The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-01-12

NJ Ne" Haven, Conn, on Christmas eve,
occurred one Of the most brutal as well Us
s;rangcst murders it has ever been our lot
to record A Mrs. Rhoda Wakeman, an in
sane sp.ritua,ist or religious enthusiast, ina.
giucd herself coinmiss.ond from heaven to
proclaim tie millennium, or some such va
gary, and as no knayc or fool ever made pre-.
tensions in that way but found foo's big
man also had her disciples 1t appears Mr..
Ju-tus Matthews, one Of her followers, had
incurred her dispeasurc and she resolved on
his destruction. Pretending that he was
possessed Of an evil spirit that greatly wor-
ricd her own spirit, and that she had areye-
lat.Jn from heaven tha! the evil spirit must
be beaten out Of Matthews, she induced ano-
ther Of her disciples, = Nr Sly, her brother,
an old crack Drained man Of fifty, to beat
him over the head with a club, causing his
DEATH The body was concealed in sore out
par, Of tie tomn, where it was afterwards
discovered Some seven Of the "Wakeman.
ties we're tlereupon arrested on suspicion
NJ hoina- engaged Ia tue nlu1ueI, nut on an
examination before magistrate, Sly confess.
sd to having performed the deed alone, re-
hitting infinitely all the circumstances.
IT the same examination the prophecies
gave the following as her evidence:
Mrs. Rhoia Wakcmau, Che prophe,css)
called and sworn.
This witness is the founder Of the sect
called the "W akemanitcs, and is wonder
ful specimen Of the human species. She
came in closely ycilcd, and is the very per
sonifcation OF the wonderful woman that
lived in Salem in the sixteenth century.
shall be 20 years old next November
have lived in New Haven II yca,s-havc
had II children, nine Of whom are now
living; have been widow 90 years.
formerly resided in Greenheld-then moved
to New Haven my brother has also resided
here; he is about 80 years Of age have
been a messenger from God about 80
years experienced religion at that time and
walked with Jesus Christ ever since; first
experienced religion because my husband
abused me and expected to die, and he
finally killed me. After my husband killed
me was dead seven hours, and then raised ;
two angels stood beside me when ! went to
Heaven, and touched me with their bright
swords and rose again; saw there that
dead, and there they were under the cloud
Of death when | was there this cloud part
cd, and my spirit went one way and theirs
the other; they all then held up their little
/ right hands, and rCjoiced
| The two angels turned to me and then !
went up to heaven; there was red light
and many white clouds there; Christ came
to me when was in heaven, with his nails
. in his hands, and spoke peace to my soul.
Because he spoke peace to my soul, raised
M, and another spirit came to Ine and spoke,
saying, make your peace with God" !
B then kept on praying; he soon took me to
Paradise and told me all about Adam and
Eve, and all the other spirits This light
then came on me so that had to look up,
and the spirits said was numbered os one
of them; was taken up to heaven from this
place Of light, and then saw Christ and al
the holy angels; Christ had on the thorns
and looked as he was when cruciiied; thcr
saw God sitting upon his throne in all hi.
glory. About the throne were all the angel:
in their white robes, and they were all hap
py spirits there. This spirit then came anC
took me back to earth, and when got bach
to earth again saw my dead body lying OF
the floor. felt bad because | had com,
back to this wicked world to live again.
soon saw my wicked husband, who said
"By God she's iascd."
Soon after saw two angels who came tC
me and spoke to me kindly, and then Chris
appeared to me and fell down before him
and oh ! how happy felt and how happy
then was. | went to God with my cast
last night, and had revelation from Him
That man was in league with the devil. lie
(mcanng Matthew'S got his evil spirit from
Amos Hunt Hunt attempted to poison me
(She went on and gave long, rambling &C
count of Amos Hunts poisoning herD TIL,
first thing knew of the murder was whel
they came up stairs searching for u Ratchet
knew that my brother had stick of witci
+ hazel in the house. lie sells the bark, ant
lives by sodoinC. | Twas sick that night, na,
expected to die, and asked them to tale Mat
thcws out of the house. lie had dch ba,
spirit that he was taking away my divir
spirit, and killing me by it. Amos Hunt wa
the man of sin, and he let his spirit on Ma,
thews. II! should die the Judgment wou
come! This man Of sin cursed God, an
when be died there was black spot on tn
throne Of God! In my revelation from Goo
last night, he said if was condemned in thi
case, the world would Immediately destroy
ed In this revelation was told by Go
5 that my brother did kill MattheGs, and tho
4 he did it to save the world
, This singular revelation here closed, an
, thc messenger from Cod (as she call
. herself, was taken back to jail.
Z. Ono of our exchanges in noticing th