Browse:MURDER (Volume 4, entries 7261–7516)/Part 2
MURDER
Volume 4, entries 7261–7516. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 7341
Ah jes' heard dem say dat dey wear salt, table salt, in de shoes an' nobody couldn't git dere track. Couldn't pick up dere foot track.
Entry 7342
Git some ole money, ole silver money. Take that and tote it in de pocket, dey say the law can't ketch you.
Entry 7343
He will git sulphur an' will burn sulphur - er [that is] will sprinkle sulphur 'long as he go. Aftah it's burnt ovah, sprinkle it 'long as he go an' dey cannot track 'im. (If he committed some crime?) If he has committed some crime dey wouldn't be able to ketch 'im.
Entry 7344
A fellah tole me - now dis - dat he run away from de chain gang. Yo' want me tuh tell de whole story, dat's it. He run away from de chain gang an' he stopped at a woman's house an' got some turpentine an' put it in de bottom of his shoes. An' he said dat dey had de hounds aftah 'im an' he stopped tuh mah house. An' ah said, "Put it in de bottom yore shoes?" He said, "Yeah." Dat wus up heah in Baldwin County, Georgia. Yeah, neah Millersville. He'd run away from de camp. An' ah tole de woman - ah wusn't married tuh her, ah was livin' wit 'er. Ah says, "Git dis fellah sompin tuh eat." An' as he got sompin tuh eat ah lifted up de shoe an' smelled of it an' he wus about five miles from dis camp at dat time. Ah wus standin' in mah back do' an' ah heard de dogs barkin' an' howlin' an' goin' on. When ah heard de dogs hollerin' ah come tuh de front do' to look out down tuhwards de rivah tuh see. Ah thought maybe some of 'em had de fox houns' out. An' dis fellah come up. at de time. Yeah. He had done got de turpentine in be- tween mah house an' where he run away from de convict camp, don't chew undahstan' me. [I am not supposed to hear well.] An' ah give him sompin tuh eat an' he left, an' de dogs come as fur as mah camp an' de captain an' de fellah dat wus wit de dogs, dey couldn't track 'im no fu'thah. Dey look aroun' an' dey says, dey axed [asked] me de questions about de fellah comin' dere. An' ah tole 'em dere come a man dere but he didn't have on no stripes, yeah. He had got de clothes dough [though]. He tole me de fellah back behin' had give him some clothes to change wit.
Entry 7345
If yo' wuz tuh git outa jail or even if yo' wuz tuh broke jail or any- thin' lak dat, outa any place lak dat, yo' could put turpentine in yore sock an' throw it down an' dey nevah could find yo'. Dey'll nevah git on yore trail or nuthin. Dat's de only kind ah know.
(You put turpentine in the sock and do what?)
Put turpentine in de sock - yo' know, jes' dampen it wit turpentine.
Entry 7346
All right, if a man kills anybody an' he wants tuh run away an' dey can't ketch 'im, he gits down an' he takes jes' a little bit of turpentine an' puts it in de bottom of his shoe, an' he walks on de ground till he git to a railroad an' he pull off all his clothes an' throw it all 'way. Well, dem dogs cain't follah him a bit fu'thah den dat railroad. When he gits on de railroad, dey cain't follah him a bit fu'thah den dat railroad track.
(Why couldn't they follow the railroad track?)
Cuz dat's cold - see, dey cain't.
Entry 7347
"Scapin' convicts or somepin lak dat, dey use turpentine to escape from de convict camps, things lak dat, to keep de dogs from trailin' 'em. Well, dey take de turpentine an' put it on de bottom of dere feet an' dey leave, den de dogs won't trail 'em wit dat turpentine.
Entry 7348
Ah heard a man say he went to de forks of de road, jes' like dey did some devilment an' de law was aftah 'em. De fellah said he'd go dere, yo' know, wit a bottle of turpentine an' marks right an' one east, an' po's [pours] a little turpentine in each one of dem marks - goin' across de road, an' dey nevah couldn't trail 'em. (Now, you said just across the road he makes a mark. How would he make the first mark?) He makes one north - east yo' know, east an' west, an' den south an' north. Dere don't be but two. (He makes one east and west. Then what does he do? Then he makes another mark? Where does he make that one?) Make dat one south an' west.
(South and north you mean.)
Yes, south an' north.
(I see. Then what does he do?)
Po's [pours] de turpentine in each one of dem marks.
Entry 7349
Ah heard dat if yo' wuz tuh do anythin' an' run away an' dey put de dogs behin' yo', den if yo' wuz tuh keep gasoline an' spirits of turpentine on yore feet, den dey couldn't track yo'.
Entry 7350
Yes, in dis way: Ah don't know whethah it's fact dat de law couldn't find or not, but ah do know dis one thing. If yo' were tuh do sompin chere an' dey wus on yore - say, if dey had hounds runnin' yo' or sompin, yo' could put turpen- tine an' red peppah undah yore shoe sole an' dem dogs couldn't track yo' no fu'thah dan where yo' use dat material. Right dah dey'd lose track an' dey couldn't start it.
Entry 7351
Yes sir, eithah de red peppah or turpentine. An' well, when de dogs go to trailin' 'em, wherevah where yo' sprinkle dat red peppah down [the dogs stop].
Entry 7352
I have bin lak dat way in de South, zhoo know. A man down dere lak tuh kill a fellah once. It wus mah secon' cousin, yo' know. So he went one night - he had tuh be taken on de Manning [S. C.] Road - I had tuh cart 'im, yo' know - taken on de Manning Road. I take 'im on down dere [road] tuh a little ole neighbor's house, zhoo know. So he tole huh whutevah he wants. She said, "Well, yo' in a very bad con- dition, becuz, yuh know, a murderin' case, " she said, "that's one case that any- one har'ly git ovah." She said it wusn't goin' to cost no more dan thirty-five dollahs, she said, tah clear it. He said, "Well, de thing whut I wan'a git aftah is not ta ketch me." He said, "If they don't ketch me, " he say, "I'll leave, if I kin git out de way." She says, "Well, all right." She went back in there, she stepped back in de room again, she gits sumpin in a little bottle - red jis' like vinegah. She mix some vinegah wit it, she take a little turpentine an' she put in it. Dat whah I seed 'er put in dere mahself. She take sumpin come-like - it looked like table salt. Well, she fixin' it so it boil. So he come back home tuh town dat night jis' about 'leven-thirty. So I drived up to de nex' cornah of de road [just beyond the town] an' let 'im git out an' come on back [to town] yo' see. He take his left-footed shoe, an' taken some turpentine an' put in de bottom of de left-footed shoe, an' some salt; den he went up to de law office [courthouse] see, de office's on left-hand side de road. Well, he takes some of dat [liquid] from de bottle given to him by de witchcraft woman, an' po'ed it right down 'neath de steps. An' dey ain't nevah did ketch 'im.
Entry 7353
Well now, jes' lak if he done de killin', [he] say, "Ah wants tuh git away." Well, he'll go to work yo' see an' git 'im a pair of new shoes, he'll git 'im a bottle of turpen- tine. He'll take dat turpentine an' he'll pull 'is shoes off an' rub undah de bottom of 'is feet wit dat turpentine, an' he'll po' a little in 'is shoes. He'll go to work den an' he'll git 'im jes' about nine grains of black pepper, six grains of spice, an' git 'im jes' about a piece of bluestone a little bit biggah den a black-eyed pea. An' he'll put all dat togethah. He'll go to work den an' git 'im a dime bottle of alcohol, an' evah mawnin' regardless to where he goin', he'll take dat alcohol an' rub behin' 'is ears, rub across 'is fo'haid, an' he'll take dat turpentine an' 'noint 'is shoes - under de bottom of 'is shoes - an' he'll chew a grain of dat black peppah, one grain of dat spice, evah day, an' jes' a little crumb of dat bluestone mixed togethah. An' as long as he continue wit dat, he'll always keep a-goin'.
(Can't catch him.)
He'll keep a-goin'. [Waycross, Ga., (1097), 1771:5.] [Rites for catching a murderer are much more varied and interesting than those permitting him to escape, egg rites alone being amazing both in number and diver- sity. Everywhere the spirit of the murdered person is present or its presence assumed.]
Entry 7354
Jes' lak a man kill a man or woman - if he kill a woman. All right, say fo' instant dey bring about five people jes' where dis man is got killed at - dead, yo' see. All right, make dis man tech 'im. An' when de right man tech 'im - yo' know, each one of 'em tech 'im - when de right man tech 'im, he'll purge. [The word purge is common for a corpse bleeding when touched by murderer.]
Entry 7355
Take dey han's - don' care how many's roun' - take hol' of 'em an' lay dere han's on de dead person when yo' go tuh bur' 'im. Dat will tell yo' who kolled 'im. De blood will gush out [when murderer touches corpse].
Entry 7356
Say, fer instant, now a man commits a crime. All right. Well now, yo' don't know who done de murdah. All right. But now, lak dey would go an' 'rrest a bunch of men, yo' see, dey would wanta fin' which one of 'em is de man dat done de killin' right dere. Dat is, if dey kin git dere, yo' undahstan', lak [soon aftah] it happens. Dey kin take dis man an' care [carry] him dere an' he'd place his han' on dat dead person. Why where he cut 'im or shot 'im or anythin' lak dat, he'll start to bleed ag'in.
Entry 7357
Befo' dey bury 'im, yeah. Dey said [say for instance] dat ah'd kill yo' an' so anybody didn't know who done it, dey go an' lay dere han' on 'im an' de blood would come from 'im.
(They could tell that you'd killed him?)
Yes.
Entry 7358
Ah've heard dat if a person has got killed an' de person who killed 'im, if he happen tuh be dere - be roun' dere. Dere's some people dat do dese things yo' know an' den stan' aroun' yo' know an' may perten' [pretend] dey don' know nuthin 'bout it. An' if dey touch dat person, den he'll start purgin'. [The word to purge is commonly used to describe the bleeding of a corpse when touched by the murderer. Since the word to purge frequently means to cause evac- uation of the bowels or to clean or empty the bowels, was there a confusion be- tween bleeding and purging by the corpse? We must remember that formerly, espec- ially in hot weather, a body Was buried within 24 hours. Even then purging must have been frequent. Surely one example of this is the very first belief or story in Hoodoo, the burial of the witch Millie, No.1, page 1.]
Entry 7359
Well, if yo' have a crowd when he jes' git kilt - a crowd be roun' - well den yo' kin all go by 'im an' tetch 'im, an' when de right man tetch 'im he start fresh tuh bleedin'.
Entry 7360
Ah always heard dat if a individ'al would git killed yo' see, dey tell me if yo' wanta find out who killed 'im, take a bunch of mens yo' see. An' dey tell me dat if yo' lay yore han's on 'im, de one dat kilt 'im, de blood, yo' know - dat's right - would gush from 'is nose or face or show up on him somewhere or othah an' dey'd find out dat was de man dat done de murdah.
Entry 7361
Well, dey say if a man kilt a man an' dey don't know whuthah he's done it, why if dey, believe dat ah, yo' or someone done it, [the way to find out] is tuh have evah man dat's roun' dere to go an' lay dey han' on dis person, an' de one dat murdered dis person, whenevah he puts 'is hand on it [corpse], de wounded place will begin tuh bleed.
Entry 7362
See, jes' lak a person would git kilt, well yo' don't know who kilt 'im. Dey might go to work an' bury him. Well, aftah dey bury him, dey go tuh work den an' wanta find out thurly [thoroughly] about dis man. Dey ain't satis- fied. If dey ain't satisfied, dey'll dig 'im up. Dey'll have evah'body dat knew 'im tuh come. Now de one dat done de killin', when yo' walk up tuh 'im yo' tetch 'im, why he goin' purge - he'll bleed.
Entry 7363
Now, yo' kin take a man, jes' lak ah jes' go out dere an' kill a man. Well, ah'd make mah escape an' dere didn't nobody know who did it. Den yo' know somebody has fresh hen aigs fresh. Yo' goes an' gits two aigs an' put one in each one of mah han's - in de daid man's han's, an' den keep 'im out de ground 24 hours. An' at de end of 24 hours ah'll be standin' right dere.
[For use of eggs to discover or bring back murderer, see later.]
[Another method:]
Dey'd have me put mah han' on 'im, an' de minute ah put mah han' on 'im, de blood goin' go free from him lak ah jes' done it.
Entry 7364
On a short ahdah [order] - ah'll jes' tell yo on a short ahdah [= quickly]. Yo' kin have a dozen men right in heah now an' ah kin walk in heah maybe an' kill one of 'em, yo' un'ahstan' me, an' ah'll git away. Well now, if yo' know dem mens, othah eight mens in dere dat was in dere when ah done dis killin' [his 12-l=8]. An' dey kin go off an' ketch me or get me. Dey will take an' walk right up an' jes' walk up to him, if he's daid - ah don't care how long he's been dead - if ah killed 'im, ah put mah hand on 'im dataway, he bleed jes' lak ah jes' stobbed 'im.
(They'll know that you killed him then.)
Yes sir.
Entry 7365
I have heard my grandmother say, that if a person has been murdered, that one way to find out the murderer is to allow a number of people to pass one by one and let each one put his hand on the murdered person. When touched by the guilty one the corpse will begin to bleed at that place. It is said that many murderers have been detected in that way. [By my contact man, Jerry Williams, by Ediphone at Ocean City, Md., in summer of 1936.]
Entry 7366
When murderer enters room, corpse begins to bleed. [This belief is unusual because touching the dead body is an essential part of the rite.]
Entry 7367
[I am adding a number merely to call attention to several unusual rites that could have been included here: (l)
Break a straw into two pieces and cross them on the forehead of the murdered man. Each suspected person must then step over the dead body. As the murderer steps across, the corpse will begin to bleed (see No.109, p.40); (2) Two straws are crossed on the murdered man's stomach and a new pair of scissors is also used
(see No.7421, p.3273).]
Entry 7368
De person dat dey had an idea dat kilt 'im, aw he could be dead fo' so long, an' [dey] said dat he could go an' tetch dis person, even if it was nuthin but jes' de bone, an' hit Would bleed. [Even after 15 or 20 years the bone of a murdered man will bleed - see No.110, p.40.]
Entry 7369
Wus once a fellah found murdered [on the railroad track] between Gir- dletree an' Stockton [Md.]. So they said those people [the murderers] wus infi- dels, they could stop yer blood - you know, stop 'um from bleedin' so tha' choo couldn't find out who did it [by bringing any suspected person into the presence of the corpse]. An' they kilt this fellah, taken a board up in the floor, in 'tween the floor an' the groun'. [This board was retained by the murderers]. So they stopped his blood to keep 'im from bleedin'. Den after that, well, day drug 'im out on the railroad [to suggest death by accident].
The narrative explicitly mentions blood being stopped. That remains a reported claim; the bracketed explanations are editorial and no effect is independently established.
Entry 7370
I have heard that, if a person is murdered in a house and there is a bloodstain on the floor, it remains there unless you take that piece of wood out.
[New York City, by Ediphone, informant No.3, probably from Virginia.]
Entry 7371
There has always been a saying that where a person is murdered or killed that any of the blood has been spilled, you can always tell because it will show itself afresh whenever it's cloudy weather or raining. The stain will become inevitable in the floor, if it's on a board, and it can't be prevented. You can scrub it but it will always come during stormy rainy weather. [New York City, by Ediphone, informant No.lO, from near Orangeburg, S. Car.]
Entry 7372
(If they found a person that got killed, had been murdered?)
Yes, [they] say de stain would be on whosomevah did de crime, de stain would nevah leave him - some part of 'im. It would be on 'im, somewheres about 'is han's an' [or] it would be some place about 'im dat it would show dat he be de real per- son dat did de crime. [This belief is based upon the mark placed upon Cain for killing his brother Abel - see Gen. 4:1-15; see also introductory comment to interview with Doctor Marcus Brown, p.1290.]
The editor links the belief to Cain's mark and a Gen.4:1-15 reference. This is an editorial comparison, not the informant's explanation or an independently established origin.
Entry 7373
Fac' [in fact] ah heard of a man got killed, an' shortly aftah he got killed de law come up to fin' out who wuz dis man dat he got killed an' who wuz it dat killed dis man. He [the law] caught some of 'is blood an' aftah ketchin' it he took de washpan wit some watah in it, an' caught some of 'is blood an' set it down in [under] de bed where dis man wuz at. An' de man dat killed 'im, he had tuh come back an' give up.
(Under whose bed did he put that pan?)
Under dis man's bed dat wuz dead dat dis othah man shot.
(The dead man's bed?)
Yes, dat's right. (That is, the dead man was lying on the bed an' he [the law] took some of this blood and put water with it, and put it under the dead man's bed to bring back the man that killed him.) Yes.
Entry 7374
Yeah, if dis man dat killed dis man is gone, if yo' kin git dere, yo' undahstan', an' take anything, an' take a teaspoon an' dip some of de [spots] of de dead man's blood. (Where he was killed?) Yeah. See, git some of [the dead man's] blood, dig it up an' go ahead wit it, an' den come back an' quick as yo' kin. Den go where he went an' git some of 'is [foot] track, an' git some dirt outa his track. Git a little of dat dirt outa his track whut he made an' take de decease [deceased's] blood, de dead man's blood, an' po' it on top of dat track. All right, yo' got 'im. Yo' got dat blood, po' it on dere [foot track] an' say, "Ah want chew tuh come back heah, undahstan', an' stan' yore trial like a man fo' killin' dis po' man. Ah mean dat. Ah mean fo' yo' tuh come back, an' yo' can't git away." Ah pō' it on an' ah be talkin' to it, sayin', 'By de mercy an' power of God, ah mean fō' dem [you] tuh come back, fō' ah know God rules de world an God will rule yo'." Tell it [In the Name of] "De Father, de Son an' de Holy Ghost, drive him back." He kin go an' go, but 'ventu'lly he turn roun' an' come on back an' give up.
Entry 7375
Well, yes, if a man kill a man. If he jump - if dis man now, when he kill 'im, he jump backward, come backwards ovah him, lak yo' step back ovah him befo' de breath leaves 'im or at de time dat he's breathin', an' if he kin git jes' a distance away, he will git away. An' if he don't - jes' lak if he go away an' don't do dat, an' if yo' jes' ketch a man on suspicion figurin' dat's 'im an' if de man ain't, if he ain't a bad 'un, yo' know, sompin lak dat, an' den if he's gone, if dere's any blood dat's in dat dirt, if it's two years or three, yo' bring dat fellah back dere. An' if he's de man did it, dat place will git dark an' darkah when yo' bring 'im back dere to dat place.
(That place where the man died?)
Oh, yes. Jes' lak yo's an officah, yo' take dat dirt wit yuh an' yo' find dat fellah, yo' know de color of de dirt. Jes' lay it right, yo' present dat dirt when yo' git to whah [where] dat person at, dat dirt will turn dark as 'is face.
(That dirt will get darker and darker.)
Entry 7376
Ah heard sev'ral diff'ren' p'ints about dat. Now dey says jes' lak if someone killed somebody else, an' yo' wants to fin' out who killed dat indivijal. When yo' git where he is yo' goes an' lay yore han' if he layin' on 'is back, lay yore han' an' drill it up three time lak dat from 'is face down to 'is nostel [nostril] an' say, "It will be a hot heat' - when yo' drill yore han' three time up an' down 'is nostel [nostril]. Well, turn 'im ovah an' right to [at] de back of de haid, git jes' a little pinch of dirt from outen dere. Take it to de house an' take yo' a pinch of table salt an' put it in dat, an' tote it wit chew fo' foah days. Aftah de foah days is up, walk an' throw it in de fiah, an' whosoevah killed dat indivijal, dey'll pass yore home - undah six days dey'll appear in yore home. Dat's de one dat killed de indivijal den. (WHEN YOU FIRST GET TO THAT DEAD MAN, YOU TAKE YOUR HAND AND JUST RUB IT DOWN OVER HIS NOSTRILS THREE TIMES - DOWN OVER HIS WHOLE FACE. Dat's right.
(Then what? It'll feel warm you say?)
It will feel warm on de third time, an' den yo' jes' take right in de back of de head, if he is laying down on de dirt or anywhere - take out a pinch of sand, if he's layin' on de ground - from undah his haid, any kin'a dust from undah his haid. Care [carry] it home an' put chew a pinch of salt in dat an' keep it until de third mawnin'. De thlrd mawnin' throw it in de fiah an' dat indivijal dat done de killin' on de sixth mawnin'll be to yore home.
Entry 7377
If you know his name. [A pause.]
(Yes?)
[This tells informant to continue.]
You get a candle. De man dat he killed, know 'is name. Get yo' a bo'd[sounds like boat but is board] about so long an' a bran'-new needle an' stick dat needle undah dere an' take dat candle an' an indelible pencil. Write his name dis way an' yourn dat way. (Wait! You write one from the bottom and one from the top?) Dat's right. Den light de candle each en'. (Light it from each end.) [This may be my only example.] An' den dey [2 ends of candle] meet togethah. An' let 'em burn togethah. Dat'll draw 'im, jes' draw 'im back.
(I see. Now, wait a minute. Here's your board.)
[I demonstrate.]
Lak dere [the way you have placed the board]. (You get a needle, a new needle, and stick it into this board. Then you put this candle horizontally on that needle.) Dat's right.
(And you write his name once, and the murderer's name at one end of the candle.)
Ovah de othah, yeah.
(Then you light both ends at once and burn them up together.)
Dat's right.
(And that man that did the killing will come back.)
He's comin' back.
(I see.)
Dat's drawin 'im back.
Entry 7378
Yo' kin take dat man's, some of 'is garment whut he wear nex' to his skin, an' take an' dress it wit Hearts Cologne an' carry it back where dis man got killed, an' spread it out an' let de sun shine on it, an' it won't [be] but sev'ral days fo' he show up.
(The man that killed him?)
Yes sir, de man dat kill 'im show up.
Entry 7379
If yo' take a man's clothes an' yo' bury his clothes, well it's like yo' bury 'im. Bundle his clothes up an' bury his clothes. Well de person dat did it, he can't keep it - he can't git off, he'll have tuh give up. (You mean if they take the clothes off the dead man, you bury them separately from the body?) Yes sir.
Entry 7380
Ah heard dey take his clothes off 'im an' bury de clothes an' de per- son dat killed 'im would go crazy.
Entry 7381
Well, suppose you kill me, tisn't but one thing. But do dis now. If you kill me right now - why do you kill any person, woman or man - go to yore house an' get one shirt, or one undahshirt, or one drawers, or a pants, or a sock, anything dat chew wear [wear]. Put it undahneat' dat woman or dat man's head, an' yo' can't go anywhere. Yo'll come back. It'll be far, but yo'll come back in town.
(That's the way they catch you, if you kill somebody.)
Yes, sir, if yo' kill somebody - if yo' jes' shoot 'em, why dey can't get yo' anyway. If yo' kill somebody, yo' can't go. Yo'll go but yo' won't sleep, an' don't care where yo' sleep, yo' goin' to git so tired dat yo' come an' give yore- self up to de law. [The dead man's spirit will not let the murderer sleep. It pesters the killer until he returns and gives himself up to the law.]
Entry 7382
Dey say if a man falls on 'is face, dey say dat man ill be caught. Den dey take some of dis man's clothes an' dey tie knots in 'em an' put some othah man's devilment [= urine or excrement] on dere an' dat will make dis man come back.
(The man that killed him.)
Entry 7383
Wal, dey say if a man kill a man an' yo' wanta git 'im, all yo' have to do, git 'is - some pieces of 'is clothes. Git a piece of clothes an' put some salt and vinegar ovah it, an' he come an' give up hisself to yo'. Yo' say, "What yo' want?" He say, "Wal, ah jes' like to come to see yo'." Sompin lak dat an' make a argue [argument]. Dat's de man.
(I see. You take the dead man's clothes and put the stuff on it.)
Yeh.
Entry 7384
To bring a fellah back whut's went off an' done sompin an' run off, yo' go to work an' git a piece of dis fellah's clothes or eithah a shoe or sompin, an' yo' take dat an' carry it to yore place of [hoo- doo] business, see. An' yo' dress dat wit dis heah - git some of dis Heart Cologne, see, wit drawin'-love powdah an' some dis heah High John de Conkah root. An' yo' take dat an' yo' come back home den, an' yo' take it an' bury it undah yore house, see. Yo' take it an' bury it right undah yore house right behin' undah yore dohstep. Hell, fo' so many mawnin's yo' go round yore house, about nine mornings - one time evah mawnin'. Inside of dat time dat fellah goin' eithah be back or sompin be's happen to 'im.
Entry 7385
Ah heard dat jes' lak if some of mah people wus tuh git killed an' ah wouldn't know who killed 'em - lak ah'd find 'em daid somewhere an' ah wanted tuh know if somebody killed 'em. Well, den yo'd go to de undahtakah's shop an' yo' dress 'em, an yo' cut nine pieces out de tail or out de hem of whatsomevah dey had on. An' den you take dis heah an carry it to yore home, an' yo' keep it dere prob'ly until yo' git ready to bury 'em. Den dey tell me yo' prays nine prayahs ovah 'em, an' den yo' takes it an' carries it back to dis corpse, jes' lak if yo' goin' bury 'em. Yo' carry it back an' set it on de grave jes' yo' seen 'em bury dem right heah in de graveyard. Yo' take an' put one ovah his heart, yo' puts one ovah each eye an' one ovah 'is nose, one ovah his mouth an' one in each one of 'is ears, an' den put one in de palm of 'is han' - of dese heah little blocks yo' cut out de hem of 'is pants or dress or whatsomevah. An' den say, whosomevah killed dis person, dat dey would come back. (You put this right over the body itself, right over the eyes. You cut nine pieces, there are two eyes, nose and mouth - that's four. The ears, that is six. The two palms, one of each hand, that's eight. Now what is for the ninth piece?) One ovah the heart.
Entry 7386
If a person is killed an' yo' wanta find out who do it an' yo' want dis person to die aftah killin' dis person, yo' cut a green tree an' put it down in de grave. (You cut a green tree?) Yes sir, cut a small green tree an' put it down in de grave, an' den yo' bury dis dead man on dat green tree, an' put 'is clothes [in which he was murdered] undah 'im, an' de man who killed 'im it won't be long befo' he dies. But ah don't know what dey say to ketch 'im, ah nevah hear of dat. But dey say it wouldn't be long befo' he dies.
(Do you cut any kind of a green tree?)
Yes sir, any kinda green trees, so as it's green. Put it in de grave.
(Then you put the dead man's clothes on that tree?)
Yes, put de dead man's clothes on dat.
(Then you bury the dead man on top of that?)
On top of 'is clothes, an' dey say it wouldn't be long befo' dis person have killed would follah 'im. Mah stepfathah got killed an' people have tell my mothah to do dat, but she Wouldn't do it. Yo' jes' get a green tree - cut a green tree an' throw it in de grave, an' den throw all de murdered's [murdered man's] clothes an' shoes an' evah bit right down in dere, an' bury de dead right on dat an' dis person will sure follah yo'. (Well, what do they bury the man in, then, the man that was killed? What do they bury him in? They bury his entire clothes don't they?) Dey bury 'im in clothes but yo' jes' throw de old bloody clothes in de grave; see, an' throw dat down in dere an' den bury 'im right on top of dat, see. (And YOU SAY THAT YOUR STEPFATHER WAS KILLED OVER HERE ON JAMES ISLAND. I see, and they told your mother to do that? And she wouldn't do it?) No sir, she wouldn't do it - she wouldn't do it.
(That's supposed to be an old, old way of finding out who killed him.)
Dey find out who kill 'im, yes.
Entry 7387
Yo' [he] could kill a man an' he [murderer] goes away. Well, yo' take dat man's [killer's] name or take some of 'is clothes. Yo' take his clothes. Yo' take his clothes, de man's - if yo' can get some of de man's [killer's] clothes or something of de man's, de man dat's gone. Yo' take dat an' yo' put on de man dat he killed. Or, eithah, if yo' don't do dat, yo' take two hen egg8 an' put 'em in 'is han's an' turn 'im flat on 'is belly, an' fo' nine days when dem eggs bust, de man'll come in - he'll come an' give up. (And you say the other way of doing it is to get some clothes from the fellow who ran away.) Yeah, takes 'is clothes - take some of 'is clothes an' bury 'em wit dat [dead] man.
Entry 7388
If yo' killed a person...yo' gon'a waste some blood...whatevah [clothes] yo' has, if dey kin git dat, smear it [your clothes] in your [victim's] blood an' bury it, turn him on 'is face, an' dat'll draw yo' [murderer] back.
Entry 7389
If ah takes an' kill a person, yo' undahstan'. Now yo' wants me back heah. Now, ah could leave [a dress] or somepin heah, yo' undahstan'? Well, yo see, people come around, a detective come around, dey need so much money to get 'em [me] back. She [hoodoo woman] can take my dress an' bury my dress down heah an' ah can't stay where ah'm at. Where ah done is at - ah gotta come back to New Orleans. If ah don't come back to dat [murder] house, ah'll come back to New Orleans an' de policeman will be de first one to put dere han's on me.
Entry 7390
Well, de person dat killed dis person...the dead person, - yo' go to your hen-house where your poultry an' git chew a hot laid egg - a fresh laid egg, yo'understand, two of 'em an' put one in each hand.... If not that, yo' take this dead person's hat an' put it ovah their face see....right ovah his face. If yo' don't do dat, yo' take [demonstrates] his pocket han'kerchief an' spread it one corner on each side of the corner - heah an' one up heah, yo' see.
[I now describe his actions:]
(You take this dead man's handkerchief and you put it like a diamond over his head.) Dat's right, one point to the top of his head and one at his throat and one toward each shoulder. Dat's right. An' de hat yo' take an' place it right ovah his face.
(These are all separate ways of doing it.)
(To bring back the man who killed him?)
To bring back de man dat killed de man.
Entry 7391
Yo' kin bury him [murdered manl wit a aig in 'is han' an' he'll [mur- derer will] come back. Or eithah bury him wit his cap down ovah his face, or eithah a han'chief ovah his face, an' he'll come back.
Entry 7392
If a person git killed an' yo' want dis person tuh come back, dis per- son will have tuh fall on his face [see p.324lf. and elsewhere.] Den ah heard ag'in dat chew kin take de dead person's hat. Jes' lak yo' be killed an' somebody find de hat, turn it on de wrong side. Turn de right - no, turn de left-hand sleeve of dis person's garment - coat, shirt or undahshirt an' fold it. An' wherevah or who dis party wus whut killed dis per- son, if dey's away, dey gotta return ~ dey can't stay away.
(You turn this left sleeve of his coat inside out or roll it up?)
Roll it - jes' lak on de left now, ah'm usin' mah left hand. If yo' killed me or ah killed yo', well yo' want me tuh come an' ah'm gone. Well yo' jes' turn mah shirt, or eithah mah hat. Turns 'is hat on de wrongside an' turn de bow. Yo' know how dere be's a bow in dat hat. Well now, when yo' roll it, yo' have to roll it tuh yo' wit de bow comin' tuh yo', seams an' all jes' comin' on tuh yo'. He'll have tuh come back, he can't stay away.
Entry 7393
Yo' kin take a package of brand-new pins dat has not been no othah pin out of it, put evah pin on some garment of his'n.
(0f that corpse?)
De dead man - evah pin but be sure de pin package nevah opened of de new pins, not one was taken out. Pin it in 'is garment an' when yo' git it all pinned up, yo' wishes a prayer ovah dis dead man. Dis man cannot stay, he must return - yo've pinned 'im up. Yo' use dat whole package of brand-new pins on 'im while he's layin' out as a corpse. Dis man will come whoevah he is - he's sticked, he's sewed, jes' got him pinned up. He'll come back an' give hisself up - can't stay [away].
Entry 7394
Buy new brand [brand-new] pocket- knife an' put it in de dead man left hand an' put it in de left pocket. (Put his left hand in his pocket.) Yeah, wit de knife open in 'is pocket. (What will that do?) Dat will make him [murderer] die too. (That is a different way from the other way. There're two ways of doing it.)
Entry 7395
If a man murdah somebody an' git away from home, if yo' could git a piece of 'is garment an' twist - jis' lak yo'd git yore shirt, jis' git 'is shirt an' put sixteen knots in de tail of 'is shirt, an' dey say he couldn't stay 'way, no way tuh escape. He'd have tuh come back an' surrendah himself tuh de officahs.
(You get the shirt of the fellow who did the killing?)
Yessuh, jes' lak ah'd kill someone, yo'd git a garment dat ah been wearin' - jis' lak in a shirt or any of mah undahweah.
(That would bring you back.)
Entry 7396
Say fo'stance [for instance], now, if a person kill someone an' dey Want 'em [killer] tuh come back. Undahstan' good. If yo' git holt a piece [of] one of his shirts, any piece [of clothing] dat he wore, yo' take dat piece an' roll it tight tuh yo', an' bury dat undah de side of de house - undah de house, undah yore house. Ah'll bury it anywhah whah he stayed at, an' he'll wandah right roun' dat place an' come right back dere. See, he'll come back. He cain't stay 'way to save his life, he will come back.
Entry 7397
Ah hear tell of 'em takin' yore shoes, yore left-footed shoe. Jes' lak anyone done a crime, jes' lak ah'd kill someone out dere yo' see. Well, ah'm a unknown party, yo' see de idea. Well dey smart enough to git somebody, yo' know, tuh git de left foot of mah shoe, yo' see. Well, yo' kin take de left foot of mah shoe - ah heard dat chew kin take de left foot of mah shoe an' bury it. Yo' know, jes' bury flat down lak dat yo' know, upside down, undah de left cornah of de house. An' a few days aftah yo' do dat, ah would return back, yo' see. Ah did de killin by unknown parties. Yo' see, ah'm de unknown party, but ah have tuh come back tuh dat house, yo' see. Ah heard dat to be de fac'. (Where would they bury this shoe? Under your house or under the house of the party that was killed?) De party's house which was killed.
(How would they get hold of your shoe?)
Well, jes' lak yo' may go tuh work, yo' see - jes' lak yo' may go tuh work an' have a ole footed shoe or sompin of de kind aroun', yo' see, an' yo' kin git hold of it. Yo' see de idea.
(That is to bring you back.)
Entry 7398
Take de dead man's shoe an' bury an' he'll come back. (You mean the fellow that killed him will come back. You bury both his shoes, you say, or one? Which one?) De left foot, yes.
(Where do they bury that shoe?)
Wit'in 'is grave, in 'is box [coffin], right in 'is box wit 'im. [Surely the murderer's old shoe is buried in the coffin, not the dead man's shoe.l [Jackson- ville, Fla., (553) 691:4+85.]
Entry 7399
If a man do any murderin' or anythin', yo' kin take dat ole shoe an' bury it bottom upwards; dey say, jes' in de ground an' bury it bottom upwards. Dey say he'll go crazy - wit 'is clothes.
(Whose shoes do you bury?)
Bury de ones dat done de murder.
(If you know who did the murder?)
Yes, yo' have to know he done. Bury dat shoe, he go crazy. Call dis man name all de time. (In this case you just suspected the man did the killing, and in order not to take any chances, you'd bury his shoe or either his clothing, calling his name, and if he did do it, then he'll go crazy.)
Entry 7400
Take yore shoes sometime an' lak if dey did anythin', yo' kin take dere shoes an' have 'em caught.
(How would you do that?)
Well, yo' take an' put - yo' git chew some quicksilvah. Well, yo' kin git some of dat an' put nine drops in each shoe. Dat's, if yo' wanta git dis person, put nine drops in each shoe. Den yo' take dese shoes an' yo' pray ovah dem fo' three days, an' yo' use de 26 Psalm on dat fo' three days 'fore sunup, an' put 'em undah de steps whence [where] he goin' back to. Bury dem undah dose bo'ds. An' in nine days he'll be back dere.
(If he has committed some crime.)
Entry 7401
Mah gran'fathah said, he was in slav'ry yo' see, he said dat when a person done kill a person dey goes an' gits dis person's shoes an' dey take 'um an' put 'em full of foddah an' den dey take some dis heah lye dey use to run an' make soap outa. Ah don't know whethah yo' remembah it or not. (The old-fashioned lye.) Yes sir, used to run it outa ashes. Put hit in dere an' dey turn dat shoe bottom sides upwards dey said, an' in five days evah who did it would come back.
(Do you do one of the shoes that way or both of them?)
Jes' one of 'em. Dat left shoe.
Entry 7402
Ah heard 'em say yo' could take de tacks out of a shoe. (Out of any kind of a shoe?) A murder [murderer's] shoe an' burn de heel of it, an' put chew sulphur an' green peppah, an' burn it, an' de person would come up heah to yore do' dat mawnin', de one dat done de crime.
(What do you do with those nails out of the shoe?)
Yo' burn 'em wit dat ashes.
(Whose shoe do you burn?)
Yo' gotta git a person's shoe whut no relation to dat family.
(That is supposed to bring that murderer back?)
Yes.
Entry 7403
Dey say now, if a man run off an' yo' want 'im back, ef yo' kin git his garment, whut he wear nearest tuh 'im, an' yo' kin cut de seam out undah heah an den dere, an' bury it wit some of 'is hair an' some of 'is ole shoe, bury eastward an' put one cornah westward, he'll come back. He'll come back, he can't stay [away] no mo'.
(Whom Would they do this for?)
Yo' do dat fo' de party dat dey want, jes' [like] ah killed somebody an' some- body come git chew do it fo' me, anybody. (Bring you back. You cut a piece under the left arm and from the seat of his pants [or] trousers [and] underwear.)
Entry 7404
Yo' kin take some of 'is clothes, de dead [murdered] person clothes, an' put dat on 'im [friend or relative of corpse], an' when he buried, it'll come tuh yo' [friend or relative] in a dream, who did it.
Entry 7405
Ah've hear'd dat if a man kills a man an' runs away or do somepin - misdemenah [misdemeanor] whatevah it done be - an' gits away. Well, an' dey Wants tuh do somepin tuh make 'im come back. Well, yo' go - yo' gotta have some kinda piece which dis man wo'. It don't make no diff'rence what - if it wus 'is coat or whut - but it must be some kinda piece which he has wo'. An' yo' takes it, see. An' yo' dresses it. Yo' dresses it wit three diff'ren' mixtures, an' yo' puts it in a place where it won't - no one partici- pates in [frequents or looks into], dat place, yo' see. An' aftah thirteen days dat individual [murderer] will show up on de scene dere. But yo' must take it an' yo' gits one of yuh, one of dese [ingredients] dat yo' dress it wit; dat ah've hear'd yo' dress it wit, is de left horn of a cow.
(The left horn?)
De left horn of a cow.
(The left horn of a cow.)
Yo' take dat an' in... [I interrupt].
(What do you do, take the whole horn?)
No, yo' jis' git some of dat. Yo' jis' take a knife an' jis' scrape, jis' scrape some of dat left horn of a cow. An' de nex' thing yo' git, yo' goes down tuh de graveyard an' yo' gits yuh some dirt - some soil. Den yo' go tuh de west enda [end of] dis individual house. Yo' mus' know where he lived at - where he lived at.
(What did you say now?)
Go tuh de west enda his house where he lived at, an' yo' dig up some soil an' yo' mix dat. Den yo' bring it back an' yo' goes an' yo' git a piece of 'is socks, an' yo' put dat in dere. An' yo' puts dis in a secret place where nobody lives an' yo' waits about thirteen or fourteen days. An' yo' go git it an' bring it out, an' sprinkle it down with salt an' watah. An' in a few days dat guy Sii show up on de scene. So ah heard.
Entry 7406
Make 'im come back an' give hisself up. Yo' know de man. An' if yo' don' know de man, or yo' know de man. Listen good. Well, all yo' gotta do is come on back an' take yore undershirt, next to yore skin, turn it upside down [inside out] an' put it on, an' whosomevah did it dey come back. Dey'll bring 'em back to yo'.
Entry 7407
Yo' turn yer lef' sock on de wrong side an' yer undahweah an' go along an' dey'll [the law] nevah bothah yuh.
Entry 7408
Jis' lak ef a puson wus tuh kill anothah one an' dey can't nevah ketch 'im. Well, dey go on an' dey gits - dat coffin have tuh be dressed whut dat in- divid'l is in tuh cuz dese othah parties tuh come back. An' tuh dress dat coffin dey'll git some dragon's blood an' whut chew call - well it's a oil whut chew call de come back oil, an' dat dragon's blood an' dat Sang-Sang Powdah. [This is probably the same thing as Sen-Sen or Sen-Sen Powder mentioned elsewhere.l An' take it an' put it in a half a pint-a watah, an' put two tablespoonsful of saltpetah in it, an' shake it up good an' sprinkle dat individ'l good in dat coffin. Sprinkle de corpse real good an' dat individ'l, whosomevah it is. An' in about three day's time dem parties will be back.
Entry 7409
Yes, sir, de firs' thing ah would do, git tuh de undahtakah. Dat's all ah want, git in touch wit de undahtakah - gotta git in touch wit 'em [him] or ah cain't handle de body. Ah'd trim dat man toenail an' fingahnails, an' take some of de hair out de haid [demon- strates], an' take some heah, an' take some heah, an' take some from down heah. An' ah'd put dose things tuhgethah.
[I now describe his preceding actions.]
(Take some from the top of his head, some from just at the bottom of each ear, and some down below.) Dat's it. An' trim 'is toenails an' hands [fingernails], put 'em tuhgethah an' mix some more stuff wit it. An' take it an' put it back in dat casket [cof- fin] wit a bran'-new red han'kachef, an' let 'em [these things] go in de grave wit it [the corpse]. An' if dat guy [murderer] don't be dere befo' dey bury 'em [him, the corpse], de people he work wit cain't git nobody tuh bury 'em. An' if he don't git dere, if he have tuh walk, he'll go in de graveyard an' stay dere until somebody go dere an' git 'em [him]. He gotta go dere, he cain't live.
Entry 7410
A undahtakah parlah or jes' some place where dey makin' shrouds fo' de dead.
(Get this where they are making a shroud for the dead.)
Yes, an' get dat needle an' take dis needle what dey use. Break dis needle, drive it into some place, some piece of wood or anythin', in yore place, in yore house, anywhere yo' wish to, ON YORE ALTAR in de place, set it up on somepin. An' yo' wishes fo' 'im to return on such an' such a date, an' he will return, so I am told. (Anybody's return or this man that killed someone?) Dey want dat othah man, de one dat killed 'im.
(I see.)
Entry 7411
All right, dey kin take dat - dat man kill a man out dere an' he git away. An' dey wan' 'im to come back an' de law cain't bring 'im back. Dey take dat coffin, dat corpse, an' dey turns it a diff'ren' way in de house an' dey turn it in de direction dat he [murderer] went. An' de direction he went, dat de direction he comin' back. Dat body is turned dat direction. An' dey take some - write his name on some papah an' put it in dere, an' dey write it in de Name of de Lawd [Lord], but dey write it in vain [see later], an' say on dere, 'Lord, sen' dis man back. Turn 'im back, him what have killed mah brothah or mah husban', an' let de law git 'im." Well, he'll come back. Write his name on a piece of papah an' put it in dat casket, an' do it in de Name of de Lawd an' yo' do it in Vain.
(What do you mean in vain?)
Yo' gotta use a curse word, yo' see, an' den he'll be back in nine days. He'll return.
(I see.)
Entry 7412
Well, if anyone kill a man an' den run 'way an' dey didn't know who kill 'im. Well, when dey wash dis man, dey takes de watah an' puts it into a quart bottle an' stops it up tight an' bury it in de grave tuh [with] him. Well, he cain't go. He have tuh come back. He have tuh pass dat place evah day, back- ward an' farward. He have tuh pass dere, dat place. (They wash the dead man and that water they wash him with, they put it in a bottle and put it in the grave.) Yes. [Sumter, S. Car. (1367), 2419:10.]
Entry 7413
Well, yo' kin take de water dey wash de individual [murdered man in].
(That they wash the dead man in.)
An' put it in a quart bottle. An' yo' know how yo' cut cork to grease a saw wit - cut a cork to grease a saw wit. Chew know how dey grease a saw, have oil in a bottle - kerosene in a bottle to grease a saw. Jah [did jah] evah see dat? (No. They use a piece of cork to do that, you say?) Yo' see people dat saw wood, don't cha? Den dey have oil dey 'put on de saw. (Yes.) Dey have a stoppah in de bottle don' dey? Have it cut aroun' dere so dat de kerosene come out dere lak dat. Jah evah seen dat? (No, I have never seen that, but I understand. They cut little ridges in the cork so that this kerosene will come out of the bottle.) [Informant is talking about cord wood which years ago (before World War I) in the cities and towns came already sawed for fireplace or wood stove. Sometimes a person did his own sawing on a sawbuck. I did very little of this type of work as a boy. If the saw was rusty, people I knew greased the saw with a fat piece of bacon (American, not English or Canadian), not with kerosene in a bottlehaving a drip cork.] Yeah, theah yo' are, cut ridges in dat cork de same way an' set it up dere somewheres where it will drip, where it will drip out. Put it underneat' de dead man left arm an' it drip. [When] all dat watah drip out dat bottle dat pusson be gone. (That person who killed him will be gone - will die.)
Entry 7414
I say dey done takes dat bone, a dead person's bone, an' den dey pow- dahs dat up, makes a dust out of it. An' den dey gits de watah dat yo' bathe 'em in an' dis graveyard dirt an' dis cayenne [pepper], all be togethah, an' mixes dat up an' dust dat on 'em, dust where he sit down at. (The water they bathe in. Which water? The fellow who is doing it? Or the one against whom he is doing it?) Yes, sir, de one dat's doin' de work. Gits dat dead person's watah, bath watah, see what dey bathe him in, an' mixes all dat together an' dust it, yo' know anywhere he sit down at, or anywhere he walk at, or yore room or yore bed, eithah one.
(What will that do?)
Dat will kill yo'. Sure it will ruin yo'.
Entry 7415
Yo' take de watah. Jes' lak if dey got an idea what ah did ovah yondah to a person, an' dey wash de [dead] person. Take a half-a-pint of [this] watah an' place it to de casket [coffin] an' nine days aftah, well, if ah did de damage, ah'll follow de person. (If you killed that person?) Yes, if ah poisoned dat person, take de watah, firs' to de head. (What kind of water?) De watah dat yo' wash 'em in, git a half-a-pint of it. But jes' only wash one han' or dey feet. Git a half-a pint of it an' place it in de casket an' bury it along wit dere body. Nine days aftah dat ah'll go wit de [dead] body, too.
(You get the water from washing just one part of them?)
Jes' wash one hand or feet or anythin' - jes' git de watah.
Entry 7416
(Yes, what do they do out there?)
When yo' git in de fo'ks of de road, yo' makes a cross. Yo' make a cross dere in de fo'k of de road, an' den yo' turn backwards - make three steps backwards.
(What will that do?)
Whadyado? [= What do you do?] Make three steps backwards? Yo' goes dere along. See, dat's in ordah to cross up de othah person dat supposed to follah yo'. (I see.) Yeah, dat's whut dat's fo'. Yo' go out dere an' yo' make a cross right down in de road an' den yo' back three steps backwards. Well, dat's prevents de person from follahin' yo', which way yo' goin'. Dat stops 'em.
(I see.)
Entry 7417
Jes' lak if a person git killed out dere. Well, dat person be yore frien' or prob'ly yore brothah or some of yore folks, but anyway he got killed an' nobody knows how it done it. All right, yo' goes dere where he would lingah at, jes' lak yo' fin' 'im daid. Dere could be a multitude [do it], could be dat, or de othah one do it. Yo' goes right dere where dey fin' 'im at, an' make two cross marks [demonstrates]: one lak dat, one lak dat, an' one lak dat, an' den cross 'em, an' right in de centah of dat middle one, yo' take yo' a pin - jes' a ord'nary pin. Yo' know, jes' a straight pin an jes' drive it right down in de middle of dat mark, right dere, press it right down in it lak dat. An' whensomevah yo' press dat pin down in dere, see, yo backs out from dat mark an' don't chew say a word to nobody. Don' care who come 'long dere an' say sompin to yo', don't chew say nary [not even] a good [morning]. Back nine steps from dere, an' in less time den nine days dey goin' come an' give up, whosomevah i'tis [it is]. Even [if] it be his own brothah.
[The pin is driven down in center of square of the tick-tack-toe design.]
(This cross is made like this [I demonstrate], something like that. There are two lines like that and two lines crossing it?)
[I drew a tick-tack-toe as follows: #.]
Dat's right. No, dere's one dere an' one dere - dere, jes' lak dat. Den yo' make two crosses dere jes' lak dat, in dat one right dere. An' right in de cen- tah of dat one, yo' put dis.
(The cross you make is like playing tick-tack-toe?)
[Here is the special double-double cross #.]
Dat's right.
Entry 7418
(You lay this dead man on his face?)
On 'is face. An' de person whut done it dey can't stay away, if yo' lay 'im on 'is face. But if yo' don't lay 'im on 'is face, yo' will nevah git de per- son what done it. If yo' lays 'im on de face an' put a fork in dere han' - any kin'a [fork] yes, but not de fork dat yo' done eat wit churesel'. Yo' puts it 'cross jes' lak dis [demonstrates] in each one of de han's, an' lay 'im, de whole body, right down on de face.
(Do you use one fork or two?)
Two. Cross it in both han's. An' if it won't lay in de hands, jes' tie it aroun' dere han's, cuz see, dey dead, an' lay dem on dey face. Dey [murderer] cain't git away from yo' to save dey life. [Cross the hands of the corpse, each hand holding a fork, so that the forks also cross. This creates the double-cross.1
Entry 7419
Yo' kin take some eggs an' bur' [bury] 'em in 'is [corpse's] han' an' [or] put eggs in de baid, an' dat'll evah who did [the murder] dey cain't go nowhah [now- where]. All right, to fin' out who de murder[er] [is] yo' put 2 silver forks 'cross 'is heart [forks crossed] an' bur' 'im, an' de murder[er]'ll come to yore home.
(What bed do you put these eggs in?)
In 'is baid. Jis' lak yo' killed me, dey put 'em in mah baid.
(How many?)
Three eggs. [A chicken egg, a symbol of life and power, is frequently used in death and burial - see later margitn title EGG with many submargin titles.]
Entry 7420
[Someone] done kill somebody an' yo' Wanta draw 'im back. Well, here's jes' whut yo' do. "Fore dem people dies an' 'fore dey bury'u, yo' takes yo' a lemon an' a fork. Yo' take it an' yo' lay it on dere breas', see, an' yo' bury 'um wit it.
(How are that fork and lemon put on there?)
See, jes' puts de lemon.
(Wait a minute! Show me.)
See, jes' put de lemon - put de lemon on 'is breas'. Den yo' take de fork - two forks an' yo' lay 'em cross 'is breas' jes' lak dat.
(Across the lemon or near the lemon?)
Near de lemon. Jus' put de lemon, yo' see, right to de heart, right on 'is body, on 'is breas', an' yo' take two forks an' lay 'em right 'cross dere, see. An' yo' take his name, who an' evah it is, yo' take his name an' write it down five times, an' de one what dead, yo' undahstan', take his name an' yo' put 'em under dat fork, or put it in dat lemon, yo' see, right in dat lemon. Den when dat lemon rot an' all of it start a'rottin' wit him, yo' can't go nowhere. Yo' might just wander 'round - wander round - an' yo' find yourself right back dere wheresomever yo' done killed dat person - they come right back dere an' get yo'.
(Whose name do you write down?)
His name - see, de dead person's name. His name. Yo' just take it an' write it down nine times. See.
(Which name do you write down first now?)
Put de dead man's name down first. Den take hissen an' put it down [demon- strates].
(Cross it like that.)
Cross it like dat - but nine different times.
(Put the murderer's name on top of the dead man's?)
Yeah, yo' see, put 'im to keep 'im from goin'. Yo' see, yo' put his name first. See, de man dat run away, put his name first. Den the dead man, yo' put him on top. Next time yo' put this man dat run away, yo' put his name down dere, den de dead man's. Den yo' take it an' yo' open de lemon. Yo' put it up in de lemon an' put it right by de forks, an' cross it like dis.