Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-12
WITCH KILLING IN CANADA
A Horrible Superstition Among the Cree
Indians.
The story of the Killing of a Nan
Believed to Be Possessed
of n Devil.


10 he the explanation of the mysterious
disappearance of a number of people on
the upper Laird river and along what Is
known as the Edmonton route In the far
northwest of Canada.
Some time ago two Frenchmen named
Fcrent and Collins set out upon the Ed
monitor trail and were never heard from
again by their friends until a clue was tur-
nished by Indians selling quantity Of
furs which their friends recognized as hav-
Ing belonged to the missing men. 1nforma-
zion was subsequently obtained from other
Indians that the victims had been shot In
their cabin and their bodies dropped
through hole In the ice.
A prospector named Charles Munroe who
went up into this country and never re-
turned is firmly believed by his friends to
have. been murdered by Indians. Last Win
ter during Christmas week two Indians re-
ported that a boy had fallen through the
ice and had been drowned. Later the body
was found with the mark of an ak on Tile
head.
Five young women belonging to a family
who had gone up the Laird river to trap
were murdered by Indians, and, strange TO
say, the inquiry into the case when was
Instituted by the authorities was allowed
to drop when it appeared that the young
women had been done away with because
jealous Indian woman had proc aimed
them to be witches
As a matter of fact. some of the distant
Indian agents appear afraid of taking any
judicial action to prevent or punish CRIME
III their respective districts whenever such
action would constitute an interference with
The absurd belief and superstitionS of the
Indians. y recent result of this policy has
been the simple Imprisonment of one Indian
murderer for two months and the acquit-
tai of another. because of the inexorabie
law of the Wood Crees-the instant killing
Of so-called wehtikos.
The story of the killing is an interesting
Nr bn door tod rs
and superstitions of these unfortunate peo-
pc. and better than a whole volume. shows
up the devil worship and sorcery of the
CrecS NapaysnOsiS. one of the accused,
tells the following story of the crime:
Last winter band of us. thirty-two In
number counting women and children, were
living at the Bald hills, some seventy-tive
miles west of the Lesser Slave lake. We
lived in two shacks and two tepees. En-
tomlnahoo. chief. along with kunuk-
soos and myself and our families, lived in
one shack MoostooS and his family with
some others, lived in the other shack, and
the other Indians in the two tepees. We
We're all on the best of terms with one an
other, and MoostooS was especially well
liked by all of us.
Some months before he was killed Moos-
toos told several of us that he was afraid
evil spirit was getting the better of him,
and that he would turn wehtiko or canni-
bal adding: IF l ever go wrong, you had
better xii. me. as l do not wish to destroy
my children
Inc unle passed on, however III ABOUT
the 22d of March. At that time some sick
ress was attacking the Indians and two
of them. Napaysis and the little old man.
were pelnS trtatsd nS Entomlitnoo IN MS
own shack. which might be called the hos
pital as all the sick We're taken there to be
doctored. Entonllnahoo was chlef medicine
man. The third day before he killed
MoostoOs also went there to Join in the
medicine making and sorceries, which We're
being practlced with view TO curing the
SICK man.
during the last Gay and night saw
Moostoos was not looking as usual. His
eyes were rolling and glittering and he
seemed afraid 10 look any one in the face,
mutter1ng TO himself all the time. On one
occasion he said: l look upon these chill
dIel as young moose ana long 10 eat them.
Il was absent from the shack part of the
day. and when l returned toward evening
MoostCos looked wilder and more danger
Gus than ever and ii was clear to all pres
ent that ne was becoming a wehtiko. Or
uiDaiV vaccinations We're tried, but with
ont result and as !ast resort the medi-
cine lodge was erected in the shack and the
whole skill and power of all of our sorceries
was enlisted in the attempt to bring Moos-
ZOOS PACK TO reason.
II was certain from his appearance,
"orcs ana actions that he had no bodily
complaint. but that he was possessed with
devil
our usual ceremonies were begun The
singing of medicine songs drurnn,ino an5
Dancing Were carried on from shutdown Tin
about midnight, and as Moostoos was wing
toNeFtH with Two blankets comma ra tiyaIy
quiet the medicine seemed to have a GOOD
snect.'
There We're In the house at that ,ip,a
EntoInfnah hoo and HE vie E,I9o - - 1ii ,t
of Redhead: Felix's wife. Redhead Krnni,-
soos and his wife Napavsis and the .littIa
old man. These last were Ivfrp sci an
but the sick men and Kunuksons wbo VIC
taking care of them. were eronnad $50
MCGStooS, striving ny medicine g.. ~,
other means AT oIr commend =. 80; Gnu t
evil spirit out of him Entoninaban o,,
chief doctor was fnsida tba ,,,adin; o s
Gle with his wand and llSfpr- ali bie .o,,a.
and skill.
Suddenly Iaoostoos called ont. .-rt,
night You will all die ana crr,,,,l, ,i' -
twitching his limbs and rnIIino he 60
Two of us Chuckachuck ana r1ysaif -,
and sat on each side of hirr at hi s,,'i
Gers. prepared To hold him dnIyn if he ~
came violent while the two votirg "
men. Eliza and Felix's wife cat ., ~
feet. Redhead sick with frigbt 1ft H.
shack Moastoos began tbrourine, hi, y ~
about and tried to get I'M savina aa,ai
If | get UP / will kin Won ali Ionigb, .;
Then four of Us laid hold Of bfs arnns 49,,
legs and heId hin, lo,rI ,.hiit a. -ia ono
hoo continued his medicine IIsi,,t, ~ 20
powerful songs and irrantaIiTn ~ M VI,
command Noostoos now Lnca,,,n -, "a, MS