Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-05-05
4 Fanatics Deed.
\ CnLp SACRIFICED N TIE NAME ol
RELIGION.


PoCAsSET. via ConAssET NARRows, Mass
May. "A most inhuman murder of little
girl by her father occurred here Yesterday.
the mother looking on and consenting. Chas.
+. freeman. Il Second Adventist. living here,
murdered his little girl, Edith, Yesterday
morning. He said that the Lord told him to
do it, and that the child will como to life
Sunday morning. Freeman said that for
thirtysx hours it had been impressed upon
him that he must kill one of his family. but
he WAS doubtful whether il should be himself
his wife, his older girl, or the little girl. Fl
nally the Lord made it clear to him that il
must be the little girl. He did not tell his
wife at first. He walked up at half-past two
Thursday morning, and told his wife what
he was going to do. They talked it over to-
gether and both agreed that it was right
They then knelt by the bed and prayed He
did not tell his wife at first because Abraham
did not tell his wife when he went to sacri-
flee Isaac. After they had agreed to kill the
child both went into the room where the two
little girls were sleeping together The man
went out to the shop and procured large
>heath-knte with long blade singing all
the way out and back. lie said he
never felt so happy in his life
lie set the lamp in the chair and his wife
stood by the bed looking on. lie turned the
bed-clothcs down to expose the child and
stabbed her in the left side She awoke.
turned toward her father, stretched up her
arms and said 80 father" He took her and
held her till she died. which was in about five
minutes. The older girl became partially
awake and the mother carried her out of the
room before she knew Of her sisters dc ath.
and she does not know Of it vet. Freeman
then got into bed with the dead child in his
arms and stayed until after daylight then he
dressed and went to the station for the mail,
which he carries. Meeting Alvin Wing there
he asked him to notify the Second Adventists
in the neighborhood of a meetings at his house
at three o'clock that afternoon. The Adven-
fists came, supposing it was farewell meet
ing before Freeman went on his tour a.
preacher. In the meeting, Freeman told the
whole story OF killing the Child, and showed
the body to them all. Strange as it may seem
they all kept the matter secret and told no
one after the meeting dispersed.
THE SECRET DVULGED AND THE ARREST.
Last evening, Constable Seth II. Reading
was talking with Minnie Davis, a daughter of
Alden Davis, fifteen years of age, who was
one of the persons present at the meeting.
She was in apparent distress and finally told
him the whole story of the murder 1t was
then ten o'clock, and it was half-past twelve
when Selectman Nye who had been notified.
reached Freeman's house. He started about
three o'clock for Sandwich for an officer.
and in the meantime the house was guarded
by ncighbors. \ telegraphic despatch was
sent to Barnstable for officers, but was not
early enough for them to take the morning
tram, and 1t was after three this afternoon
when the officers reached Pocasset. Contrary
to general expectation, when the officers ar
rived on the spot Freeman made no resistance
to arrest.
he and his wife were taken to the Monument
station and thence to Barnstable and lodged
in Jail. Before leaving they shook hands
with their Adventist friends, Freeman saving
that he had searched the Bible all through,
and II would come out all right. Freeman
was not handcutfed, and was taken to the sta
tion in covered carryall. During the ride.
h7weVer, he was noisy, and kept saving that
it would be ''all right" and, as his driver
says, ''sang funny pieces" He and his wife
talked freely together during the ride, and
were evidently mot sorry for their deed.
They did not address themselves to the off
GERS, but confined their talk wholly to them.
selves. Freeman says he is not insane. and
All the AdveniiSts say the same thing of him.
w llh the exception of his talk about his deed
he had every appearance of being sane and
collected
TnE FREENASs' AyTEcEpENrs.
Great Indignation exists here against Free.
man and all the idventsts. The latter stick
together, and even now have the etirontcrv To
defend Freeman. Freeman said to -dav that
II those who do not believe in God would
come to his house they would see the wonder.
pf tftl,t fA..I. Al.