Indians of North America -- Washington (State); Yakama Indians -- Government relations
An interesting, though pathetic scene was enacted in the Superior Court
in Yakima recently. Sahpamequick Twatentush, a young Indian was on trial
for his life for killing Sheowit a "bad" medicine man who had cast a
death spell over his infant boy. Advised by two medicine women, who had
been summoned to treat the child, that they could render no aid unless
the man remove his evil spell, the distressed father rode twenty miles
horseback to entreat Sheowit to come to the rescue. The medicine man
refused, and according to the testimony of an eye witness, and that of
the accused himself, he mocked at the sorrow of the father, stating that
he had sent an evil spirit into his child's body and that it would die.
He angrily exclaimed: "I am a strong man! I want to kill somebody all
the time! I have killed your child and I will kill you!" With this he
drew a hatchet from beneath his blanket and made an attempt to strike
the young man; who dodged and backed away. The enraged medicine man
followed him, striking once or twice with the hatchet. It was then that
the Indian drew his pistol and killed his assailant. The medicine man
was of bad repute, having killed two or more men. For one of the crimes
he had served a term in the penitentiary. During the trial, many
interesting points concerning the philosophy of the Yakimas were brought
to light. It is needless to say that the sympathy of the public was with
the defendant, who sat stoical during the trial in full tribal costume.
It took the jury but ten minutes to bring in a verdict of not guilty.
Barring self defense, the young man in taking the life of Sheowit, had
but followed an ancient law of his tribe. It was suggested, by one who
attended the trial, that it might serve a good purpose could this
unwritten Yakima tamanwit be enforced against some of the quack M. D.s
among the whites.
* * * * *
As a side light on the prevailing belief in the powers of the medicine
man, the following communication is given.
Mr. L. V. McWhorter, July 10, 1920.
My White Brother:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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