The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-20
is HE A FRAUD OR A MANAGE
Mason Houtzman Does Very Queer
Things in the Name of Religion.


Things in the Name of Religion.
From the Philadelphia Press.
EAsToN, Oct. ia few months ago the
public was informed of a scanda.ous case,
the result of religious insanity at Park
Ridge, N. j., near Newark A man named
Mason Houtzman, claiming to be preacher.
induced Mrs Eliza B rry of Newark to
leave her husband. Shortly after she was
joined at Park Ridge by Mrs. Jane Howell,
another woman who had been deluded by
Houtzman in the same manner. HCutzman
became an inmate of the house, but the
Park Ridge people rose up in indignation,
took Hontzman out of the house, cut his
whiskers of, hors whipped hum and drove
HIM out of the town.
On Friday last Miss Jennie Kicker, aged
25, and her sister, Miss Lizzie, aged 20, re-
turned to their home in Pnillipsburg
across the river from here, from visit to
Newark. With them came Houtzman and
the two married women. The daughters
told their mother that they were to establish
religious meetings. i'll Phillipsburg, and
wanted to stay in the house for few days.
Mrs. Kicker is a devout Methodist, and al
lowed the strangers to remain. On Sunday
Mr.. Houtzman astounded Mrs. Kicker by
telling her the Lord had informed him to
take charge of the house and she must go.
WIN
place. Mrs. Kicker drove Hoatzman from
the house. Then, to her surprise, her
daughters declared that Houtzman was
right, and they would go with him. Houtz-
man, the two wome and the girls then left,
and before Mrs. Kicker could recover from
the shock they had disappeared. She tele
graphed for her son George a respectable
citizon of Newark, ard he arrived last night.
A search was Immediately begun, but no
clue was obtained until noon to-day, when
Lizzie Kicker walked into her home and
said she would take her clothing, as they
were going out into the world to serve the
Lord. The brother refused to allow her to
leave. When begged to tell whore her sis
ter was she said she 'uld not, as Houzman
had "a spell" on her, and she was under
pledge of silence. An hour after Mrs.
Berry and Mrs. Howell appeared to learn
why Lizzie was detained. On being told
they beaa q crazy sort of religious chant,
and then broke into loud cries and made a
scene that speedily drew a crowd of people.
The police marched the women before
Mayor Hagerty, of Phillipsburg, who COM
mltted them TO tha Belvidere Jail for thirty
days.
George Kicker started for Easton to find
his sister Jennie. On the covered bridge he
saw Houtzman, who turned and ran
Rickor followed, but HoutZman disappeared
in the narrow streets IN the lower portion of
this city. Kicker kept up the search, his
mother also taking part. They visited the
railroad depots, and near the New Jersey
Central Mrs. Kicker found Houtzman, whom
she seized by the collar and he'd until her
cries brought the police. Houtzmau, when
taken before Mayor Chidsey of this city
declared himself messenger from God.
He said he lived nowhere, that he never
paid any bills, and that his name was
Mason, aged %. He declared that Houtz-
man was dead, aged 80. He did not make
a rational answer to single question, and
was tonight committed until tomorrow
He had ticket for New York, and said
Jennie Kicker was with God.
At the Lehigh Valley depot George Kicker
found his sister just stepping on the cars.
A young man was with her. but he de-
camped. Jennie at first refused to return
home She said she was under promise to
Houtzman to serve God in New York in
company with the mice young man, whose
name she said was Storm. She was finally
taken home. The Press correspondent ell
deavored to interview Houtzman tonight,
but beyond admitting that he had been
beaten for the Lords sake in Park Ridge,
he would not say anything more. He de
declared that he was an angel. 1t is learned
tonight that the party stopped at board
ing house here, but beyond having intense
religious fervor their actions were not sus-
piclouS.