The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-29
THOUGHT HE TALKED WITH GOD
A Contested WIN Case Brings Out a
Remarkable story.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

y.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
MILWAUKEE, Jan. pa most remark
able story has just Leaked out about the life
OF James Colby, wealthy citizen of Hori-
con. Wis, who died las5 November. and
who left fortune of almost SIOO. 900 to
grandchildren. $50 900 to a neighbor's daugh-
ter. 81, 600 to his widow, and 81 each to his
three children. The three daughters have
now brought suit to declare void the will
anu the case comes up tomorrow morning
Mr.. Colby vas one of the early settlers and
for many years was known far and wide as
the "witcl doctor" He professed to effect
all manner of miraculous cures by super
natural aid, and succeeded in building up a
very large and lucrative business. By some
he was looked upon with reyerential awe.
There we're but few cases, he claimed, that
he was not able to cure
II can summon to me everybody that
has died during the past 1000 years" he
once said. He averred he had often con-
versed with God. He had been dead in
heaven, he asserted. When he died, he ex-
planned, he fe.t his last breath leave his
body and was conscious Of his rapid motion
to the heavenly sphere He denied tle ex-
istence of a hell. Everything is lovely
and peaceful in the hereafter for every
body" he said. He despised medicine and
protested to effect all of his cures by the
aid of spirits. In one instance it was
claimed that he had cured Polish
girl who had suffered terribly from the
st. Vitus dance. After that the Polanders
"swore by him."
In January, 1884, the fire department ex-
tinguished a big blaze in his house. The
roof had been almost totally destroyed.
That same day Colby said that the night
before he had had long talk with Jesus
Christ. He dwelt with particular pride on
the pleasant manner in which he had been
treated by him. Mr.. Colby said that he
had expressed mis- desire to remain in he lven,
but that Christ had told him he had better
go back to Milwaukee; he was needed there
badly. So he came back and the first thing
ne saw was his house on fire.
In November, 1870, Colby'S wife died. He
always charged his children with her death,
as they had, against his will and wishes,
called in regular physician. Two weeks
before she died she sat in an armchair,
when he stepped up to her and, according
to the statement of one of the relatives,
struck her three violent blows on the
stomach. Father, you have killed me, y the
trembling woman shrieked ut had to be
done, Betsy" he calmly replied. "The evil
spirits mus leave YOUR body before you can
hope to get well again"
Two years after her death Colby married
Miss Moore. They never lived together
and were granted divorce a. year later
Mr.. Colby at ons time summoned the spirit
of Benjamin Franklin to assist a perpetual
motion man, who now lives in Chicago.
Whether Benjamin's spirit really did much
in the matter was never known, but
the contestants Of the will claim that
this summoning business was the
cause of perhaps $4,000 being spirited
away. About year after the divorce had
been granted Colby prevailed upon Miss
Anna Shepard to assume the duties of his
| housekeeper. He married her year after
ward Ia 1877 he bought farm near Hori-
con, Wis, and moved there. The contest
ants claim to have some startling testimony
to introduce, touching upon his residence in
Horizon. aud the occurrences directly pre-
ceding his death