The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-26
THE POCASSET SACRIFICE.
FREEMAN STILL CONVINCED THAT GOD
B4DE MN KILL EDITH.
Mrs. Freeman Pinina Away-Whnt she now
Thinks Of the Deed Father Hownrd's
Perple kitty Preaching about Abraham.

Mrs. Freeman Pining Away-what she now
Thinks OF the Deed - Father Hownrd's
PerpIexity y-Prenching about Abraham.
BARNsTABLE, Mass, May 2i-Dr. Munscll,
tho Medical Examiner OF Barnstable County.
has been watching Charles I. Freeman very
closely. especially since Freeman's removal
from the barnlike Jail to the new structure. but
he has been unable to detect any OF the usual
physical symptoms Of insanity either developed
or incipicnt Freeman was greatly pleased
when he was put into the new Jail and even his
wife, whom nothing has aroused from her mel
ancholy was glad to get away from the loft In
which she had been confined Freeman has
been especially interested in the religious dis
cussion which the killing OF his little daughter
has provoked He still holds with pertnacity
to his belief that he was called by God to do the
act and that some great good Is to come OF it
yet To DR.. Munscll he Is reported as having
said day or two ago that It WIS pOssih" that
what God intended was n RreHt religious
awakening. He Processes to prefer to be con-
Nicted. and even hanged. rather than TO be nc:
quilted on the ground OF insanity He s said
to have affirmed repeatedly that he knew per-
fectly well before tho act. and realizns Just as
well now. the responsibility that b" was taking.
but adds TINT rs q faithful Christian he was
constrained To- sacriilrc his child.
Freeman was told. II is said that the account
OF his act. printed in THE SUN. Ind been tele-
graphed to the newspapers I'm England and
France. and he seemed to view this rs only
the working out OF the mysterious purpose that
compelled him 70 kill ltu" Edith. He sleeps
soundly. eats well, and takes much interest in
the ordinary affairs of life. Since his mprs-
onment he hns allowed his full beard to grow.
But Mrs. Freeman still SORROWS, aud il ap-
pnreutiy pining away she mas admitted tnat
she believed that tie act WIS the result Of a
mistaken faith but she insists that neither she
nor her husband was guilty Of any crime. The
recent letter to u sister. which has been pub
lished. has been commented on by n number Of
clcgvmen ns not the least remarkable manites-
tntlnn of this mysterious tragedy She speaks
OF Elijah. Elisha. and Christ raising the dead,
and still insists that after the deed was done
she and her husband had perfect faith that the
child would be raised to them. But M the days
passed and there were no manifestations, her
heart fnllpd.Hnd now she knows they did wrong.
Mrs. Freeman found conf IN n recent con-
versation she hnd with Mrs Fisk, who has
charge OF the eldest child Mrs. Fisk suggested
that shd might have been tempted as Christ was
hY satan. and this made strong Impression
upon Mrs. Freeman. She asked Mrs. flsk
pleadingiy. and with tears streaming down her
checks, whether she supposed God would for
give them for having yielded to temptation. and
Mrs FISK replied that God always forgave
whore there was true repentance.
Then, Ho Will forgive US. and with that
remark Mrs. Freeman seemed TO give up all
cons iderntion OF the religious aspect OF the act.
and to allow her maternal sorrow ior her child
and the life OF her living child are the only mat
tors that now concern her. She does not want
little Bessie brought TO see her. She thought
tho surroundings would terrify the child. But
she gave minute directions regarding Bessie.
her school life. her dresses. her companions.
anu her reUglOuS INSTRUCTION. Bessie does not
yet know that her sister Edith Is dead.
The Second Adventists in Pocasset have not
yet recovered from the hcwderment which the
widespread horror Of Freemans net has Gre
ated. They are as meek and passive now rs
children. All that they say is q" We can't un-
derstand IT," The feeble Foster Howard, one
OF the elders OF the Pocasset Church. the man
whom Freeman frs: told OF the act. sits day
after day in his kitchen. often with his Bible
open in his lap. ponderinR. His faith WAS SO
strong that Edith would he raised thnt he has
not yet recovered from the shock that the ar,-
disturbed grave has given him.
don't understand it," he recently sniQ.
Here is the promise. that IL we have faith sut-
ncient we may say to mountain Be removed
and II is done, Our faith was equal to that. and
yet our faith does not avail"
IL Is possible that the Second Adventists may
| hold the camp meeting. beginnn June 10. ns
they Intended. because public indignation has
gone. and sympathy. or rather pity. has taken
lts place. Bur they cannot have the grove on
Buzznrd's Bay shore. and Mrs. Swift. Mrs.
Freeman's mother. has offered them grove on
her farm.
Throughout New England the attention OF the
clergy has been generally called 10 tho tragedy,
and many sermons have been preached upon
Y in Providence. Boston. Lawrence. Lynn,
springfield. Worcester and other cities. In
Hartford three clergymen-the Rev. DR.. Sage
Baptist, the Rev. Dr. Parker. ana the Rev. Mr..
Gage gatioulist-preached upon il on
sunday OF last week. Dir. Parker boldly said
that he doubted whether the Abrahairic sioTT
ought to be accepted literally. and Dr. saga
argued AS strongly that il should be so read.