The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-04
COMMUNISM In GEORGIA.
A PROPHET COME TO GRIEF--YAH-
HEH ENDURANCE VILE.

Their leader, Joseph T. Curry, assumed over
| his deluded followers the most dictatorial au-
| therity, procaiming himself the prophet Yah
veh, the Great Ruler of the Universe, and not
| unfreqncntly declaring himself to be the Ed
vour of the world. His followers were re-
Qulred to obey him In word, thought and
deed. For the government OF the colony,
Curry prepared a code Of laws and regHla-
| tiona, the blind observance of which made hla
| followers the most abject slaves to bis direc-
| ton In all things. By one OF those rules the
properly of the colony was declared commn-
nifty property, and all required to draw susie
nance from common storehouse. Each In.
dvIdual who cast bis lot with the community
was expected to deposit bill, whole possessions
for the common enjoyment of the colony.
DIssENsIoN AND SECESSION.
At length, the olerous laws proclaimed and
enforced by Curry, to the great oppression
and physical distress of his subjects, created
dIsscnsion 10 the community, resulting In
The secession last summer OF four families,
numbering about twenty persons, who came
to Augusta, where they remained for short
period and then made their way back to Mas
sachusetta, fully satisfied with their expe-
perience with Curry's mode of playing Yahyeh,
although still unwilling to yield their faith.
leaving The colony OF present reduced to per =
haps less than twenty souls.
VISIT OF THE YAHvEH's WIFE.
The Augusta Chronicle, from which We get
these facta, says: One Of the marked events
connected With the colony, as subsequently
leading TO bis arrest and imprisonment, was
the visit of Curry's lawful wife to the settle
ment. She remained but few days, when,
shocked and disgusted by scenes which came
under her observation 10 connection with her
husbands admInlstration of affairs, she re-
turned to her Massachusetts home. ,r
LAWS OF MARRIAGE ABoLIsHED.
After the departure Of bis wife, Curry pro-
claimed the laws OF marriage abolished, and.
1t appears, was the first to avail himself OF
The license which his edict granted. Taking
INTO himself one OF the unmarried members
of his Hock, a Miss Mariah Clapp, he pro-
nounced her his queen, and established her IN
On elegant tent, sanctifed and set slart as
the quarters of the great 'Yahveh.nec Into
the mysteries of this woven palace none OF
the male or female members OF the commu.
nifty were permitted to gaze, 80 that the rela.
lions Of Curry and bis new queen we're not
disturbed by prying eyes: His queen 10 re-
ported 10 be young, handsome and lntell-
gent.
''YAHvEH" IN THE TOLLS OF THE Law.
few days ago several of tho outraged
cIlizens of Columbia County determined TO
bring Curry TO answer for his evident lite Of
adultery and iornIcatiou, led under the cloak
OF so-called religious faith. The preliminary
arrangements all perfected, warrant was
issued by General G.. W. Evans, ]. r, upon
the afidaviE of Messre. W. b. Jones and Chas.
Baston, citizens Of the county, charging the
adultery and forDication with one Marian
Clapp. ,
The warrant was placed Ia the hands Of
Constable o. q. =. Rickerson for service.
That officer, to provide against all conungen.
ces which might thwart the arrest OF Curry,
summoned to his assistance posse OF ten or
twelve citizens. The party reached the SET
lemeDt about two o'clock Thursday morning,
and discovered the white streamer from inc
tent of Curry and his queen counting the
its i'' inserIplion @ the abode OF "Yahveh "ethe
very, man with whom they had urgent busi-
ness. Taking great precauli0n not to dis.
turb fhe slumbers of the all-unconscous lead
er and his followers, the officer and bis posse
effected The
COMPLETE SURPRISE
OF Curry and his sleeping queen. Quietly re.
moving the pins of the tent, the party secured
entrance TO the sacred quarters OF tna
prophet, and had secured light before bis
slumber wes broken. Here they oeheid the
lie dreaming of the Intrusion OF warranta or
cons,at les 10 disrupt their relations.
NO RESISTANCE.
Curry offered ne resistance to the service Of
the process, and forthwith began to arrange
his toilet to start Immediately ior Appllng,
where his preliminary trial was to be held.
Arraying himselfin simply white robe, belt
ed with yellow cord, and placing upon his
head mitre endorsed "Hollnees 10 Yahveh," !"
he was soon ready for the journey, and took
passage ia wagon. Several OF his male fol-
lowers were summoned as witnesses, and fol.
lowed In bis wake, in wagon.
THE TRIAL.
The party reached Appllng about twelve
o'clock on Thursday, and Curry was imme-
dlateIy arraigned on the charges already
stated before Justices General Evans, F. g.
Eve and W. W. Shields. Neither the prisoner
nor bis followers appeared to be Impressed
with the seriousness OF the charge, or other
wise than coufdent of his ultimate triumph.
Indeed, Curry is said to have declared tnst
the devil was at work 10 this affair, but that
ne was confident of victory over his SAT- nlc
majesty. The prosecution was conducted 0y
Colonel Clairborne Snead, Of Augusta, retain
ed by the cilizens Of Columbia. The prisoner
was defended by Mr.. O. 81. Shockley, OF Ap-
pling. ,,.,ymy
The prisoners counsel In the course OF the
defence attempted to urge the plea OF insani-
ty on The part of his client, to which Curry
promptly and pointedly objected. He de-
clared that bis claims tor justification OF hls
mode of life rested upon the higher doctrines
that men and women may. possess spiritual
Companions without rlghtfully incurrlng the
charge of criminal cohabition.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT.
From the direct and pointed evidence OF the
constable and posse, together with that OF
number of Curry's followers, the court ordered
that the prisoner be held 10 bond OF hVe mum
dred dollars for trial al the March term OF tne
Superior Court of Columbia County upon tne
charges contained In the afldavits.
s.YAHvEH" GOES TO JAIL.
Curry could not command the necessary
bail. and was, In consequence, commiueo "
Iail to await bis trial. He faces MS iate WIN
flrmness worthy OF martyrdom 70 psMsr s,.
cause, apparently not the least lroetratea Dy
being severed from his people, tnose OF Wnom
accompsnylng him to Appllng returning 70
their settlement, with the seeming assurance
that everything would eventually turn out In
favor OF their leader and their professed re-
lipious belief Ind practices.
THE WEATHER THIS DAP.
U.errunnox pohruarv