Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-22
The Child-Murder.
By THE FANATIcAL ADVENTIST ON
CAPE COD.

For the purpose of making more in
tefligible The true ground on which
this crime ought to be judged. We give
the full statement of the facts as fur
nished to the N Y Times:
| Charles f. Freeman became a leader
among the Second Adventists. As
time passed, he came to resard:it as
his duty to make some great Sacrifice,
which shout result in a miracle and
fix the attention of mankind upon the
new faith. Some time ago he. an
nounced this belief to several Of his
fellow-worshipers. Tive weeks. ago, as
he says, the long expected. REVELATION
Of the necessary sacrifice came TO him
i'll the night. 1t was then indicated
TO him that a member Of his family
must die by his hand He talked the
matter over with his wife, and per-
suaded her not to stand in 'sthe Lord 5
way as they both considered it.
They had two daughters, Bessie, I
yeary old. and Edith, 5 years old
The latter was sunny-hairad child,
the pet and idol of the household.
The father prayed long to know who
was appointed as the victim. He says
he prayed chat it might, be himself,
but it was not so to be- After patient
waiting, the second revelation came,
late IN the night of the murder. The
pet Edith was pointed out as the sac
rifce. The father was taken back.
but dared rot resist the command Of
God He woke his wife, and told her
what he was demanded. Then the
mothers heart refused to acquiese in
the unnatural deed. She begged hard
for her .darling's life, but the husband
was memorable. Working upon his
poor wife's fear of displeasing God, he
at last gained her consent. The scene
that followed is horrible beyond pre-
/ ccdent After Freeman had knelt and
! prayed that he might be spared the
test of his faith, he nerved himself for
murder. He felt that he was another
! Abraham, and that God would either
stay his hand or else raise his daug hter
i from the dead. as a reward for his ODE
dience. Then he and his wife went
into the bedroom where their two
children lay sleeping The mother
carried the eldest to her own room.
! Freeman turned down the bed clthes
from the form Of little Edith, raised
the knife which he had provided for
the occasion, and waited to see if God
would not interpose. After a vain
watch, he bent forward over the child,
and with great care plunged the blade
into Edith heart. There was an ex-
clamation, and all was over. The in
sane father clasped his pet in his arms,
and held her till he was certain life
was extinct. Then he lay down and
slept by her SIDE, satisfied that he had
done the Will of God.
When the news Of the murder was
told to his fellow believers, although
staggered by such a proof Of faith,
they joined Freeman in holding that
God would restore the child to life.
There was some protest, but so infatu-
ated was this entire following, COM
prising more than score Of respect
able people in Pocasset and its vicinity.
that they did not look upon the action
as a CRIME, and believed with the per-
petrator that it was done by Gods com
mand.
There was among the Second Ad-
ventists band, therefore, the deepest
surprise, chagrin, and confusion at the
failure of little Edith-to rise from the
dead. Their faith did not waver in
the least. Two or three Of these pc.
cniier people, however doubted With
e. the resurrection would take place
to-day, all. nevertheless, being sure
that it would come soon. 49,.
The funeral services tookplace in the
Methodist church, the edifce being
crowded to suffocation and hundreds
standing around the outside Of the
building. The pastor, the Rev. Mr..
Williams assisted by the Baptist cler-
gyman of the village, conducted the
services and improved the opportunity
to give the deludcd Adventists, who
all the while kept their eyes on the
coffin, some sound advice. The funer-
al being over. Alden z. Davis, the
leading spirit in the Advent company,
now that Freeman is in Jail, attempted
to make speech, but was ordered to
keep quiet or submit to arrest. When
the body had been removed 10 the lit
tie graveyard, Davis mounted grave
and made rpeech, saying that he was
an infdel until two years ago, when
God revealed himself to him. He
eulogized the murderer until the crowd
interrupted with cries of Choke him.
Bury him in the open grave" &C.,
and "a scene unparalleled in recent
New England history ensued over the
coffin and the grave. No violence.
however, occurred.
On account of the great increase in