The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-06-14
THE WAKENIAN FANATICS.
Three Horrible M nrders I'm New Haven IN
Is55-6.
New York Time


Is55-6.
New York Time
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 1856, committed by members of a
band eot religious fanatics, many %
whose tenets and practices were similar
to those of the sect to which Freeman
belongs. These murders were called the
Wakemanite murders, and the circumN
stances surrounding them were so pecu-
liarly horrible that they are still fresh
in the memories of residents OF New
Haven.
In 1856 there was in this city small
band of religious fanatics whose leader
was Mrs. Rhoda Wakeman, seventy
years old. She lived in Beaver street,
near Dixwell avenue, and was known as
a prophecies. She made her followers,
who were respectable 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 efe might have an opportunity of
visiting heaven. She lay dead for seven
hours, she said, during which time abe
journeyed to heaven, saw the Saviour,
the apostles, the martyrs, and the saints,
and was sent back to earth and life by
God, as missionary, ito 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 consult
5tation. 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. Wakeman to an
nounce to her disciples that he was pos
sessed of the evil spirits, and was the
"man of sin" ,Of scripture. The spirit
which controlled Matthews, she said /,
was very annoying to her: lit filled her
body with grievous pains, and was the
greatest obstacle which the coming mills
lennium had to encounter. Moreover,
there was danger that it would cause
her death, and If she should die gen.
eral Judgment of all mankind would att
once follow, without any millennium. \
The evil spirit must be removed, and
Matthews himself became ,convinced
that Mrs. Wakemsn was right about
this, and was willing to submit to proper
treatment for it's removal.
On Sunday evening, Dec. %, 1856, he
visited Mrs. Wakeman's house to see
what could be done for him, leaving his
wife and family at home. There were
gathered in that house that evening
the f0iiowiDg-named Mathematics, some
OF whom are still living in or near this
city: Mrs. Rhoda Wakeman, AImeron
Sanford and wife, the latter being Mat
thews' sister; Abigail Stables, Josiah
Jackson, thankful s. Hersey, israeli
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 Ia o room on the ground floor,
where 9 lire had been built Tor his COM
Tort. lie at once expressed desire To-
pc relieved OF the evil spirit. That the
spirit might be more easily handled. Mrs.
his sister, blindfolded Matthews
with Q handkerchief as he sat in q chair.
and bound his hands behind him with II
small rope. From 8 O'clock in the even.
ing until 4 o'clock in the lnorning he re.
manned IN that condition, while Mrs.
Waterman and her disciples in room