Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-06
\ BRIEF ADDRESS.


scripture were read and Rev. Mr.. Williams
made
\ BRIEF ADDRESS.
1 lie spoke of man as a free moral agent and
of death as the result of sin and diSobcdience,
I He did not dwell upon the circumstances of III,
terrible death Of the little one, but asked all
to profit by the lesson taught in the awful at
fair which has sent tidal wave of horror
through the length and breadth Of the land
He warned his hearers that life is brief anc
uncertain. and counseled them 10 stop II
their mad career while reason was still al
their command. and to throw themselves al
Jesus feet They would then hear the Iii
vine Master ask them to come up higher. and
God would be glorified even in this affection,
which now seems SO gficvous. The words OF
the preacher were spoken with a sad and sol
emn carnestncss, and made deep impression
upon all.
The seats in the front of the house were
occupied by the relatives and friends of the
family. 1t was sad and painful sight to
watch the faces of the more radical of the
deluded ones as they listened rcstively to the
/ solemn service and looked, half teartullv and
/ half expectantlv at the casket on the altar.
Bat no sign of life came from the little form
within
1JANIS 1 EMlDkAkllh t'il-tsN' i+''
The last hymn, 1--WE shall sleep. but not
forever" was given out, when Mr. Davis.
rising. said that while the people were view
ing the body he wished to make few re
marks.
1--WE don't wish any remarks" interrupted
the preacher.
'rhcn" bitterly replied the man, "thc re-
mains will be exposed to view outside the
church"
The coffin lid was then replaced, and the
body was carried to the small graveyard in
the rear of the church. the crowd following.
The remains were then uncovered. The lit
tie one appeared to be resting peacefully
within. with no expression of pain or suffer
ing Rosebuds and wild lilics-of-thc-valley
were scattered over the body Upon the cas-
ket was plain silver plate bearing the in
scription,
LITTLE EIDE,
Lived only 81 months
She shall surely rise again.-]ohn g 30.
Alden Davis, who had charge of the ser
vices then got upon fallen gravestone by
the side of the caskct and commenced to
make speech.
DAvIS's AsTONIsHING SPEECH.
He began by saying that until two years
ago he was an ;nfdc, but at that time, God
was liltlStN 10 reveal lllIl~tli W nun l't
light into his soul He believed the Bible to
be Gods word, and he had studied it diligen
" ever since He then called on all to repeat
with him the Lords Prayer, which he said,
contained sentiments upon which Christians
could not agree 4 few of the Advcntlsts in
the crowd responded. The man then began
to get excited saving that he was talking to
the whole world and that great responsible
tv was upon him. "The world" he said,
''is standing aghast at the decd and its causes.
know some but not all of those causes. No
one knows better than | the motives of this
afflicted man and wife now in Jail. Mr..
Frecmaa's character, his Christian integrity,
has been questioned and he has been calcda
hypocrite. declare in his defence that there
never lived purcr and better man
As EXTRAORDINARY Scene.
Sclectman David Nyc here interrupted the
excited man in his haranguc, which is briefly
outlined above. and asked him in the name of
dcccncy and of the friends of the family to
cease. Davis rctortrd angrily that he should
do as he pleased that he was given charge
of the body by higher authority than any
in the town-by the Medical Examiner. II
intend" he shouted, 'to defend the motives
of my friend in committing this
Murder" murder" cried the crowd,
supplying a word as the man hesitatcd.
Then followed horrd scene over the
open coffin. Angry voices cried out, "Choke
him" and Bury him in the open grave"
The LrXArlC FINALLY SILENcEp.
The inccnscd assembly crowded up around
the man, who was camoring loudly to be
heard, when Rev. Mr.. Williams, stepping to
the front and barring his head, asked Davi, if
he would not out of respect to the cause of
Christ. and to the innocent dead, desist. He
turned cxcitedly to the crowd. crying:
Il am asked to dcsiSt in defending the
father of the child in the coffin before YOU"
He demanded vote on the subject and ask
ed all in favor of his disseminating his re-
marks to hold up their hands. Nearly all
went up, and on the other side being called
for only six or seven Of Davis supporters re-
spondcd. Disconnected at this result he said
he would close by saying that judging from
continued hostility there no immediate
prospect of such a change in public sentiment
as would indicate that the little one had not
died in vain. He added that he would not at
tempt to defend the act of Freeman, but only
his motive. He said the meeting was dismiss
ed, but quickly stepped forward again, saying
that he had forgotten to make an announce
mcnt
Il give notice, he said chat there will
be held here, under the auspices of the Sec
ond Adventists, grove camp meeting, from
June IL to June 30, to which invite every
denomination to send their champion men,
to-
''To be murdered, interrupted voices.
The CHILp Buried.
Mr. Freeman, the brother of the man in
Barnstable Jail, imporcd Davis
''Do for Gods sake stop that we may bury
the dead"
Amid great confusion the burial was finally
accomplished. Rev. Mr. Williams read brief
Scripture selections, and Rev. Mr.. Murray
pronounced the bcncdiction. Davis shovcled
the earth into the grave, and the crowd then
commenced to dispense.
Many remained behind and engaged in an
angry discussion, until they were driven
from the premises Public excitement has
been increased to a white heat by the pro-
ceedings at the grave, and nearly all present
express the opinion that Davis especially has
been wrought up to such state of mind a. to
be positively insane.
Additional arrests have not yet been made
but are expected soon. The Sclectmen of