Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-22
The Horrors OF NiiIIerisps.

report Ot the trial OF man VINO - termed FL
der Dammon, at Dover in this State, commen.
ring the I7th ult, before Moses Sweat and Seth
lee, E.qrs The trial developes most shock.
ing particulars, and convinces us more fully
than before, that town aud city authorities should
interfere and arrest these sensual and demoral.
izng proceedings. They are ns bad as the
worst days of that arch scoundrel and fanatic,
Cochran, who "led silly women captive" and
dcspocd the domestic peace OF many peace.
full and respectable family. A part of the evi.
dencc we have omitted, i, being too gross for
publication.
Dammon was charged with being yseabond,
q Common raler and brawer, neg!ec,ng to
support his family, &c. lie plead not guilty,
and numerous witnesses were examined during
the time of the trial, which lssted two days.
Some Of the witnesses testified that they saw
nothing at the meetings improper, and Others
detailed what they saw--showng that the con.
duct Of prisoner and his associates was abomina
bic. To this point Mr.. j. W. f Harvey ,es,i
'fed that he had attended their meetings two
days and four evenings. First meeting listed
eight days; have kno~n Dammon six weeks; /;
Dammon, White and Hall were leaders Dam.
mon said the sinners were going to hell in two
days. They were huggng aid kissing each o.
,her Dammon would lay on the floor, then
jump up; they would frequently 90 into ano.
iher room. Dammon has no means to support
himself that know Of The meeting appear
ed very irre!igous (; have seen him sit on the
floor with woman, his arms around her. The
room they went into was q back room don't
know what was in it, was in two rooms where
there was fire. In the back room they said
the worlds people must not GO. Dammon said
the meeting was to be private meeting, and
they wanted no one to come in unless they be.
leved al he did in the advent doctrine. did
60 to them; went to satisfy myself what was
done. had no hostile feelings against them.
Prisoner lived on his followers
VIM. c. Crosby, Esq, testified. He was at
the meeting on Saturday night, from ebou, 10
9o'clock. There was a woman on the floor
who lay on her back with a pillow under her
head; she would occasionally arouse up and tell
q vision which she said was revealed to her.
They would at times all be talking at once, hal.
lowing at the top c. their voices some of them
eaid there was too much sin there. After the
cessason Of the noise, Dammon got up and was
more coherent; ne complained of those that
came there who did not believe in the advent
doctrine. At one time Dammon said there were
hogs there, not belonging to the band, and poin.
ted ut him and said, mean you sir. Subsc-
4uently he addressed him again said you can't
drive us out Of the town he stared him in the
face and said, am an honest man, or could
not look you in the face, and you have hell's
brass or you could not look me in the face
Dammon said if he was owner of the house, he
would compel all unbe eevcrs to leave it they
we're sitting and laying on the floor promiscu.
ousy, and were exceedingly noisy. BY spells
it was the nosiest l ever attended. He had
seen them in groups hugging and kissing each
other Once saw elder Hall with his boots of,
and the women would 90 and kiss his feet. One
girl made a smack but did not kiss his foot with
her lips. Hall said, "He that 10 ashamed of me
before men, him will be ashamed of before my
father and the holy angels" She then gave
his feet number ofkisses.
Lotion Lambert testified that he attended a
meeting one evening lately, and that Dammon
was very abusive f; called all other dsnomina-
,ions liars, murderers, &c. woman was pre-
sent who pretended to have visions, and who
was blasphemousy called the Imitation of
Christ. She was said to be from Portland. Her
name was Ellen Harmon. She told Mr.. Wood
bury she must be baptized or 90 to hell. Mrs.
w. concluded to be baptized Miss DORM
da Baker, of Orrington figured largely. She
told Lambert he was the devil and would 20 to
hell. She subsequently, went into the bed.
room with man whom they called Elder
White, and when they came out were huggiug
each other. Miss Baker then went to one
Do0re. and they kissed each olhet- This night
they went TO the waller and baptized. The vi.
sionist, Miss Harmon. lying on the floor several
hours-from 10 o'clock that night. Part OF
tie time Dammon lay on The floor on his back.
Elder White said ifthe Almighty had any thing
to reveal. he revealed it to Miss II. He acted
as mediator,
Deacon James Rowe testified that prisoner
stood and said, while stand here, men nor de.
wills cannot hurt You. He had known him for
twenty or thirty years, and his character wac
good 'll recenty.
Much other testimony was received, pro aud
con, of a similar character, and the prisoner o.