Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-01-01
HORRIBLE EFFECTS OF FA
NATICISNI


Haven, Connecticut, on Sunday night, by some
one or more of band of fanatics calling them
selves Mathematics" The circumstances, as
detailed in the New Haven Courier, of Tuesday,
are of the. most extraordinary character From
the testimony at the inquest it appears that a
man named Matthews was actually murdered by
these deluded wretches in cold blood, acting un-
der the belief that he was possessed of an evil
spirit, through whose influence he was imper-
cepdbly operating to destroy the life of the wo-
man who formed and gave name to the sect
We extract from the New Haven Courier the
ling horrible particulars
upper part of the city a
peLcllar religious sect, known as the ''Wake-
NANTES" who have made their doctrines known
by holding meetings ut the house of a Mr.. Sam
uel Sly, who has no wife or family, but has
woman living in the house with him named
Rhoda Wakeman, who is the founder of the sect
called the ''W alzemanitcS" This woman affirms
that she was murdered about thirty years ago,
and went to Heaven, and for some reason came
back on earth and founded the sect already allu-
ded to. She breaches and prays and holds
meetings at her house, giving to those who as
scmblc to hear her peculiar stories her views
itual world. Among her believers and followers
are many families who live in Hampton, and
they are in the habit of coming down to her
| house every Sunday to attend meeting. She
held meeting at her house on last Sunday even
ing, and there were present at the meeting AL
meron Sanford and his wife, Justus Matthews,
Bctscy Keclcr a Mrs.-Davis, and coIorcd man
named Josiah jackson, and others They met
about two o'clock Sunday afternoon, and contin-
ucd their meeting untl a late hour in the night
| About two o'clock Monday morning the widow
| Wakeman (the prOphetesS) says that she heard
a noise in the room below, and noise in the
lower story could easily be heard in the rooms
above. Says that she told Betsey Kccler, when
she heard the noise, that she thought ''all was
not right below"
About nine o clock on Monday morninga young
son of JustuS Matthews began to search for his
father, wondering why he had not made his APP
pcarancc at so late an hour in the mOning. He
went to the door of one of the fronts rooms and
found it was locked, but persisted in breaking
open the door. He looked into the room and
there behold his father lying dead upon the floor
with pools of blood surrounding his heat. The
| boy Immediately gave the alarm, and Justice
Bennett and number of men repaired to the
scene of blood. They found the body to be that
of JuStus Matthews, pistOl-makcr, who works
at Whitneyville but lives in llampden. When
first discovered the body lay upon the floor with
the head towards bed in the room; and it was
found with the face turned towards the window,
lying upon the LETT side, and very nearly in the
middle of the room. Clottcd blood and hair Law
upon the floor around him, and several pools Of
blood were found near his head The throat was
cut nearly from ear to car, and his head seemed
to be nearly severed from his body.
The following persons were arrested during
the afternoon and lodged in Jail, charged with
committing or in some way being accessory to
the crime: Isreal Wooding, Almeron Sanford and
wife, Abigail SablcS, Thankful S. HerSey, the
widow Wakeman, (the prOthctess,) Samuel Sly,
and Jasiah jackson.
At the Coroner's Inquest DR.. Knight and DIR.
Jewett stated that the wound upon the neck of
Matthews was of such nature that it was i'm
possible for him to have made it himself Other
witnesses testified as follows:
Josiah sIacGxon, (coloreoD S,corn-I went to the
house about six o'clock in the evening, with the
intention of going from there to another meet
ing. | found there Samuel Sly and Miss Abby.
About eight o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Sanford came
in. Justin Matthews came to the house about
ten clock IN the evening Israel wootlinE, =, IA
there when Matthews came. Matthews was in
the room below and We were in the room up
stairs. Mr.. and Mrs Sanford, Samuel Sly,
w lllNSell went GOWN ana 1OulQ MAI
! thcwS i'll the lower room, blind-folded. told
Matthews he was killing the old woman, and that
would not let him into my house sooner than
would let mad dog. | asked him if he had n
bad spirit in him, and said that he ought to re-
nouncc this evil spirit. He said in the name of
God he would renounce it. Amos Hunt gave the
old lady (widOw Wakeman) some poisonous
cakes, with arscnici i'll them, and wanted make
way with her. | think Matthew got the evil
"a g.. l. "
who processes to have died and rose again, and
came on earth to teach the way to Heaven.
believe that she is prophet, and is what she
processes. The second time we went down into
the room was about an hour after we went down
first. | went down and told Sanford to take
Matthews away from the house or Mrs. Wake
man would certainly die. soon heard noise
in the room, and heard Sanford beating the out
side door. Sanford and his wife then came up
stairs, and seemed very much excited. l heard
some Ofthcm say that WOOding had gone home
| did not know until this morning that Matthews
was dead. When went down the second time
Samuel Sly, and Wooding, and Mr. and Mrs. San
ford were with me. ] believe that if the widow
Wakcman should die the millennium would come
and the world would be DESTROYED. When |
came up the second time Sanford said ''he has
murdered himself" and there was great confusion
in the house. l then heard some one ask where
'CIlCle Sammy was, ana tncy Sllu ne nau gone
after WoOding. When went down the second
time he was sitting in rocking chair and told
him he had better give up that evil spirit, and
he said he wanted to do so. He said he would
give up that spirit if he could, and did not know
that the evil spirit he had was hurting Mrs.
Wakeman. Ibelievc that he was hurting Mrs
Wakcman and her sister by enchanting them
His sister blindfoIdcd him last evening to prevent
this entertainment, which is always done by the
| boil 1,,,%h
him. His hands were also tied behind him to
prevent his enchanting with his evil spirit The
general impression was that he had made way
with himself during the night. Iissister, Mrs
Sanford told us that she believed he had killed
himself WoOding left the house before the noise
was heard Mrs. Hersey left him at the back door
I went back to the house this morning, and while
there l heard Matthcwss son come running
into the room, saying, father is dead, father is
dead, in the other ROOM When l went down
the third time told Mr.. and Mrs Sanford to get
| Matthews out of the house or il Tould kill Mrs