The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11
TIE POCASSET FANATICS.
Sfgr THEY ACoUIESCED IN THE MUIR
nrR OF LITTLE EDITH FREEMAN

DER OF LITTLE EDITH FHhhAAM
s,.,..,,., .,s., they Believed Cod Ceuna anded
". I'd hat He would Raise her from the
D.ad-Threats OF Violence aEaiat the Mur-
a.r.r aud the Sect whe Defena his Act.
,A,RysrAB1E, Mass. May 10.-District At
S,rnev Knowlton finished at o'clock this morn
a. an investigation which has given him evil
Aonoe in legal shape that will be the basis OF ao
sion asaiust such OF the members OF the religious
Ses TO which Charles F. Freeman belonged as
hs believes should be proceeded against crimi-
nAny. The investigation was begun not q min
nts too soon. 90 such men as Capt Beckerman
say Had the authorities delayed much longer
h. act upon the resolution passed at a public
meeting on Monday. calling for the arrest Of
aver person who attended the meeting at which
Freeman announced that he had sacrificed his
hAueh,er there was great danger that the peo-
ME might take the law into their own hands. on
khe ground that the protection OF their wives
and children demanded II. The killing OF Edith
freeman and tho Subsequent scenes at the flu
rerAl have cast gloom over the community that
yesterday seemed 5lacker than ever. Women
are afraid 10 90 out children are in terror and
Ayen young men are frightened. 60 would not
hareto 20 out said Mrs. T. Dmmick. Z" Ishoud
h afraid that II they saw me they might think
4hey had a revelation TO kill me-" Everybody
baker Davis has gone home from school night
aner light crying and saying that she feared
tGod might tell her father TO kill her too. Two
young men met Davis on the beach near his
house He was whiting, and they were fearful
that he might. as one OF them said. take
motion to lab the knife into him." These feel.
engs have intensified during the week and have
already led TO an understanding among a
number Of determined mon that unless the
law protected them they should take matters
into their own hands.
1t may not be necessary now for us 10 do
anything" said gentleman a cool-headed.
gray-bear1ed man: but II this nest isn't
broken up at once bY the authorities. we shall
break 1t up ourselves"
do you mean that there is any organized IN
dsrsiandingl"
That is lust what mean. l know the ropes
are ready. and I was ready two days ago TO use
them. Why. the thing has ruined the region rs
n summer resort. Many Boston gentlemen
have been accustomed to come down here with
fher families and spend the summer In these
cottages. Letters have been received by the
Hslecman from a number OF them. In which
ihey say they will not come unless these people
nre dealt with. But that Isn't the main point
that others will follow Freeman's example
There Is already talk of taking Freeman out OF
bounced their willingness 10 Join enough others
+ DO such athing. but stopped that. Freeman
eSeT hang or so 10 uas sieie pTson ior lie WI"
District Attorney knowlton found Just
such q state Of feeling as, as his when he
wealth had got 10 do something. and yet It
would not do TO make arrests without OBJ
torney. General and the District Attorney have
feceived verbal and written communications
must be prosecuied for Ris reisions % lou bel bsiiei So
body defends the acts OF Freeman. but there are
. dozen lawyers IN B9s,9n and more outside
not on the ground Of insanity. but on the broad
er9uestiop OF whether man who does an act
under an honest. conscientious belief that his
tuty 70 God requires II, is amenable 70 human
Jaw.
The Second Adventists have decided to
have expected arrest since Monday They
held secret meeting on Tuesday or Wodnes;;
himit that little Edith had not been rcsurrect-
81. that. Freeman was mistaken and 50 were
Fiice hs daughter. but that believing 1t at the
me as they did. they cannot be held reeponsi-
Die. When they saw Deputy Sheriff Harris
pominR to their houses Yesterday morning.
they supposed that he intended to arrest them.
although be was simply serving spbp9nas for
Fling. White haired Elder Wing received the
ting on his best clothes. Mrs Davis said that she
you'd Ike 10 take change Of linen TO Jail with
htI anu HNlAtlLluk EOoQ 10 eat. DOult OF lub
men requested time enough TO do few final
phores about the house. They were all greatly
estonished when they learned that they were
not 70 be arrested az present and some OF the
women said 10 the deputy sheriff that the Jail
would be the safest place Tor them. for they
were fearful any night that some Of the people
might come and do violence 10 them ana 10 their
husbands One woman told Sheriff Harris that
ehe had received note from friend in North
Falmouth. q village three miles away that
warned her that company OF young men had
been formed 70 80 70 Pocasset at once to tar and
leather Davis and drum tha 0tlpra n
These people were assigned to separate rooms
n the, hotel. and kept apart so that no ono OF
District Attorney desired to get at what was
BAD at the meeting ~ which Freeman an
nqunced the sacrifice. and also TO learn II pos.
tibs. whether any Of these Adyentists knew OF
lhe proposed sacrifice before II was committed
tlt he had great dihiculty IN hnding out what
Sas said by any one at the meeting. excepting
freeman. In regard TO the crime. and their
tnoyledge Of It, they we're as cautious at ne
hoy insisted upon =, making defence
Even the aged Elder Wing told the story
OF the murder with the same unconcern that he
would have spoken Of an ordinary event Min.
Pc Davis, the underakers daughter. seemed
PIE most affected. Her mother. matronly-
looking woman. said that she was greatly i'm
pressed by Freeman's remarks at the meeting
S9@mSnded Brother frsecman cI% TO g Xii iins
tiith and That the little one would rise on the
What do you think nowl" asked the Dis
Gict Attorney.
. do not know; i can't understand II. /
know that Mr. Freeman was moved TO do it,
But why did not God stay his hand1 Did
not you and he know that It was murderH
, / suppose i If murder by mans law. but"
ehe replied, Mr. Freeman seemed 70 be actu-
hted BY higher law"
Charles came TO me in the morning after the
need was done" said the tremuous Elder
Wing. and said that he wanted me 10 be at the
meeting that afternoon. as he had something 10
tell as that was the most wonderful thing since
Bible days II would show the glory of God.
When / heard what he said NJ the meeting ]
made few remarks and said that II was sad
efair but II was not iorime 10 Judge Brother
Freeman that was for God"
What did you think OF such an act 7" he was
asked by Mr Knowlton.
suppose II WAS murder" the old man re-
Isrous way"
" Did you expect the child 10 be raised ?"
Well, Brother Freemans faith impressed
ne that II might be So"
Don't you think that as good citizen you
ought 10 have informed the authorities when
You knew Of a murder Z"
. The old man did not know how n answer
IL Is, but at last replied that he did not think
Of Il.
.Mrs. Swift the mother Of Mrs Freeman. rs
ehe came before the District Attorney and JUS
tea seemed more fully 70 realize all that had
taken place than any OF the others did. She