The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-05
RELIGIOUS MANIA.
Singular Case In Michigan-A Whole
Family Gone Mad.

singular Sbse III WhOle
Family Gone Mad.
Correspondence Of the Detroit Press.
Last fall a man named John Heisler German
umbrella maker, was, after much difficulty and
great resistance, arrested and confined in the
asylum for the insane. For months previous
himself and family had carried on at their house
in the extreme north part of the village on
the edge of the swamp, q series of crazy freaks
wonderful to behold, and which attracted to
his humble abode great crowds of people, much
to the frenzy of Heisler, who would attempt
TO drive off all who came. He seemed sane
enough on other subjects but religion but on
that he and his whole family. consisting Of a
wife and five children, are staring mad. The
house was all ornamented with crosses, and
these they paid devotion to. A deformed
daughter was placed every day upon the house,
top, and then all the others of the family would
kneel and worship her. At intervals they would
all 90 out into the open field and pray aloud
for hours at time. These and great many
more eccentricites, excited the curiosity of
the people. 1t was unsafe for people to pass,
for Heisler would often assault them, and his
neighbors complained of the family as q
nuisance. If food had not been given them,
and forced upon them, they would have
starved to death. When the police and poor
master went to the house it became necessary
to force their way in. Finally it was decided to
arrest Heisler, and put him in the asylum, and
see what the effect would be on the family. He
remained there two or three weeks, and DR..
Van Deusen said that he was entirely sound in
all other respects, save religious mania, and
on his suggestion, he was allowed to come aud
go to the institution as he wished and after a
while he did not come back. Since then, up
to the present, Superintendent BroWnell
has provided the family with all the
necessaries of life and with him have
visited the afflicted family prominent Germans
of the village, who in many ways befriended
the Heislers. But the same religious frenzy,
though somewhat subdued, has prevailed with
all the family through the winter, and two
weeks ago they refused to accept charity or any
food whatever. To prevent starvation (for
DAYS together they have locked themselves in
their shanty and resisted all efforts of outsiders
to enter, the old man keeping stout hickory
clubs and loaded gnn at hand) to these
six unfortunates-all the children are
6ns some bu, measure verv defOTmsd s%s bs6a SqS
Superintendent BrOwnell had recourse to very
stringent measures. Determined that they should
not starve if he could prevent it, he went to the
house with some Germans who were friends of
Heisler, and by force effected an entrance.
terrible picture of suffering met the gaze of the
visitors, but the family refused to accept any
food or assistance unless il were given in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Mr.. Barney Locher, who was among those
who visited the place with Mr.. BroWnel
became so indignant at what he saw, that
he seized the crosses and emblems that were
to be seen on every side, and broke them to
pieces. Every effort was made for week after
wards, by daily visits, to induce the family to
partake of food but with only partial success
and only on the pressure of force. Yesterday
Mr.. Brownell decided TO arrest Heisler and see
if be could have him put into the workhoase,
and by separation of the family at the poor
must Otherwise soon result in the death of the
entire family. 1t is one of the most obstinate
cases on record; the efforts OF the Catholic
priest, of Heisler's old friends, and of others,
to provide for the wants of himself and family
and 10 aid in every way, have had no effect.