The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-03-19
SUMTER'S VOODOO CASE.
PRIMUS JONES A VICTIM OF RELIC
lOUS FRENZY.

Brother Durnnt Was "Inspirsd by tho
. Holy Ghost" and Poor Primus WAS One
of His Disciples--A Wicrd story.
SUMTER. S. G., March l0.-Thc stor,
of the famous "voodoo" murder case. in
which, as already announced in The
State, Alexander Durant and Richard
Campbell were acquitted by order o
the court, is about as follawS:
Alexander II. Durant (colorcO, as
the pastor Of Beulah a. Nj. L. II. church,
on the Bcll's Mill plantation in this
county, had been holding series CT re-
vival meetings, which, at the time Of the
death of Primus Jones, had been going
oD for several weeks. Rev. Durant was
evidently little "on'' on religious mat.
ter at the beginning Of the revival anG
at its end he seemed to have been worked
up to a perfect frenzy Of Excitement. lie
imagined that he was inspired with the
Holy Ghost, and, as one of tho witnesses
expressed it, was "boss" or "leatcr" in
spiritual matters. This same wit.
ness, brother Of the deceased, says
that towards the end Of the meeting that
he Rev. Duran) event on growing in
the spirit till he surpassed the common
judgment ofus in the ncighborhood. lie
was going off in the spirit out Of natura!
mind." While preaching he would fall
down in the pulpit and lie there "in a
trance" for some time. Primus Jones
and Richard Campbell seemed more at-
fectcd 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. Durant
called them bis disciples. Jones met his
death on Sunday morning. On Saturday
they had been holding Il meeting at the
church. After services late IN the might
Jones, Cambell and two or three ncyro
women went with Duraut to his house
which was near the church, to hold
prayer. In the room Durant was dis
coursing Oh prayer when Jones got ready
for another fall and trance. lie stood
upon lounge tina! was Dear the door.
and spreading out his arms fell at full
lcnghth, face downward, upon the 1ieur,
he had Frustrated himself before the
Holy Ghost, hc never rose again. AT
the same time Richard Campbell bcval,
reeilng around, and he soon fell upon
the OR, but not having had the cXalta.
I.
which 10 PROSTATE himself, he did not
remain so long cntranccd as did Brother
Jones. ~ bun9cd-up mouth. however
attcsted to his degree OF humiliation be.
fore the Holy Spirit. After Jones ha,
lain there for some time, Durant liltct
him up and asked if he was praying. bu
got no answer. After Il while he bcgal
to suspect that his disciple was dead
lie prostratcd himself upon the body ant
tried to rcsucscitatc it according to tic
regulation prophetic mode Of rcSuscita
tion, but TO no effect. Later he thought
he had better send for 4 doctor In his
testimony, Ransom Jones, the brother
OF the deceased, stated that he went tC
Durant's house that morning and Duran
began to explain to him how the acci
dent happened. Durant said, "Youl
brother icll here and moved him. ,
("Don't say l." broke in Cambcll.) 81
want to explain" said Durant. Don't
say I-say-thc Holy -Ghost-move(
him. Iou--are-thc-lIo- o-ly-Ghost
Whcn-you.--say- -that--reprcscnts
Durant, but-you-a re--thc--Io-ly- y
thcn-say--t hc-IIo-ly-Ghost
-moved--him." "Thcn," said Durant
II will say as you say, if it costs me my
neck on the gallows." Then he walked
TO the window shouting and saying: 81
can speak every language under the
SUM-"
After Jones had lain on the floor fol
some time tic 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 thc women did NOT thInl
Jones dead when they left it was taken
Tor granted Durant and Campbell killed
him. According to the tcstimaney of the
physician who performed the post NOR.
tenn examination, however, it IS evident
that Jones died from concusslon of the
BRAIN, caused by striking his head on the
floor when lie prostratcd himself. l.-Th(
State.