Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-10-09
MATTHEW'S, alias MATTHIES, THE
lMPOSTOR.

New-fork. The particulars of his career are
here annexed:
!, Fr"" the Albany Evening Journal, sept. Goth.
II "M>rTHIAs THE PRoPHEr. This noto-
rious individual, whose proper name is Mat
thes, was arrested in this city OH Monday at
ternoOn, upon the authority of an advertise
Incnt issued by Mr.. Benjamin II. Folger, of
the city Of New-fork. The expressed charge
against him was, that he had left New York,
having in his possession a large amount of
Mr.. Folger's property but he has been gull
ty, It is asserted, Of many other NAL practices,
some Of them are of the blackest character,
and worthy Of the most severe punishment.
Matthies commenced his career Of fanati-
cism, some two or three years since, in this
city, when he proclaimed himself "The
Prophet Of the God of the Jews, +" and assert
ed divine power. He soon, however, secur-
ed the favor, among few others Of less con-
sequence, of three of the most wealthy and
respectable merchants of Pearl-street, IN
Messrs. Picrson, Mills, and Folger. These
gentlemen received his doctrines in the full
lest confidence, and believed him to be all
he declared himself. Their treasures were
thrown open to the impostor, and he lavished
them upon himself, most p:ofusely. lie pur-
chased the most costly wardrobe. His robes
of office, were richly trimmed with gold and
silver. He wore a sword Of the finest work
manship, and his gold watch establishment
equalled the lustre of the mosl costly.
/ The bondage of these gentlemen was COM
plete and the fact that three intelligent citi-
Zens of New-Y York, were thus deluded, will
form one Of the darkest pages in the whole
chapter o! modern fanaticism but the chain
with which they were bound is broken.
Death liberated Mr.. Picrson. He died in
West Chester county, at his county seat,
near Sing-Sing, and the event was clothed
in mystery. a short time previous to his
death, and while in health, as we understand,
Matthcs prevailed upon Mr.. p. to assign to-
him his whole estate. He was shortly after
taken sick, and although his friends who were
with him, insisted upon calling medical aid,
they were deferred by Matthies, who told
them that "he had power Of Life and Death,
and Mr.. Pierson would not die." But he did
die and subsequent examination of the
, body by three able physicians, resulted in the
conviction that he had been poisoned, and ccr-
tlticatcs to this effect, were drawn up and
signed by these physicians, and are now in
New-lork. Who poisoned Mr.. PicrSon is to
be determined by the proper tribunal.
Mr. Mills, under the strange delusion, be-
came n lunatic. His friends removed him to
the country, and from the society Of Matthies,
and his reason soon returned. lie is now
convinced of his error, and has abandoned the
dcusion.
| The mysterious death of Mr.. Pierson, and
the accompanying circumstances, shook the
confidence of Mr.. Folger and his family, and
they resolved to abandon Matthes and his
principles. After his return to New-Iork,
they announced this determination to the
"Prophet, who then declared to them that
i! they did, "sickness and perhaps death,
would follow" This threat was not suffi-
cicnt to overthrow their resolution and day
was fixed upon when Matthies should leave
the house. Upon the morning Of that day,
Matthies partook of but very little breakfast,
and scarcely tasted the coffee, saying, as an
excuse, that he was unwell. Immediately
after breakfast, Mr.. Folgcr, his wife and chill
dren were taken violently sick. Mr. Folger
! did not suspect the cause of the sickness, un-
til after the villain had left the city when,
upon examination, he learned that the black
woman who had done the cooking for the
family, had also abstained from the use Of
any coffee, upon that morning, and, from 9TH
er circumstances, he became confirmed that
the woman u~s bribed by .uaiihies to Poison The
family. From some cause, the effort was not
successful. To none Of the family did it
prove fatal, although all of them have not yet
recovered from its effects. This transaction
induced Mr.. F. to procure his arrest, for which
purpose he despatched the notice before mon
! toned.
Matthies did not expect thus suddenly to
be stopped in his mad career, and expressed
good deal Of surprise, when arrested He
had in his possession two large trunks, which
ha cGpn 1.J "a, -, Il :
belong to Mr.. Folger, but which, he said, Mr.
+. gave to him, when he left New-York. A.
mong the articles were sundry rich dresses,
about $500 in gold, gold watch worth about
! $50, sword of great value, and rod with
which he was going to measure the bounds
Of his paradise, "the gates thereof and the
walls thereof" lie was taken to New York
l. this morning.
I His trial will unfold strange deeds fcrimc
and fanaticism.
\ Matthews, or Matthies, (says the N. York
! Commercial Advertiser,) commenced his ca
recr as religious impostor, in Albany, about
five years since. lie came to Albany from
! Washington county, with his family, and
worked as journeyman house Joiner. Dur
ing period Of religious excitement in the
, church Of the Rev. Mr.. - he took an ac-
uNe Purt, uhu apPneu ior nuinlssion INTO tne
church, by certificate from Washington coun-
ty. lie was refused, and subsequently APP
piled for admission on his profession-but
was again refused. He then commenced
preaching in the shop-proclaimed his divine
mission--and was discharged by his employ
CT, Subsequently to this, he strayed off with
his children-was overtakcn in Rensselaer, or
Washington county, and supposed to be era.
zy. We next hear Of him in this city, where
his imposture has been 80 successful as to
excite amazement, and the deeds imputed to
him. fill the mind with horror. Mr.. Folgcr.