The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-09-06
MEDICINE MAN MURDERED
A Nhiskey Drinking Indian Rocks His
Chief Into Eternal Sleep.
THE RESULT OF SUPERSTITION
An Aged and Crippled Indian Doctor Fails to
Cure Sick Child and is Brutality Killed
The Murderer Escapes.

A tragedy occurred on the lower Yaki-
ma, about 50 miles from this city, on
Saturday last, in which liquor, supersti
ton and BAT blood were intermlngled.
lllohee, sub chief and medicine. man
OF the blanket Indians, who live on the
banks OF the Yakima a few miles from
Kennewick, was brutaly killed by
Johnny, another member Of the tribe.
lllohee was over 81 years of age and 80
badly crippled by paralysis that he was
obliged to move about on his hands and
knees. He was an intelligent old fellow
and bore good reputation among the
whites. Johnny is about 35 years old
and of powerful frame. He is a whiskey
drinker and looked upon as an all-rouId
bad man.
The trouble grew out of the illness and
death of Johnny's daughter. She had
been in low health for long time and
Illohee as the medicine man OF the tribe
was frequently consulted but his incanta.
tons and prescriptions Of roots, herbs
and oils seemed to have no beneficial
results. Johnny grew morose and drank
all the whiskey he could get hold of, and
at one period last winter, when his
daughters health was at lower ebb
than usual, he grabbed Chief Illohee in
his arms and carrying him to the banks
OF the Snake river threw him into that
stream from which he was tished out by
other mem beers OF the tribe.
On Friday night of last week the child
died and Johnny proceeded to drown his
grief in the flowing bottle. The next
morning he was in bitter mood and CO.
ing to lllohee's tepee he raised the flaps
exposing the cid man engaged at his
frugal meal Grabbing up huge rock
he hurled it at the chief. 1t struck him
in the breast and knocked him over.
Johnny then pulled him outside of the
tepee and proceeded to batter his head
into Jelly with rocks. Some dozen or
more Indians were near at hand and
witnesses OF the crime but made no at
tempt to interfere. Life was soon extinct
and a skull crushed in three places and
broken spine show how effective were
the murderer's blows.
Word was sent to this city and on Sun
day Coroner Rosser and Deputy Sheriff
Lum visited the scene. Johnny had been
in no hurry to get away in fact had
made himself at home around the camp
until short time before the arrival of
the officers when he disappeared. Officer
Lum stayed there couple Of days but
be says with ten minutes start it is an
impossibility to catch an Indian in that
country without the aid OF the other
Indians and they all seemed to be afraid
Of Johnny.
When the coroner reached the place OF
murder lllohee had been buried and as
the Indians have superstition against
resurrection he had considerable diff
Guilty in finding couple of white men to
disinter the body. There was no oppor-
tunity to get jury so simple exami-
nation was made and statements taken
OF those who had witnessed the murder.
Many Indians believe they are justified
in killing medicine man when death
results under his ministrations, which
was fully brought out in q trial held ia
this city several years ago in a case OF
murder under similar circumstances.
but conviction followed though a verdict
Of murder in the first degree could not be
obtained and the slayer was sent to the
penitentiary for granddaughter. The
officers think that in this instance it
would be useless to try and hunt down
Johnny at the present time as it is almost
certain that he will return to his old
haunts and can then be bagged.