The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-03-18
SUFFERS V0OD0O CASE.
PRlMUS JONES A VICTIM OF RELIC
!OUS FRENZY.

PRlMUs JONES A VICTIM OF RELIC
loUS FRENZY.
Brother Durant Was "Inspired by the
HOLY Ghost and Poor Primus Was One
ofHis Oisciples-A Wierd Story.
SUMTER. S. c., March l0.-The story
of the famous ''voodoo" murder case, in
which, as already announced in The
State, Alexander Durant and Richard
Campbell were acquitted by order Of
the court, is about as follaws:
Alexander H. Durant (colored), as
the pastor of Beulah A. N. E. r. church,
on the Bell's Mill plantation in this
county, had been holding series Of re-
vival meetings, which, at the time of The
death Of Primus Jones, had been going
Cd for several weeks. Rev. Durart was
evidently little s.of7' on religious mat
ter at the beginning of the revival and
at its end he seemed to have been worked
up to perfect frenzy ofexcitement. He
imagined that he was Inspired with the
Holy Ghost, and, as one OF the witnesses
expressed it. was ''boss" or ''leader" in
spiritual matters. This same wit
ness, brother Of the deceased, says
that towards the end Of the meeting that
ne (Rev. DuranD went on growing IN
the spirit till he surpassed the common
judgment of us in the neishborhood. He
was going Of in the spirit out of natural
mind" While preaching he would fall
Down in the pulpit and lie there lin q
trance" for some time. Primus Jones
and Richard Campbell seemed more af-
fected by the meetings than any OF the
Others, and would also fall down during
the exercises and sometimes lie as they
had fallen for two or three hours. Duraut
called ,hem bis disciples. Jones met his
death on Sunday morning. On Saturday
they had been holding meeting at the
church. After services late in the night
Jones, Cambell and two or three negro
women went with Durart to his house.
which was near the church, to hold
PRAYER. In the room Durant was dis
coursing on prayer when Jones got ready
for another fall and trance. He stood
upon lounge that was near the door,
and spreading out his arms fell at full
lenshth, face downward, upon the feor,
he had Frustrated himself before the
Holy Ghost, he never rose again. At
the same time Richard Campbell began
reeilng around, and he soon fell apon
the foor. but not having had the exalta-
ton Of a lounge beneath his feet, from
which 10 PROSTATE himself, he did not
remain so long entranced as did Brother
Jones. A bunged-up mouth. however,
attested to his degree Of humiliation be-
fore the Holy Spirit. After Jones had
lain there for some time, Durant lifted
him up and asked if he was praying, but
cot no answer. After while he began
to suspect that his disciple was dead.
He prostrated himself upon the body and
tried to resucscitate it according to the
regulation prophetic mode of resuscita-
ton, but to no effect. Later he thought
he aaa-leter send for doctor In his
testimony, Ransom Jones, the brother
Of the deceased, stated that he went to
Durant's house thatinorning and Durant
began 10 explain to him how the acci-
dent happened. Durant said. Your
brother fell here and I moved him"
(s.Don't say ~ broke in Cambell.) Il
want to explain" said Durant. Don't
say I-say-the Ho-ly-Ghost-moved
him. Observation-Disclosures.
Observation-Disclosures
Durant, but-you-are-the--Ho-
Ghost y--the-Ho-ly-Ghost
-mo7ed-him." "Then," said Durant,
81 will say as you say, if it costs me my
neck on the gallows." Then be walked
to the window shouting and saying: Il
can speak every language under the
SUM-"
After Jones had lain on the floor Tor
some time the women went into another
room, leaving Durant and Campbell in
there with the PROSTATE Jones. Durant
continued to pray. and strive to raise
Jones. AS the women did not think
Jones dead when they left it was taken
for granted Durant and Campbell killed
him. According to the testimaney ofthe
physician who performed the post NOR
TEN examination, however, it IS evident
that Jones died from conclusion Of the
BRAN, caused by striking his head on the
floor when he prostrated hlmself.-The
State.