Evening journal., 1908-11-19
VOODOO TEST
TOLD OF MURDER
Assassin Kills Himself After
Strange Ordeal Before
a Negro Jury

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Nov. l9,-Triet
by an old "voodoo" ordeal, Louis
Hursh's ineXorable conscience convict
ed him yesterday Of the cowardy MUIR
der, he did on Monday night.
Hursh was his own executioner Ashen-
faced, quiyering from fear he cut his
throat so desperately that he died with
out groan
Such a tragedy could be enacted only
in a community as ignorant as super
lstitlous Sam Haywood lived on Dock"
Wooden's place. four miles north Of Bax-
ter, Drew county, in southeast Arkansas.
Haywood. his wife and their brood were
about going to bed when he was called
to the door of his cabin Monday night
lie opened the door-a flash. report
and load of shot tore Haywoods left
breast He fell on his face, stone dead.
His wife. close behind Haywood saw a
man retreatng backward through the
gate a few feet away. but in the dark
ness She could not see his face
Negroes on the Jury.
New OF the murder was telephoned 10
Monticello. the county seat. Justice of the
Peace Henry Lewis, Deputy Sheriff Tom
Biggs aud a couple of officers rode fast
TO Hayw9od's cabin That the Justice
might hold an inquest yesterday the of.
ncers assembled jury and in that sparse
ly settled country some negroes had tC
be sworn as jurors
No direct clue to Haywood's ASSASSIN
could be produced but a report was afoat
that Haywood and Louis Hurst had met
and quarrelled at Dermott. a hamlet near
Baxter recently. SO Tom Biggs ar
rested Hursh and took him. before tn,
Justice. Hurshs family swofe to a per
feet alibi for Him. swore positively he re
turned home from Dermott early Monday
evening and did not go out again.
There was not a particle OF evidence OF
liursh's guilt; the jury was about TO brine
in verdict Of death at the hands Of an
unknown party" 4 negro juror. shaker
probably by the memory Of frlghtfu
scenes he had witnessed or which ha,
been described to his. said:
Judge. your Honor, sub, a man car
swear TO tell the truth ana lie. But tn,
Voodoo test never tells a lie. I know
/ when it. told the truth twice and m,
! gran'mammv and her gran'mammS
/ knew when it often made mon liars
| the men a-e dead-when they was ir
/ Looisana Judge. YOUR honor. sun
I this man here's suspected of putting d
load Of shot in Mister Haywood. No.
/ body saw Il. If you want to know IN,
truth, sub. IL YOU want TO know if thi.
man nut load of shot in Mister Hay.
/ wood. sub. bring this mans shotgun
here. load it and fire IL.
/ Gun VIII Sweat Blood
IF he killed Mister Haywood. suh
the gun will sweat blood just as sur,
as the devil is after us alive seer
| it-suh--l've seen it-sweat blood-its
Noodoo---"
] Scarcely able 20 articulate. shaking
as If in convulsion. the juror sani
/ TO the log where he had sat. His fel.
low negroes on the jury chorused;
"Try him by voodoo. Judge. Youl
| Honor. suh Noodoo never lies"
1ncredulous. Of course. only to gratit,
his Jurors Justice Lewis said to tn,
deputy sheriff
Go ahead. Tom"
Biggs found that Hursh's shotgun
was loaded. He fired il In the air
/ then. with it at his shoulder still. turn
/ ed its muzzle toward Hursh.
It's barrel glisiened as clean as q
! hounds tooth. but on the very top Of
/ the muzzle fl-cks of rust. which Hursf
could never have seen before. shone rec
in the sunlight
1T leaks blood 4" he yelled in unearth.
/ " tone. He dashed into a log CHECKER
house. whipped out his knife and cut
his throat before the deputy sheriff
could jump through the door.