The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-05-26
TIE ACCUSED CHURCH.


/ Tragedy That Cf-s~d Iss Deer. 90 the
| pay Of tts Bedteatisa.
Five miles northeast ~ the little town
| Of Rayrnnrc. No. Is an old closed church
which has remarkable history. which
was told TO yuur correspondent, here a
! few DAYS ago The ehuEyh stands of
from the Rad In an old teld. and the
! appearance Of desolasion which pervadcs
the building. and the fac; that neither /,
no- the small surrounding Geld il ever
uolested. caused an inquiry to BE- made
as 20 its history II is known far ami
wide "a the cursed church. and its
history is romance ia itself. II was
told ~ farmer who lives tear the
place rad 10 whom all the associations
are sacred ffum the fact that no was a
participation in the events which placed
the building in It's present condition
Just after tho close OF the war OF tho
rebellion there csms 10 this section ono
who soon becan.s known as q powerful
preacher and a God fearing man tie
was unassnming in his manner, and was
beloved by all 10 such an extent that 20
was induced 10 undertake the task Of
building a church aud holding regular
services in the then thinly settled sec
ton. He went among tho people and
obtained enough money for the material
for tho building, and then, with his own
hands and such assistance rs tho busy
farmers could give him, no erected tho
house. When il was completed IL was
dedicated. and the first and only services
were held in it. II was tho apple Of his
81 n -.
his young wife, whom no had jus; mar.
ried, she being the daughter Of farmer
living close by.
During these first services the preach
er was astonished to see that his Young
wife was carrying on a Irritation with a
young farmer with whom report had
coupled her name before the marriage
After the services he told his wife that
he could not go home until night. as no
was compelled 10 go 10 see a sick mem.
Der, and then left tho church only 10
watch for results. He was moro than
rewarded, and as n result OF his watch
ing he found sufficient cause for his
jealousy. He discovered that tho pair
in the church after tho others
went home. and there he met them and
accused them of their periidy. They
could say nothing in reply. and tho re-
suit was that the unhappy man lost all
reason and visited upon them n terrible
His wrath was so great that no be-
came Insane, and with a club he attacked
the pair, following them with such ter.
rible blows that they were beaten TO
death and then pounded into bruised
masses CT flesh and blood He was a
raving maniac for the time being. but
soon after his terrible deed he cooled
down and made preparations for fit
ting finale to the awful scene. He took
the bodies and carried them TO the stage
on which he preached and laid them
side by side, all covered with blood as
hey were. lie then washed his hands
and Strengthened his apparel and went
among his flock, telling them that no
would hold night service that evening
md asked all to be sure 20 be there, rs
10 would tell them great secret This
If course was sufficient 10 brin, II an
audience.
When he came that night he told tho
Dreadful story of his days work. After
10 h'u hHiSieu anu DeIOre the spell
POUND congregation could recover from
is surprise, he showed them the dead
bodies, and then pronounced curse on
he church. He cursed the building and
wound up with curse on any one who
hould ever again cross its threshold, or
ttempt to move one board, or to injure
he building. He then gave the people his
blessing, and drawing u revolver DELHI
rately shot himself dead, falling across
he bodies of his wife and her lover.
The people removed the bodies and then
JAILED up the doors and windows, and
'ullt fence around the place, and the
pell Of the curse was so strong that TO
his day no one has ever had the temer-
ty to attempt to go into the house or TO
emove single board from the building
PHILADELPHIA Press