The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-23
LIBERTYSPSEUDOCHRIST
HUNDREDS OF NEGROES LEAVE
THEIR HOMES TO FOLLOW HIM-

Ex-Congressman Norwood Has Talk
With the Self Appointed Messiah
and Sets Him Down as an Un-
doubted Lunatic-The Negroes in the
Lower Part Of the County Excited
Over the False Leader, and Whole
Communities Demoralized By His
Teachings
The Liberty county negro, who claims to
be the Messiah and is promising the colored
people in the lower part Of the county that
he will lead them into the land of Canaan
some time in August. will be before the
Liberty court of ordinary this week as a
lunatic.
The story of the self-appointed Christ
first appeared in the MORNING NEWS two
weeks ago.
Hon. Thomas NJ. Norwood, who has been
retained as counsel by the citizens of Lib
erty to prosecute the negro, returned
from Liberty yesterday. He went down TO
investigate the case. The greatest excite
ment, be said, prevails among the colored
people and they are completely demoralIzed.
Mr.. Norwood became satisfied, however,
after a.short talk with the negro, that he is
crazy and charge of lunacy was preferred
against him.
MIR. Norwood said that when he arrived
at Fleming station he saw a crowd of
3OO or 400 negroes cOngregated, and among
them was the alleged Christ He was a
tall, poorly-clad negro. His hair was black
and was parted in the middle and fell on
his shoulders.
rs your name Jacob CampbellT' the ex-
congressman asked.
No sir, was the reply, "My name is
Edward Bell and l am from Ohio"
DO you claim to be Jesus Christi"
les, am in spirit.n
do you claim that you are Jesus Christ
who was on the earth nearly 1000 years
agor'
Yes" quickly responded the negro.
Let me see your hands, The negro
promptly raised up his hands
Where are the print of the nails?' he
was asked.
II am Christ in spirit" he replied.
IL was claimed that Bell was teaching the
negroes that the property of the white peo-
pie was to be divided among them, but Bell
denied teaching any such talk.
Are you teaching them that you are go
ing to lead them to the Land of Canaan
very soonp Congressman Norwood asked.
II am going to lead them through the
Land of Canaan to Jerusalem"
What time have you fixed to lead them
forthp
THAT matter is in the hands of God.n
us it not Aug 1872
mo, am going to lead my people when
ever 1T Is the wish Of God that it shall be
done"
After few other questions Mr. Norwood
let the negro go and prepared the papers
Tor his trial as lunatic. The papers were
sworn to by William II. Stiles, pastor of
the church from which most of the MEM
Ders have withdrawn and gone over to
Bell. Stiles is deeply interested in the mat
ter, and wants the man removed.
Bell said in sermon LAST
Sunday to his people. as he calls them, that
he was Adam, then that he was Abraham
and again that he was Noah. He said that
this Is his third visit to the earth. He
comes to the earth, he said, every 1000
years. HIS is now 30 years old, and that a
1000 years ago he died in the body of st.
James.
MIR. Norwood said that he heard of Bells
delivering speeches or. sermons, calculated
to lnclte the negroes against the white peo-
to get the report verified He
was informed that the negroes had sold
their pigs, poultry and other stuff that they
bad on their places to follow Bell. They have
turned cattle In their fields where thew had
little crops growing, and have gone forth to
follow this man, until the time arrives
when, as he tells them, he will lead them
from this country into the land of Canaan.
Bell has been getting in his work
down in the lower part of the
county. Saw mill employees, turpentine
distillers and farm hands. have
quit work and are following him around. /
believing that he is very soon
going to lead them to the promised land.
He tells them that when the march starts
the negroes will become white and that the
white people will become black. Mr.. Nor
wood said that this seemed to be Bells
trump card. He was not able to discover
any mal-intent in the man. He found that
the negro was refusing to take money for
his services which he was rendering. saw
ing that preaching the word of Christ
was free and that no preacher
ought to be paid. He lives among the
negroes and is very unpretentious except as
to his belief that he Jesus Christ. He is
familiar with both the old and new testa-
ment. The remarkable claim of Bell has
caused good deal of excitment among the
more ignorant colored people wherever the
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