Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-04
THE CHILD SLAYER.
Freeman, the Fanatic, Makes a
Statement.
STILL BELIEVES he WAS INSPIRED,
Favorable Testimony by the Asylum
Physiciaus-The Story Of His Ter
ribIe Crime as Related
to a Reporter.

BAIysrABLE, MASS, May 3.-Charles r.
Freeman, the religious fanatic who killed
his child with a butcher knife in 1879 al
Pocasset, in obedience to "a divine com
mand," was brought before the court here
yesterday. Having been pronounced sane
an indictment for murder still pending
against him is to be disposed of. The little
town was astir early, and long before the
time for the court 20 open many people
were vending their way toward the old
stone court house. Shortly after the court
opened Freeman came in with his wife.
He was evidently suffering from
Great Excitement.
He said to his physician, They want to
put me on the stand, and l am worked up
about it." The physician tried to quiet
him. Freeman's counsel moved that
hearing be had upon Freeman's sanity,
and after giving resume ofthe case called
DR.. Goldsmith, physician at Danvers Asy-
lum. He testified that he considered Free
man a sane man, but that he was victim
of insane delusions at the time he was
first sent to the asylum. These deluslons
bad been gradually leaving him.
The other officers and physicians OF the
Danyers ASYLUM testified that Freeman
was insane at the time of the murder from
religious excitement, added to the effect OF
repeated periods OF physical exhaustion
during his life, particularly while in the
army, and had two cases OF sunstroke, but
that he had fully
Recovered His Mental Balance.
He will be acquitted on the charge OF muir
der, and it is said will return to the
asylum as an employe., During the
latter part of his stay there he has
made himself very useful, and DR.. Gold
smith has conceived quite fancy for MN.
He has for the past six months been under
merely nominal restraint. and it is said
has not had key turned on him for some
months past. Whether he will, If released
accept this position, or return to PocasSet
ard re establish his household, is q matter
| Il at is not fairly settled. His wife, who Is
rather a prepoSsessing woman, seems
greatly attached 10 her husband, and, on
| their arrival here,
AGectiOnateiy Parted with Him
| outside the hotel, she going to the house OF
| the TAILOR. with whose family she remained
| during the night.
Freemans remaining child, Bessie Hill
| dreth, now lives with her mother in Lynn.
| After the crime she was taken to the house
| OF her aunt, Mrs Sylvia, in Dennis. Alter
| Mrs. Freeman became settled in Lynn she
sent for the little girl TO come to her, but
| to all her inquiries she received very
! little information regarding the child. AT.
| ter persistent efforts, to her grief and
amazement she learned that her daughter
| had disappeared and no trace OF her
| could be found. The only information the
| grief-stricken mother could obtain from
| her family was that the child was in good
hands. Mr. Taber, who has been indefatig'
| nhl in
mother and father, and at once began al
| investigation. and after considerable effort
learned that the child was living with a
well-tU.do family in Brooklyn, y. y. These
people, while visiting the Cape became
| Attached 10 the Child.
and induced the temporary custodian TO
| part with her. She was returned to her
| aunt, and subsequently to her mother at
| Lynn, with whom she has since remained.
| In an interview one OF the physi-
| clans made the following interesting state
| ment about his recovery: when ! first
went to the asylum saw people there who
avowed that they had received commission
| from the Deity TO do certain acts like in
| substance TO the vision myself had. After
1 had been there short time the logic OF
| my reasoning was in measure like this
| These people who are here are Of course in
| cdllt. Itll i DtSiI " NNlANAtl II pVSSApls 1
| might not have been
Mentally Affected
in the same manner as were the people
with whom was associated. Gradually
began to see through it all
Freeman slew his little daughter at POCas.
set, Mass, on May l, 1879. Before commit,
ring the terrible deed he and his wife join,
| ed in prayer. She then held light while
he plunged knife into the heart Of their
| child. Freeman at the time said that God
inspired him to make the sacrifice, as he
termed it, and confidently predicted that
| his daughter would return in life. He was
sustained in his act by many fanatics OF
the Second Adventist sect. TO which he be.
longed, who expected to see the child rise
| from her coffin on the third day after her
death, as Freeman promised she would do.
| Even months afterward not few still clung
to the delUsion that the little martyr would
| yet rise from her grave. Freeman was
| placed in an insane aSylUm.