A THIEFS SUPERSTITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 2620, Issue XXXII, 27 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A THIEFS SUPERSTITION.

A lady correspondent of the Standard gives an account of a " thief'* superstition" in connection with human remains. She says It took place in Exuequibo, British Guiana, my late husband bain# at that time rector of the parish. \Ve lived in great security, and a fastening to a sash-window was uu> known, a single bolt or lock on a door being considered ample protection for our safety. But in 1885 a series of depredations began. The rectory was the first house entered; but, as the thieves were disturbed, they left without booty. Several subsequent attempts were made, with like results. At somo other houses the thieves were more successful. Soon a tale was circulated that the depredators could not be caught or shot, they being protected by a charm of human bones. A Portuguese, whose store had been repeatedly entered, said, "If lead could not touch them iron should." So be broke up some old nails, loaded a blunderbuss, and lay in ambußh behind his counter. Between two and three o'clock in tho morning the bolt of the shutter was forced and a man got in ; the Portugese fired and the man fell. A light was procured, the police summoned, and the man was taken into custody. On his neck, wrists, and loins was found human bones; he also had others, with some narcotic herbs, with which he said he used to makesmoko to cause deep sleep to his victims, while he ranscked the premises. He acknowledged having taken the bones from graves in the churchyard. The Portugese in firing, had soalped him. He lived in great agony for ten days and then died. Ho was a black man, about thirty years of age. The Portugese was tried, but acquitted on tho plea of self-defence ; and for some timo there was no more house-breaking.