The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-06
SATAN NOT HALF so WICKED
A Caster.0ut of Devils Who Has All the
Attributes of an Evil One Himself
Methods Almost Beyond Belief Used by Carter
and Fanatical FOllowers-A Blot on
Michigan Civilization.

Il i
of the Carterites, the religious sect in Co.
Iona, Berrlen county, which makes q
speciality of casting out devils" have
reached such a pitch of inhumanity that
the people have determined to put stop to
the proceedings. The latest instance OF
torture has just come to light.
Those of Carter's followers designated as
"the chosen ones" reside in the house with
him. Last Thursday Carter insisted that
an aged woman, upon whom the evil one
had cast his eye, incase herself in coat of
tar. This was done. and the old woman went
about her work in the kitchen. Presently
q daughter upstairs heard cries of agony.
She went to the kitchen and saw her
mother in a sheet of flame. the tar In some
manner having become ignlted. As she
afterward said, 1t was merely method the
devil was using to attack q victim. The
daughter to Ok her child, went to neigh
boris a quarter of q mile aw ay and told of
the affair. These neigh bors are not Carter
ties. and. horror-stricken. hastened to the
suffering woman's escue. On reaching the
place they found her in the yard clinging
to q clothesline post Not vestige Of
clothing remained. To the post, charred
by the flames from the burning body, strips
of flesh hung W wherever the poor old woman
had touched 1t. In spite of her suffering
the victim lived nearly an hour.
The methods of Carter, the self consti-
tured chief of this band of deluded people,
are almost hey Ond belief. On select oc-
casions gatherings are held known as
routing the-devil meetings." and there Is
nothing theorerioal about tue proceedings
When the devil takes possession of one OF
their members the others endeav0r to drive
him out by systematic beating of the
individual possessed In q manner which
would put the prize ring to shame. One of
these meetings was held this week. way
ward COW being the primal cause Carter
was In his barn milking cow. None OF his
ways are gentle. and the cow re-
kicking him, the milk pail and the three
legged stool galley west, and crooked Car
ter claims the devil entered the cow and
caused her to do this. but others say even
if that were true Beelzebub promptly
changed his habitation and seized upon
Carter. for that worthy tied the cow mp in
a stable and twisted its tail to the best of
his ability.
The noise made by the animal caused the
other Carterites to come TO the barn to see
what was the matter. Carter made q
lengthy speech. detailing his adventure,
and concluded by saying the devil was at
present abiding in the haymow. There
upon the entire party proceeded to turn
w
doors repeatedly. One of the women fell
over the edge or the NOW to the barn floor.
The fall injured her. and she also vowed
the devil had paralyzed her left side. This
was we'll nigh fatal announcement,
for Carter declared they had his satanic
majesty cOrnered. and the whole party pro-
ceeded to drag the woman, who was over
sixty. around the floor. varying the pro-
oeedings by using her after the manner OF
fail, and then. when she. was too weak to
move, declaring the devil had abandoned
her. The combined attack of the devil and
humanity came near producing fatal re-
suit To celebrate the event however, a
hallelujah meeting was held.
Carter carried ont his course of treatment 3
in his own family. Not long ago he tied
his wife to Q manger in the barn at the
time when she needed the most delicate
care, giving as his reason that q second
days before that he drove all about the
neIghboring country looking for q modern
Mary. Failing in his search be went home
and broke two of his daughters ribs. 1t
possessed with devil. In fact. no instance
Is known whore he took q course of his own
treatment
Several times has Carter beaten some of
his adherents. they patiently snbmittin q
to the castIRetiOn. Often they have been
ordered by him to burn carriages. the TRIM
ming Of their children's hoods and hats,
and to put their wives on starvation diet,
all to cruelty the flesh. No doc
ter is ever allowed during illness. Lit
tie Nora Hamilton piteously pleaded for
medical aid to relieve her suffering. and
when the outraged neigh bors sent q ply
stefan she was past all help. When be ran
over the little daughter of Hugh Wigant.
of Watervliet. with a wsgon-load of hay.
Carter went through an incarnation over
the moaning, suffering child. When. rs
before. physician was sent, the little one
was found to be a cripple for life.
In spite of the torture which bis follow
ers must endure Carter is steadily gaining
converts. The man Ia not attractive In
speech or manner, The people in and
about Coloma have no hesitation in cay.
ing that the only devil in their community
who should be cast out is Carter himself.