Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-02-21
WAY OF OBTAINING MONEY
IA NEW SOCIETY.

u
Last evening a genteel looking German
woman, pamed Anna Meister. was charged
before Alderman Enue, with having obtained
| money under false pretences, in the following
| singular manner. II appears that the de.
| fcndant resides in Twelfth street, above
| Poplar, and is, IL is alleged. the founder Of a
new Society, which throws Mierism in the
shade--the defendant representing herself as
the daughter of God and the Holy Ghost
and the sister Of Christ
Mrs. Margaret Mast, the witness in the
case, testified that she lived on the German
town road, above Jefferson street. and that
woman named Caroline Miller came to her
house and invited her to visit the defendant,
at the same time giving her (the wtness.) an
insight into the defendants character, as
stated above. aud hear her preach. The wit
ness promised to 60, and asked of Mrs. Mil
Ter how much she would have to pay. Mrs.
Nj. said nothing, as defendant could not re-
ceive any money, for If she took it in her
hand. it (her hand would shake so much
that it would fall out. The witness visited
the house, and heard the defendant read
some verses, which il was said were revela-
tons from Heaven The witness was cuu-
toned not to tell her husband request she
fulfilled and continued to hear preaching
until she (witness) "became n machine to do
ANYTHING she was told to do" Witness heard
that Mira Miller received so much for every
soul she introduced, and on speaking to the
defendent about it, she said, THAT every one
was opposed to the gospel she preached"
Witness received paper from defendant,
stating that she (witness) was of the pedigree
of Manassah, and that she and all the other
followers would have to give something as an
Offering TO God. Mrs. Miller. witness al
legged, told her that defendant wanted blue
silk dress to go to Heaven in, and that when
she got it, o cloud would decesnd, envelope
her, and she would 60 up. Witness gave
Mrs. NJ. SO, and loaned her $40 more.
Witness said, that another member Of the
society who often visited her, gave Mrs M,
for the defendant, purple silk dress, and
that q son Of this woman gave her a silver
cup. On another occasion Mrs. NJ told
witness that she had seen the defendant in
Heaven on white horse, Christ being on
one side of her, and an angel upon the other;
and that the revelation had been received,
stating thut the defendunt could not go to
Heaven, unless she had a gold watch and
chain, and that the articles must be bought
By the members of the society This she
said was the word of God. A list of menu
bers was shown, with the sum expected to be
given attached to each name, and this was
also revelation. The witness saw the list
with her name upon it, but no sum was at
tached to it, and Mrs. NJ. told her (witness)
that she could give as much rs she pleased.
n ost o: the others had S5 attached to their
names.
Witness, and Mrs. Zimmerman, bought
pair Of handsome bracelets. aud they were
soon informed by Mrs. nj that n revelation
had been received from Heaven, requiring
the jewelry to be given to defendant. The
bracelets were handed over. The witness
then gave statement of how her eyes were
opened to the humbug. Several Of the mem-
bers we're assembled at witness house, when
one Of the party was reading book, which
made them laugh very much. Mrs. Miller
checked them, aud said such things were If
the Devil. Mrs. NJ. ulso informed defendant
Of the matter. Witness then began 10
think, that il defendant was the daughter OF
| God, she ought to know all these things
! without being told by Mrs. Miller, and the
more she thought about it, the greater was
her belief that it was all humbug. She
therefore told her husband, and thus the
matter came to light.
The Alderman committed defendant also
Caroline Miller the alleged agent and u
Caroline Deamer, who lived in the house
with defendant, to answer at court, the charge
Of eonspiring to cheat and deflaud.-Public
| Ledger, Feb. Is.