spanish missionaries during the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries, and some of
them contain valuable pictures and statues
that were sent from Spain TO the pious
monks and friars who labOred 50 long
and so earnestly for the conversion of the
heather. As ! have said elsewhere, the
prayers and the admonltions of the priests
have never been able to separate the In
dams from their native religions, but three
centuries of persistent teaching have
grated upon them many of the doctrines
and rites of The Catholic Church. 50 that
the faith and the worship Of the Indians
to-day Is a curious mixture Of Shaman-
ism and Catholicism, and the pictures and
efflgies of the saints are commonly intro
duced info the barbarous rites that are Sun
practised in the pueblos. The medicine
men and the wizards appeal
with equal success to the
their own familiar spirits, and snake
dance often follows mass performed be-
fore a consecrated altar.
The lawsuit / refer 10 was brought to
determine the ownership Of a picture of
81. Joseph which it Is claimed, was
brought 10 Acoma in 1929 by Fray Ramirez
to whom il was presented by Charles III of
Spain. St Joseph is the patron saint of the
pueblo of Acoma, and this picture was an
object Of especial Veneration by the sim
pie natives not only because II was a gift
from the King but because II was sup
posed 10 possess miraculous powers. When
ever an attack from the Apaches was
expected; whenever a drought dried up the
water in the irrigating bitches; whenever
an epidemic of smallpox or any other
pestlence prevailed; whenever the chill
dren were NJ and whenever the tribe start
ed upon it's annual hunt, 81 Joseph in the
chapel was always appealed TO as regular
" and with the same faith as the incanta-
lions of the medicine men. Acoma was
prosperous and the peace and health and
the wealth of the village were piously at
tributed to the possession Of that picture.
The neigh boring pueblo of Laguna, which
you can see from the railroad track, was
not 50 fortunate. While Acoma pros
pered in all respects Laguna suffered from
continuous evils. The crops failed, cloud
bursts destroyed portions OF the village,
epidemics carried off scores Of children, ca
lamity followed calamity, so that at last
the cacique called the priests and the prin-
cipaI men together and sent a commission
to Acoma asking the loan OF the picture
Of St Joseph, In order that he might re-
store prosperity and bring blessings TO the
afflicted town.
II was a most unusual and momentous
occasion and required many long and sol
emn councils before a decision could be
reached. The Lagunas enlisted the CO
operation OF their priest. who had con-
suIta ton with the missionary at Acoma.
They appealed 90 Father Mariana de Je-
sus Lopez, the superior Of the Francis
cans who ordered a season Of prayer and
penance in both villages, at the close of
which the caciques were 10 draw lots for
the saint believing that God would direct
the result
The lot decided in favor Of Acoma and
the Laguna Indians were 50 indignant that
they determined to take the saint by force.
and while the people OF Acoma were cele-
brating their victory In the estufa, or pa
gan temple, in which the shamans per-
form their rites, a band Of Laguna war.
riors broke into the chapel and stole the
picture When the theft was discovered
the cacidue Of Acoma declared war against
the Lagunas, and there would have been
a bitter and bloody conflict but for the
Intervention Of Father Mariana. who per-
suaded the Acomas 20 be generous and iet
the Lagunas have the benefit OF the iniu-
ence OF the miraculous picture for a few
months provided they would agree to sur
render II et the end of that time. His
advice prevailed and the Lagunas made
many promises. which they were never
willing 10 fulfill There was a change m
their condition Immediately after and they
prospered Immensely which, of course
WAS attributed 10 the presence OF the
precious picture. and they feared that II
II were returned to Acoma their luck