The Osceola times., 1879-05-17
FANATIC FREEMAN.
Details Of the s.eriar- of n shiIa by Her
nefudcd Father.

A cold east wind sweeps along the in
dented coast, sending r shiver through
the veins and nerves of he hsrdest fisher
nan and farmer. But a stronger shud-
der creeps through the system OF the
fisherman and the farmer as he hears
with bated breath the terrible tale which
comes up from the deserted farm OF
Charles f Freeman, in Pocssset, where
the sacrifcisl knife cut the knot OF life
OF beautiful little sirl, daughter of the
crazed murderer. The community is in
a state Of the widest excitement over
the tragedy. Little groups of hard.
fisted farmers and weather beaten sea
men discuss its details and make their
rude but sensible comments on the
species of religious mania which drove
a father 10 wiillully murder his child,
and mother to approve of the deed.
Freeman was bora in Higbgate, VT, in
1876. He j. OF a light complexion,
medium height, with a pleasant, open
countenance, light blue eyes, which meet
= person with whom he il in conyersa-
tion with unfinchiDg gaze. He worked
at bis trade OF heelng shoes in Linn for
three years, and in 1874 came to POcas-
set, where he has been engaged in farm
ing ever since. He served three years in
the army during the war, and was mar
ried TO Miss Hattie r. Ellis, OF Pocasset,
in 1868 The result Of theft union has
been three bright children-Lillisn. who
died at the age OF two months, iu 1870;
Bessie Mildred, the only one now living,
born in 1872, and Edith, the one who,
had she lived, would have been five in
August. He was in moderate ciTcum-
stances at the time OF the murder, but
had been in very poor circumstances for
some time previous. At the age of
twenty>one he experienced religion, but
says he was beat out of it by backsliding
Christians. In February 1878, he was
converted to Adventism, and has been r
very earnest worker and speaker for the
cause since and recognized as leader Of
the Second Adventists here for over a
year Mr.. and Mrs. freeman have
slvays lived happily together and
idolizsd the bright children which had
comforted them.
On his way to Jail he told the story o.
the tragedy with calmness and trust in
I his final justification that simply star
| tied the bystsnders. "You know" he
said, "that ! had revelation about a
week ago in which the Lord appeared to
me and told me to kill one OF my family
and offer il as 2 sacrifice. Well, be did not
say what one, but on Thursday morning,
on awakening from sound sleep, some
/ time about two O'Clock, the Lord ap-
peared to me and informed me that the
victim of the sacrifice was my pet my
idol, my baby Edith. ! awoke my wife
and we talked the matter over and
prayed TO the Lord for guidance and
iirs ctiOn, that II it Wa Gods will that
the cup might pass from me, ard ended
by saying, Gods will be done The
Lord said that 1t WAS necessary, and so
arose, went out OF doors to my shop and
got a sheath knile. ] then came in and
placing the lamp on the chair, near the
bed, drew back the clothes, raised my
hand TO strike the fatal blow, iully con.
vinced that the Lord would stay NV
hand as He di1 with Abraham when
about to offer up his son Isaac but He
lid not, and the knife descended My
darling turned ss the kui struck her,
and, lifting her hands and opening her
eyes, said, "Oh, pspa" My oldest
child awoke just AS her little sister was
about to be ssin, and sent her to her
mothers room. | struck the deadly
blow as tenderiy As could, aud the little
one died with the light OF heaven on her
iace. then took the bleeding child in
my arms aud wept bitterly. | lay down
with it in bed. 1t seemed rs il God had
forsaken t as he did Jesus on the cross
prayed and wept bitterly, and in the
morning ielt gloriously, God rewarded
my soul with light, and ! went to the
depot at peace with God and all thu
world | notified tie selectmen and
constsbles to be present in the afternoon
but none came"
"DD you expect 10 hang for it2'
asked the correspondent.
No" answered Freeman; Goo
has commanded me to thus udely
awaken the world rom its present con.
dition and God will justify Ills servants
II it had been my vie or the other
child, should ave done the same
begged God to take my lie, but that
was not to be. loved the child better
than mys9ll."
You don't feel uneasy at going 10
iail?"
| No, not at all why should ~
| He said further that he was second
Abraham, and the feeling gave him great
delight. He loved his cHild better thsn
himlelf, and expected the heavens to tall
rather than that he would be permitted
to kill his desr one. He related the cir.
cumstsnce OF the horrible deed. sub.
stantislly stated above, and Mrs Free.
man gszed rapturously on her husband a.
he recited the terrible tale and corrobor
ated his statements regarding her belief
in this gospel. As he expounded his
views to the reporter he became very
enthusiastic, finally getting on his knees
on TIE sest and facing the back OF the
car before many kneY who he was, and
wss soon addressing the halt,hundrsd
passengers in the csr He said in the
course of his remarks: either the
child will be raised from the dead in
three days, or she will be trsnsla ed
bodily TO heaven" In his talk he ex.
hibited great familiarity with both the
Old and the New Testament.
Oue OF the strangest features of the
terrible trsgedyis the TACT that the mem
bers of the sect 70 which Freeman be
longs, the second Adventsts, who were
present st the house by his invitation.
approved his act regarding it a. the
result OF direct revolution. When the
meeting at Freeman's house On Thurs
day afternoon was called TO order, Mr..
Freeman said he had very important
Communication to impsrt from the Most
High. The usual praying and singing
were dispensed with, ana freeman pro.