The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-28

Antics of the Impostor's Followers.
NEw YoRK, April 81, - Evangelist
Huntsman j, Mnason and his eight dis.
ciples, who were arrested OH Monday
afternoon, charged with conspiriug to
defraud Farmer Herman Storms, Of
Woodclif, n, j., out OF his farm, spent
yesterday in tho lIackensacE jail, When
the iailer asked them II they would
have besi stew or ham and eggs for
breakfast they all gave the same an.
swer, "Praise the Lord" and was all
that could be got cut Of them,
Mnason, long-boarded, Snghaired
and patriarchal, fastened himself on
the farmer Ave years ago and has lived
in his house ever since. lie soon con.
vsrted Storms wife, son and daughter.
the latter u plump and pretty girl OF
twenty-ionr TO his strange doctrines,
the main principle Of which is that
Manson is tho Saviour, that marriage Is
Rmistake, aud that when man olIends
one OF the,panacea is to eXc|aim praise
the Lord"
The farmer became nonentity in
his own house, and from that was
gradually converted into prisoner, As
soon as the evangelist got possession he
brought tlree old women to the farm,
Mrs. Eliza Berry, Mrs. Jane Howell
known colloquially in WoodclitE us the
! ''she devil"-and Mrs. Stewart. They
all snubbed the farmer and built
little house for him in tho yard so that
le would be out OF the way. In this he
was set to making shoes, lie was never
allowed to attend their religious" per-
formances.
a man who called himself "Sllas,"
but whose name is said to be Daniel
Gaynes. brought big head OF hair and
shirt bearing the inscription BLOOD
and Thunder Brigade" to the farm q
few months ago. He was followed by u
cadaverous fellow known us John the
Baptist" but whose real name Ia John
McClintock. This raised the size OF
the colony to nine, and they behaved
more outrageously than ever. Justice
William d. Smith, who nipped in the
farm from him for 500 by sending the
nine OF them to prison, says they are
all insane. Gaynes and MCClintock, he
declares, ara ordinary tramps that Nina
son picked up and taught few excla-
nations and gestures.
REFUSED TO LEAVE THE JAIL.
Justice Smith yesterday went from
his Office in Park Ridge, which is about
two miles from Woodclif, and saw Mrs.
Storms in the Jail. He had with him
bail bond signed by her husband and
he offered her her liberty.
II refuse to leave here" she exclaim-
ed, "unless the rest are set free" Then
the justice went before a Judge OF the
common pleas and asked whether the
woman could be compelled to accept
bail. The deputy sheriff in charge OF
the prison offered TO eject her, out
eventually 1t was decided to let her stay
where she is until she becomes reason
able. Mr.. Smith told her that her hus.
band was crying his eyes out for her to
come home. He wouldn't hear OF
libsrating any Of the rest Of the prison.
ers.
The complaint against the conspira-
tors accuses them OF cheating Storms
Oub VI Allo luA III uuA uCpllNluk VI
"health, liberty and the pursuit. OF hap
piness." II is specified that they pre-.
scribe and regulate his diet, giving him
such articles Of food as are unsuited
TO his age, health and happiness OF life
and refuse to permit him in his own
house and at his ownstable to eat meat,
flesh or fowl OF any kind"
"They are in full possession OF my
property, said the poor old man, who
has been reduced to condition border.
ing on imbecility. "They are all vege.
tarians and they decided to make one
out OF me against my wishes. l was fed
ON rice boiled and then pounded into a
jelly, turnips, potatoes and 'buttermilk
pap.
This last dish consists OF buttermilk
and corn meal, and 1t ia said that It is
the staple diet OF those farmers in the
nelghborhood who are OF Holland de-
scent
any wife and have not lived togeth.
or for two years." Storms went on.
ELIZA Berry said she had taken her
away from me and that all the devils
could not get her back.
"At the command OF Mnason the
whole crew would Jump on the dining
table and dance. He said he did it to
give mo something to talk about. Once
he ordered Jane Howell to run around
the table, then to leap over II and then
to jump on it fourteen times. She tore
through the vegetable dishes and over
the, bread and butter, while Mnason
kept tally. AS she went around she
stepped into q large loaf OF fresh cake.
Then FIVE or six OF them got on the
table and danced, breaking all the
dishes. asked my wife II sho approved
Of all this, and she said she did
II saw to-day lot OF broken dishes
and molasses lying on the floor. had
heard the breaking OF crockory. 1t
didn't attract my attention, particular
ly, as this was a matter OF common oc-
Gurrence They were quarrelling and
fighting and heard them calling each
other liars"
A RARE OLD FIGHT.
This breaking Of crockery was m in.
cident to q grand jamborOo that took
place just before all hands were arrested.
They we're seated at tho dinner table on
Monday noon when John the Baptist'
muuo an affoCtlonato remark to Mrs.