South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-05-02
Matthias the Prophet.
New York, April 20.

Inc monster ndttHIdS, tot SUI" hc
deserves to be called, whether sane or
insane, has, after the most extraoi dina
nv development of unfeeling brutality
towards Pierson, the victim of his ia.
oa,icism, been acquitted ofmurder, by
poison, for want of sufficient evidence.
A portion of the trial will be found be.
low. Bat who, after reading the facts
proved, can rise from the trial without
a thorough conviction that his death
was a, least accelerated BY the most
savsge neglect on the part Of Matthias,
who left him TO starve and to perish
almost alone in his chamber, withou,
the slightest attendance or nursing
which can be called such, and without
food or even water 10 drink When
Matthias did consent TO give him water
for nothing was ever done either on
the farm or in the house, not even 8
mou,bful of victuals taken by any OF
,h- fraternity in the family without his
permission-he poured it, as ne would
upon a dog, into the gasping mouth Of
the diving man, then struggling on the
door, al.nos. naked, and in the last ag-
onies Of his disease This, and the
faulty, the voluntary debassment OF
the personagss Of the family, chiefly
females, subjecting themselves by a
system OF abject mental obedience to
the will Of this impostor, will forever
form theme for reflection, as astound-
lug and incomprehensibie as it is de-
grading and revolving to human nature.
That family Of nine respectable per.
sous, one il is true black womao, and
several of them children, 10 the pos
session of the comforts and elegancies
Of life, y it'll their country seat, coach
man, carriage, &c. should have been
found to exist in this free and enlIght-
ened community, secluding themselves
lrom the res, Of the world, for the pur-
pose Of devoting themselves, and ser.
vices, and property, to an ignorant
and ferocious impossor, who had insin-
uated himself 80 far into their conf.
dence as TO palm himself off upon
them, in the language of Mrs. Folger.
as "God the Father, possessing the
| Holy Ghost" and the type OF the "las'
trumpet of The angels in the Revela'
ton" that they should have abandon.
ed themselves TO the most unlimited
creduIity in the truth Of these profane
declarations, and believed him to be
wha, he protested, will forever be 9
black and damning spot on the alleged
refinement and civiliz alton of the age
To what will not fana,icism, and the
criminal intentions of those who TO-
ment this spirit; as we'll as of those
who, for equally unworthy motives
surrender themselves to it, ultimately
bring our happy country Will it not
be the rock on which all our highes
hopes and faitering an,icipations q
future glory and prosperity will be
shipwrecked ? Is there not some mode
| that may DE devised which may reach
the denominations practised on the com
munity by religious impostors COULD
not this end be effected without 10 any
manner violating the freedom Of reli-
gious federation I Without some such
remedy, the fires Of fana,icism, that are
lighted up from one end Of our country
TO the other, will not only corrupt, bu
ultimately consume the very frame
and substance of all that is pure ant
holy 10 the construction of the socia
compact.-Evening Star.
Mrs. Ann Fole am the wifi
of Benz H. Felger. Ia July ant
August Of las, Summer lived in New
York and Sing Siag. Iarrived at thu
latter place on the Saturday previous
| to MIR. Persons sickness he was Ia
ken i'll on Tuesday. Matthias, Mr.
Pierson, Isabella, the black servant
Mr.. Folger, Catherine Galloway, Lew
is Basil the coachman, hired Dutch
man, who could not speak English
Miss Person, two sons Of Matthias
James and John, daughter of Mrs
Galloway, Two ChildIea Of my own
the eldest eleven years OF age, the youn'
ger six years, and myself, were al
there at that time. first heard Of hin
/ and received his doctrines through MIR
Pierson, who was confirmed believes
10 them as ever was. | also became a
believes in his doctrines, aud became
established and confirmed ia them.-
My husband also became believer ia
them, but was more disposed to doub'
lhan Mr.. Pierson or myself. And, SC
far as could judge, Catherine Gala
way believed in them, and acted as
believer. Towards his believers hs
stood in The doctrinal relation of 9