Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-23
The Placentia People Consid-
erably Excited.
How a Case of Insomnia Was to
Be Cured.
The SOcietas Fraternia Comes Int
Prominence,
Mrs. Thomas Strain and Daughters Object
to the Tenets of the Faith-An
Interesting Story.


helm Gazette, which says A personal
encounter between a member OF the
Societas Fraternia and another party
who objected to his brothers indiscre-
ton in joining the society, few days
ago came near resulting in bloodshed on
the roadside in the quiet place OF
Placentia, 1t seems that brother Of
one of the newly-elected members of the
Societas Fraternia recently arrived from
the old country for the purpose of dis
suading his brother from embracing the
faith Of the order, which, besides bein g
composed exclusively of vegetarians, has
leanings also, it is learned, toward free
love and other practices not sanctioned
by strict code of moral ethics. One
day, recently, it was deemed necessary
to come to a final understanding in re-
gard to the disposition of the newly
elected member referred to, and also to
the action of his wife and two daugh-
ters, who had declared they would not
obey the peculiar tenets OF the order,
and an excited meeting took place.
Later reports from the scene of the
Thomas Strain, who is the party referred
to above as one about to embrace the
tenets of the order, had been, together
with his wife and children, persuaded to
join the Societas Fraternia some months
ago. The subsequent events connected
with his membership in the order led to
the scandal referred to. 1t seems that
Strain had fora long time been sufferer
with insomnia. Speaking of this occur
renee one day to Hinde and 1hales,
leaders in the Societas Fraternia, he was
informed that his sleeplessness was
caused by the action of spirits, which,
they said, dictated that Strains resi-
dence should be moved from it's site.
Strain was further advised by Hinde
and Thales, after they had deliberated
and counseled with the spirits, as they
claimed, that his residence should
be moved back some distance
from where it stood, in order
to escape the wrath of the alleged super
natural beings, who would not, they
averred, follow the house to its new site.
These spirits, so Hinde said, were pro-
voked at some undefnable thing con-
nected with the house, but this the Fra
ternia people could not divine. The two
mediums we're nevertheless satisfied that
the spirits would remain in the place
occupied by the house, and that Strains
slumbers would be peaceful and sound
once the house was moved. Strain con-
sented to move his house. His lanC
adjoined that of Hinde, who it is now
believed desired Strain to move his house
upon his (Hinde's) land so that the lat
ter might have stronger hold upon him
as a member of the order When his
moving residence reached the dividing
line between the two estates, however,
he refused to move it further, saving
that he would keep his residence on his
own property, spirits or no spirits.
Meanwhile Strain had agreed to be-
come a member of the Societas Frater-
MIA. Little by little the leaders of the
order were acquiring control over him.
1t is understood he had almost consented
to advance money to pay the expenses
of a school teacher whose services Hinde
was anxious to secure for the tuition of
the children OF the society.
Strains wife stoutly protested against
her husbands actions in bending to the
will of the Fraternia people, but she lit
tie dreamed of the salacious proposals
that were yet to come from them to her
self and two daughters.
Several days after Strains house had
reached the edge of Hinde's land the
bestial purport of the Societas Fraternia
was made plain to Mrs. Strain. She at
once rebelled, more indignant than
ever, denouncing her husbands unnat-
ural acting. She wrote her brother-in-
law in Ireland, counseling him to repair
hither post-haste and intercede with his
brother in her behalf. Hugh Strain az
rived at Placentia few days ago and
was Immediately made aware of the
dreadful state of things. He is wealthy
photographer of Dublin, and was much
shocked at learning what had happened
This was the first time he had seen his
brother Thomas since the latter left his
home in the green isle. He was greatly
affected and upbraided the erring one,
saying that his life had been lost since
he came to America.
Thomas happened to be at work in
the field few days later, and Thales de-
cided to drive over to him and ascertain
whether an understanding could be
arrived at Hugh Strain, his sister-in-
law and several others, anticipating
trouble, also repaired to the scene. Be-
fore they arrived at the spot where the
two were talking, Thales wheeled his
horses about and started for home. He
was met by the others, hailed and asked
to alight. This he however refused to
do. Mrs. Strain grabbed the reins OF
one of the horses, when Thales whipped
his team and endeavored to run over the
woman. Her husband also caught hold
OF the other horse, but was powerless to
stop the team. A bystander sprang to
the rescue and succeeded in staving the
animals. Thales alighted when prom
ised protection, and then Mrs. Strain
confronted him with her story. As the
worst suspicious of the bystanders were
realized, their indignation knew no
bounds. When the excitement was at
It's highest Hugh Strain grasped the
shovel and leveled a blow at Thales
He was disarmed and Thales, jumping
into his wagon, drove to his home.
Hugh followed him, accompanied by
several others, and stated that he would
put bullet through Thales and Hinde.
He was again restrained, but when his
eye fell on Hinde, hot words ensued and
a personal encounter was the result.
Hugh subsequently returned to his
brother Thomas, who, however, was so
much under the influence of the
Fraternia people that no impression was
made upon him by Hugh's re-
monstrances.
After endeayOrinp for several davs TO