The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-06-27
a False Prophet in Georgia.

SAVANNAH, June, 2l.-For month
a man calling himself Jesus Christ has
been going through Liberty County,
raving in an insane way which he cslled
preaching. The negroes have come to
believe in him, and they are really in q
most lamentable state. They have ac-
cepted his words as inspired teachings,
"Give up everything and follow me-" he
commanded. LET your crops 60; turn
your cattle in the patches; the Lord will
provide for you" And, obeying him,
hundreds of negroes have quit work.
Their little crops have grown up with
weeds, the planters have been deserted
by their laborers, who absolutely refuse
to work, the turpentine manufacturers
and the saw mill men have difficulty in
getting help enough to continue opera.
tions.
The colored population has been COM
pletely demoralized for three weeks. To
such an extent has the crsze spread that
the intelligent colored people and the
whites Joined in discussing some plan to
put stop to it. 1t was decided to arrest
the crank or send him out of the country.
Some were ready to lynch him, but better
counsel prevailed. So yesterday q war.
rant was issued by Magistrate w. a.
Fleming for the mans arrest. He calls
himself Jesus Christ, declaring that he
descended from Heaven in cloud. In
the warrant the name of Campbell was
applied to him.
Two respectable colored preachers had
the warrant issued. They charged Camp.
bell With vagrancy. He had prophesied
that he would be arrested, and his fol.
lowers-disciples, as they call them.
selves-had declared that be should not
be taken away and that no violence
should be done him. The women were
more emphatic than the men, and the
former had armed themselves with guns,
but the new prophet told his people not
to offer any resistance They feared that
he would be cruci6ed, but he told them
that he would not be put to death again.
When the officers went to arrest him
no resistance was offered, but a large
crowd soon joined the favored disci.
Piles who are almost constantly about him.
They were ready to tear the officers to
pieces, but at their prophets request they
suffered him to be taken quietly away.
Thinking that he was to be carried to
Einesville, the county seat, several miles
away, two hundred men and women, but
mostly women, took short route across.
the cGnrtryE.eniustvau or going to Hines.
VILE the constable drove to Pennington,
where Justice Fleming resides. To-day
Campbell was tried.
Ex.O congressman Norwood went to
Pennington to prosecute the imposter at
the request of the leading citizens Of the
county. There is no telegraph Office
near Pennington and the result of the
trial could not be learned tonight.
Some of the whites and blacks wanted to
lynch the man, but were persuaded riot
to do 30.
Campbell show scars in his hands,
which he says we're made by the nails
when he was cruci6ed on Calvary.
His hair and beard are long and shaggy,
although be evidently endeaYors to trim
his beard as the Saviour's is represented
in some old pictures. The negroes fall
down and worship him and kiss bis hands
and feet and auoint him. He dresses
shabbily sometimes and at all times
poorly. He refuses money publicly, but
is said to have money, and it was feared
that the charge of yagrancy could not be
sustained.
Campbell came from the West, it is
believed. At his bidding women have
left their husbands and men their fapli.
lies to follow him about. His familiarity
with the Scriptures is exceptional. lie
has told the people that be will go back
to Heaven in chariot of fire at an early
date