Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-04
FATAL FANATIClSM.

Spiritualist Woman Near Westfield,
Mass, Believes Herself Called Upon to
Take Her Own Lifc-Shc Swallows Poi
-anl La IL. -i--~--~ls I----i----Ab.-->f-
WEsTFIELp, Mass, Nov. 26.-On /
lonely road winding around Mount Tekoa,
in the town of Montgomery, some six miles
northwest of this place, stands weather
beaten farmhouse. in that house was
enacted last week tragedy that had its
parallel few years ago at Pocas-
sett in the killing of his little
daughter by the religious fanatic
Freeman. There, with no neighbors
nearer than a mile, have lived for two dec
AIDES Isaac i. Bronson and lis wife. The
husband aged about fifty, and his wife
some ten years or more younger, have al
ways dwelt happily together, and had
family Of seven sons and daughters, the elC-
est being twenty-one and the youngest two
weeks. Mrs. Bronson was woman OF
energy, but thoroughly moculated with
SpiTitualism and its practices. One even
ing last week, after her husband had
gone TO bed, she came into his room and
asked him If he would feel very bad If her
spirit would go out of its mortal frame and
only be with him OH the occasion of her
visits from the spirit-land. He told her he
would not grieve If IL was the will of God.
ton to go to sleep, the wife told him that,
desiring to be rid of the burdens and
pains OF the body, she had swallowed
two spoonfuls of Paris green. She asked
him to watch by her till her spirit had
flown, and all the long Yours of the night
he had kept faithful vigil by the bedside of
the woman he loved, watching the spark of
life flicker fainter and fainter. At times
her excruciating agony drew tears from his
eyes, but he called none of the family.
At nearly daybreak, without awaken
ing the children, he went to the house
OF his nearest neighbOrs, who arc
SpirtuaIsts, and rouslng them told the
woman of the house of the condition of his
wife and the cause, and urging her to hasten
at once to witness ''the departure of the
spirit" When Bronson's house was
reached the visitors quickly aroused the
children and medical assistance was sum
moned, but befofe the physician could get
there Mrs Bronson was dead.
The husband unhesitatingly told the story
of his wife's death to eager questions with
no more signs of sorrow than III the matter
had been am everyday occurrence When
asked why he did not endeavor to save her
life he said her spirit was her own, and
she had right TO release it from the body.
He was indirectly told that the people
might hold him responsible for his wife's
death, but to such admissions he steadfastly
replied: ''Her spirit was her own" Finally
IL was plainly said TO him that some might
think he administered the fatal draughi
and hold him to be n murderer. lie
Strengthened his long, gaunt body TO its full
height, and for an instant there flashed
across his face a CHASTITY Wilderness and into
his eyes n sudden CLEAN Of interest Then,
with calm voice and stoical manner, he an
swered: eff they think that wish they
would hang me at once"
The authorities OF the town Of Montgom-
cry were notified, but could do nothing save
TO call upon the medical examiners OF the
district who, after making the usual exam
lnation, Issued permit for burial