, 1892-03-12
.R0CKFORD'S FRAUD.
HEAVY DAMAGE SUIT AGAINST An
ALLEGED PROPHET.

A story OF Bethel Home BONES tic
Unhappimess Caused by "a Fanat-
tcal -SchVveinfurth, the All
legged Christ, and His Harem.
RocKFoRD, ILL.,, March 12.-For the al
legged alienation of the affections of his
wife and children, George w. Coudrey has
commenced suit in the circuit court to re-
cover $50 900 damages from George Jacob
Schweinfurth, William Baldwin and Fran
els Ward
| Mr.. Coudrey resides at No. 144 Kedzie
avenue and works at the stock yards. He
is the owner of property, which, with his
wages, yields an income of nearly $500 a
month. His family consists of a wife and
five children, Norma, aged about 81, and
teacher at Central Music Hall; Mabelle,
aged 16; George, aged Is; Jessie, aged IL,
and Grace, 10 years of age.
George Jacob Schweinfurth is the false
Christ posing at Mount Zion, near Rock
ford, Ill. Baldwin and Ward are known as
his apostles, and they conduct asub heaven.
at No. 1909 Wolfram street, called the Beth
el Home.
The institution operated by Schwein-
furth is located on 600 acres of land known
as the Walden farm. 1t is improved with
costly buildings, and the self constituted
Christ is surrounded with luxury His pc
culiar religion was formed fifteen years ago,
Mrs Dora Beekman, the wife of a congre-
gational minister at Byron, near Rockford,
believed that Christ's spirit had fallen
upon her, and she gathered a number of
followers. At her death SchWeinfurth de-
clared that the woman had clothed him
with her spirit From that time he said
II am more than Christ. I am God; am
a perfect man."
Laboring under this belief, he called his
disciples around him and established a
colony, whicn he called heaven or Mount
Zion. The rules provided that any one
who Joined must give up all property to
Christ; that women who enter heaven
must have no relations with their hus-
bands; that nothing that happened must
be revealed to outsiders; that Christ must
be consulted relative to the disposal or ac-
qulrIng OF property, and that women who
have been sufficient length of time, and
have reached a high degree of spiritual cuI-
ture, are allowed to bear children con
ceiYed by theHoly Ghost.
Eight years ago Schweinfurth and his
followers first came in contact with Mr.
Coudrey's family, which had previously
been happy home. Undue influence
finally induced Mrs COudrey to adopt the
new faith and she forced her beliefs upon
the children. After Mrs Coudrey accepted
thesneW idea she frequently left her home
to visit the Bethel Home, and OCCASION
ally the Mount Zion. On one occasion
the husband went to the Bethel Home to
see his wife. Baldwin and Ward said she
was not there, but he waited on the out
side and was awarded by seeing her come
out. December 24th last Mrs. Coudrey
went to Mount Zion, and has not yet re-
turned.
Perhaps three or four times a week Mrs.
Coudrey received letters from Christ
which were addressed to her at the Bethel
Home or IN care OF her daughter Norma at
Central Music Hall. He addressed her as
"Dear child, Zone of my rare jewels"
and referred to himself as "Christ' and
God" 1t is alleged that one of Christ's
disciples at Rockford resorted to con-
spiracy to attract the daughter Mabelle to
Mount Zion and wrote a letter to have her
come.
Three weeks ago Coudfey desired to dis
pose of property on Polk street He had
an offer of $4,000 and wanted his wife to
sign deed with HIM. According to the
rules of heaven she consulted Christ and
He answered that she must no do so. It
is said that the practices at the institution
are grossly immoral.
This is not the first suit brought against
Schweinfurth. About two years ago a
man in Rockford began proceedings to re-
cover heavy damages from Christ for the
alienation of his wife's affections 1t was
dropped, however, on the wife returning to
her husband. People in Rockford threat
ened him in 1890 and were quite indignant.
A number Of other suits involving property
interests are likely to be brought
All these years Mr.. CoudreY has lived
with hope that he would be able to re-
gain his wifes and family's affections. But
matters have been getting worse. The
children have been taught to repel their
fathers caresses. The wife has no thought
of him and the home is now destroyed
With broken heart the father turns to a
degree the great wrong may be righted.