Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-02-15
SpirityraIisr,p.

Recently man named McEwen. was in.
dicted at Newark, N. j., for appearing in
the streets in nude condition. His trial
occurred the present week, the iury beinp
out fifteen hours without agreeing upon n
verdict. The case will be understood from
the testimony of Miss Althea Reeves n
young and handsome lady of nineteen years
AT the time the exhibition occurred mo.
ther was greatly excited, owing much T
think, to the death of her sister, who died
short time previously; do not remember
the exact language she or McEwcn used at
the time, but am sure nothing improner
was said 10y any one of us, uetber did we
make any immodest gestures at this or anv
other time; l have known Mr.. McEwen
since last November; our belief is about the
same as we get from the Bible, and it is sim.
liar to the so-called Spiritualism we be-
lleve that we should do as Christ did-tLat
is commune with the spirits; nothing was
done, on the occasion referred to. either
from iasclviousness or wantonness do
not exactly believe the same as tie others
DO, though did on New Years Day con-
slderlng the state of Mr.. ATcEwens mind, I
think it was right for him to do as he did :.
II he was called to do so now l think il
would be perfectly right; we had TO mind
what mother and the spirits commanded us
to 90 they said ma must 90 into the streets
naked if we did not show ourselves to the
public at the window: | went ACCORDING TO
the teachings of the Scriptures, and they
say "Chidren, obey your parents" conse.
quently did so {; ma made every one in the
house do just what she wanted them to |
90 not think that Mr. McEwen would do so
again, Tor do not believe the spirits want
him; we believed in Spritualsm before
McEwen came to our house; in all of our
actions we acted on the principle "thst to
the pure all things are pure"
In reply to the question as to whether
McEwen ever undressea before in her pre-
sence, she said that she would rather not
tell. Her answer being insisted upon she
answered, II have seen him do so before.
but not very often; think it was about
month before New Years when lie first
commenced these exhibitions in our house ::
Mr.. McEwen is a tailor, and mother worked
with him they attended to the business
while did the house work have four
brothers and sister; my oldest brother is
eighteen years old, and the Youngest three !:
three exhibitions were made before ma and
myself, the Others not being present at the
time; these things were done under excite
ment, and were never performed only at
mothers request or with her consent; all we
did was to strip ourselves, and do not re.
member OF ever hearing au improper word,
or seeing an Indecent act. NcEwen occu.
pied single bed in the hall bedroom and
he generally slept alone, except when one
OF the children slept with him; sometimes
mother and myself passed the night with
him did not ever think there was any
BARN IN so doing, as nothing improper was
a
praying; when we retired we slept toge.
ther; ma and l reclined on either side of
McEwen; nothing was said or done which
was in the least improper; l have never
heard Of these things being done anywhere
else; l have q good opinion of McEwen,
and would not do the same with any other
man, for | know that none are so pure as
he; was little timid at first, but had no
great fear Of Mr.. McEwen NcEwen slept
with US several times before New Years
day; ma did not request me or Mr.. McEwen
to lie together; the bed was a single one
generally sleep with mother, which have
done most OF the time since father died
l was with Mr. McEwen alone one night
when ma was sick, because she could not
rest well when crowded. Mr.. McEwen re-
tired first, and was asleep when went tc
Deu; l remember nothing that was said
have never known him to take, or attempt
to take, any personal liberties at all while
in our family; l do not know why Mr.. Nc
Even appeared as he did on New Years
day, only that he did it at the request of my
mother; ma did these things several times
herself think four times previously; she
wanted 10 cruelty the flesh, and show to the
world that she Was pure. When she put
her arms around Mr.. McEwen's neck, she
represented herself as the mother of Christ
but did not believe it, and thought tha,
we were all ordinary men and women (; | did
not feel any shame at the time; thought
mother was the first to und-ess on this oc
casioa."