The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-09-15


pers contained accounts of the horrible
practices of band of religious fanatics
in the southern part of this State. I'm
der the leadership Of an old man named
Cobb, a religious fanatic from Michi-
can, little band of men and women
had been formed who pretended TO hold
communion with the other world, and
who at the same time gave themselves
up 10 the most immoral and revolving
actions. Old Cobb claimed 10 be en-
lowed With all
THE Attributes OF CHRIST,
and boldly asserted that there was no
sin in any thing that he and his follow
ers did. They had settled in a sparsely
settled portion of the State, and news
Of their presence and shameless creed
spread very slowly. They tolerated the
presence of outsiders at some of their
meetings but were on-communicatiye
One after another the little children of
two or three families which composed
part of Cobb's converts died In mys-
ferrous manner, and in every case the
death was attended with the most eX-
travagant manifestations of Joy. A
neghbor who had gone to the place
where the families lived just AT the time
OF one of these deaths was told that the
child had been offered up a sacrifice.
Going 20 an clubhouse this man beheld
a sight which turned his blood cold.
There lay the stark, inanimatc form,
with all the external evidences Of hav-
inc been
TORTURED TO DEATH.
Full of excitement at his discovery,
the man made a hasty retreat from the
abode of the Cobbites, aRd there was
apparently sense enough lingering in
their minds 10 see what the cOnse-
quences would be. They fled, and
those who came a few hours later found
only the dilapidated huts in which the
females had lived.
From Missouri they went 20 Arkansas,
moving about from one place 10 anoth-
er, and leaving no trail. There were
only seven in the party that left Mis-
souri,. Since their departure nothing
has been heard from them, until now
the news comes Of terrible tragedy
enacted in Arkansas, in which the
Cobbites played no insignificant part.
From passengers who arrived from Ar
kansas by he Iron Mountain train yes
terday, and from the the Little Rock
papers, the details Of the frigntful affair
are obtained. About three weeks ago
the Cobbites, increased TO a dozen
members, made their appearance in
Searcy. Nothing was known Of them
there except that they had last lived in
Lonoke County. Searcy is a place Of
about 10000 people, the county seat Of
White County, and is on the Little Red
River. IL l. northeast of Little Rock,
and within three miles of the Cairo and
Fulton Railroad. The Cobbtes took
possession of deserted building some
little distance out of Searcy, and old
Cobb began preaching his doctrines.
From his latest converts he had OBJ
tanned some property, which had been
turned into cash, and this furnished
a means Of livelihood for the band
They did no work and
LIVED ALL TOGETHER,
Cobb making all of the women his mis-
tresses. Cobb preached almost every
day. a good many people went to
hear him, and he actually made quasi
converts in considerable numbers,
especially among women who did not
join his band outright but professed 10
accept his tenets, and still lived at their
homes while attending his meetings.
He would 90 TO mothers and induce
them TO send their daughters 10 him,
and by SO doing would sanctify and
bless them, al the same time warning
the parents that failure 10 comply
with his wish would be the means of
sending them and their children to the
lowest labyrinths of hell.
HE PROCLAIMED HIMSELF CHRIST,
boldly asserting that he was placed on
earth TO save the deserving portion of
mankind, and TO punish the wicked.
Following out this he proclaimed that
all he did and ordered his followers TO
do must be obeyed as the orders of
God.
Most Of his converts were made
among the humber and |
The people of Searcy paid little atten-
ton to what was going on further than
some of the men visited the place of
worship, which was about three miles
out, occasionally TO listen TO Cobb's
rawlings and then report them in the
town.
Three or four days ago young man
named Blake and saloon Keeper
OF Searcy named Carl HUMPHREYS got
team of horses and drove out to the
Cobb place. They did not 90 in, but
stopping the horses near the church sat
listening To Cobb, who had worked
himself and his band into a perfect
frenzy. There were few present except
the regular members. Finally Cobb
came out of the building and approach.
inc the buggy said in a sepulchral
tone: