Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1894 — SAVAGE SUPERSTITION. [ARTICLE]

SAVAGE SUPERSTITION.

It Still SnrvlTM on American Soil—Horrible Story From the Far West. A horrible story of the savage laws and superstitions of the Mojave Indians is toldjiy J. F. Saunders, who arrived at Los Angeles, Cal., Monday night, from the Needles, a town on the Colorado river. The Mojaves have theiy own laws and igperstitions. On Tuesday a triple murder was committed, under the plea of a superstitious tradition, by the Indians. One of the prettiest squaws of the tribe, named Lonetta, was married according to the savage rites about a year ago.. She was only eighteen years old. Sunday she gave birth to twins and, as a result, a rrand pow-wow was called, for, according to the Mojave tradition, the squaw who has twins is a witch and a consort of evil spirits. The penalty has always been death for the babies and mother. Lonetta’s husband was so fond of her. however, that he made a strong plea for her and her babies, but It was of no avail, and the two little ones were brought forward and brained with a club. Lonetta’s personal belongings were gathered and put Into her “shack” and she was ordered inside. She bade her husband farewell and went in. The entrance was closed and straw and brush was piled around the frail structure, and in two hours but a few embers remained to tell the tragic story.