The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-05-22
THE WAKEMAN FANATICS.
Three Horrible " urders I'm New Haven IN
1856.
NeSr York Times
New York Times.

1856.
New York Times.
The recent murder of little Edith
Freeman, in Pocasset, Mass, by her
father. and the circumstances surround"
ing that affair, recall series of terrible
murders in this city, at the end of the
year 1855, committed by members of
band OF religious fanatics, many o
whose tenets and practices were similar
to those of the sect to which Freeman
belongs. These murders were called the
Wakemanite murders, and the circum-
stances surrounding them were 80 pecu-
liarly horrible that they are still fresh
in the memories of residents OF New
Haven.
In 1855 there was in this city small
band of religious fanatics whose leader
was Mrs. Rhoda Wakeman, seventy
wears old. She lived in Beaver street,
near Dixwell avenue, and was known as
q prophecies. She made her followers,
who were spectacle farmers and farm
ers' wives, living in the outskirts of the
CITY, believe that, thirty years before,
her husband had murdered her in order
that she might have an opportunity OF
visiting heaven. She lay dead for seven
hours, she said, during which time she
iOurneyed to heaven, saw the Saviour,
the apostles, the martyrs, and the saints,
and was sent back to earth and life by
God, as missionary, to prepare the
way for the coming OF Christ, and
to usher in the millennium. At
times she claimed to receive messages
from God. Her followers were about
fifteen in number, and they frequently
met in her house for prayer and consul
tation. One of these followers was
Justus Matthews, who was about forty
years of age. For some time previous
to his murder Matthews had not at
tended the meetings regularly. His
conduct induced Mrs. Wakemsn to an
nounce to her disciples that he was pos
sessed of the evil spirits, and was the
oman of sin " of scripture. Toe spirit
which controlled Matthews, she ssid,
was very annoying TO her; It filled her
body with grievous pains, aud wss the
greatest obstacle which the coming nils
lennium hsd to encounter. Moreover,
there was danger that it would cause
her death, and if she should die gen
eral Judgment of ali mankind would at
once follow, without any millennium.
The evil spirit must be removed, and
Matthews himself became convinced
that Mrs. Wakeman was right about
this, and was willing to submit to proper
treatment for its removal.
On Sunday evening, Dec. %, 1856, he
visited Mrs. Wakemsn's house to see
what could be done for him, leaving bis
wife and family at home. There were
gathered in that house that evening
the following named Mathematics, some
of whom are still living in or near this
city: Mrs. Rhoda Wskeman, Almeron
Sanford and wife, the latter being Mat
thews' sister; Abigail Stables, Josiah
Jackson, Thankful S. Hersey, Israel
Woodin, and Samuel Sly, Mrs. Wake
mans half>brother. A prayer meet
ing was then begun in an upper
chamber. When Matthews came, he
was put in a room on the ground floor,
where fire had been built for his COM
| fort. He at once expressed desire to
be relieved Of the evil spirit. That the
spirit might be more easily handled, Mrs.
Sanford, his sister, blindfolded Matthews
with q handkerchief as he sat in chair,
and bound his hands behind him with q
small rope. From o'clock in the even
ing until l o'clock in the morning he re-
manned in that condition, while Mrs.
Wakemsn and her disciples in room
above were in consultation and prayer.
At intervals some one would visit him
and beg that he would give up and re-
nounce the evil spirit. Finally they told
him that he ought to die, because the
evil spirit might cause the death of Mrs,
| Wakeman, and in that way bring upon
the world the general judgment. He
said be was willing to Gle if his death
was thought necessary. The prayers in
the upper room ceased at l a. NJ, and
one of the disciples brought word that
the evil spirit would certainiy kill Mrs.
Wakeman unless Matthews should be
killed. Some went home, others remained
upstairs, and ely, Woodin and jackson
went into the room adjoining that where
Matthews WAS sitting. In short time
those upstairs heard blows and groans
coming from Matthews room. Mr.. and
Mrs. Sanford and Mrs. Davis went down
and tried to get into it, but the door;
we're locked. Apparently feeling sure
thSt the evil spirit had been removed
they returned to the upper room, and
after short season of prayer, left The
house. Sanford went to Matthews house
and returned with Matthews son.
They forced the doors of the room, and
found the dead body of Matthews lying
on the floor. The mans throat had
been cut, and in his abdomen were
twelve wounds, evidently made with a
common table-fork. The sheriff was
informed of the murder, snd all who
had been in the house that night were
arrested and lodged in Jail A coroner's
Jury began an inquest the same day, and
continued to hear testimony on Christ.
mas day. On the following day Samuel
Sly confessed to the jury that he had
murdered Matthews. He had become
convinced. he said, that something must
be done to remove the evil spirit. A
! few days before he had procured hazel
with alder wood it was powerful to
remove entertainments. This stick, one
inch in diameter and two and halt feet
long, he hid in the cellar until Sunday
night. That night he went into the
room where Matthews sat, locked the
door, and struck him on the temple
with the stick. Having thus felled him
he took out his pocket>knife and cut his
throat. Then he made the holes in the
abdomen with q tsble-lork, 80 that the
evil spirit could get out. After half ar
hour he Joined Miss Hersey, who washed
| 4Ln hIooS from, hi olo+hns Than hurnad