62 HEREDITY AND SOCIAL FITNESS 



X. LINE G. 



A younger sister (1 1-4) of Molly Riel became one of the progenitors 

 of Line G. She was born in 1820, died 1884, pulmonary tuberculosis. 

 Is described as a large, powerful woman, nearly 6 feet tall, noted for 

 her pluck and physical strength. When her neighbor's child fell into 

 the well she went down after it, and climbed back with its dress held 

 between her teeth, while with her hands and feet she clung to the 

 sides. A photograph shows her to have been a handsome woman 

 with strong aquiline features and a slight droop of her right eyelid 

 and the right side of her mouth, caused by facial paralysis. She mar- 

 ried, first, II-3, who died after the birth of two children, and then 

 II-5, who had been married before, and by whom she had a large 

 family. 



The elder of the two children of 1 1-4 by her first marriage was 

 III-40, born about 1846. She is reported to have been of average 

 mentality. She married (III-41) and died of tuberculosis early in her 

 married life. Her only son (IV-83) died of measles. The brother 

 (III-39) of III-40 was born about 1848, died at 11 years. Is reported 

 as having been a bright, active boy. Was cruelly treated by his step- 

 father, and one day after a hard whipping ran away. When seen by a 

 neighbor his stepfather had him tied to the bottom of a wagon and 

 threatened "he'd never play him that trick again." He disappeared 

 mysteriously and color was given to the suspicion that his stepfather 

 had made away with him by the fact that the boy had in his own right 

 a piece of land which the stepfather coveted. The whole country- 

 side was aroused to search for the boy and the stepfather arrested and 

 compelled to stand trial. The child's mother was also held as an 

 accomplice. Nothing, however, could be proved against them 

 although the outcome was to place the whole family under the ban of 

 the community. 



The second husband of II-4 was II-5, born about 1815, died 1890, 

 dropsy. A very selfish, violent, treacherous man. Always said he was 

 born "east of the mountains" and an only child. Had been left an 

 orphan at an early age and brought up by strangers. Was brought 

 west by some of his relatives and settled in a little village, where he 

 practiced the trade of chairmaking and later farmed a little. He never 

 showed much energy or purpose except in evil-doing. He was always 

 greatly feared by his family and despised by his neighbors. 



Shortly after his marriage to II-4 they moved into another county, 

 where he was accused of and tried for the murder of his stepson in 

 his rage at the lad's disobedience and his greed for the few acres of 

 land the boy possessed. During his wife's last illness, when she kept 



