The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-31
THE BOGUS CHRIST.
A Practical Joke Played on the
Faker Schweinfurth.
FOOLED THE LAW BY MIRACLES.
When Coudray Took Execution on
s5o.o 900 Judgment. the Fraud Had ,
No Property TO Levy On.

Frank T. Moran. editor OF the Belvi-
deere, H.. Daily Republican. who arrived
IN the city yesterday. accompanied by
Mrs Moran. tells a good story Of pree-
teal joke which was played on George
Jacob Schweinfurth. the bogus Christ,
at the time when Mr.. Moran was a re-
porter on the Daily Republican ct Rock
ford. H., where Schwsinfurth keeps has
heaven.
some enterprising reporters worked a
fake on Schweinfurth. said Mr. Moran
ae the Hotel Diller last evening, and
set the world 10 wondering why. after
securing marriage license for himself
and victim named Miss WELDON,
the marriage never took place. The fact
is that the two reporters employed a
stranger TO secure the license cor the
matrimonial candidates. and the officer
who issued II. not knowing but he was
the genuine applicant. Immediately tele-
phoned the fact TO both morning papers.
which published it. 1t was telegraphed
all over the country and the toys also
faxed an interview with Schweinfurth in
which he depicted his future married
state in a very happy style. The only
thing lacking, however. was the marriage
and that has never happened.
1.-THE wouid-he Christ stiIl has about
fifty women followers and some very in
tsiligent appearing men. among whom
ed short time since and on the witness
stand his people swore that they thought
he was the true Christ.
George W. Coudray of Chicago re-
Gently secured $50 900 Judgment against
Schweinfurth for alternating his wife's af-
fections, but before anything could he at
tached Christ had worked a miracle,
deciding his 800. 400 farm back 10 the We'll
bon family: John WELDON. the father of
the girl who was ruined. having given
the place to Schweinfurth. The only thing
and the total of his possessions found by
the officers amounted to Sl5, so great
was his unseen power.
'"rhe Chicago papers recently sent
female reporter to Rockford 10 get in
side information about the doings OF the
alleged Christ but after Joining the so
cieky and going through all OF the cere-
monies she could not learn thing.
Schweinfurth can quote every verse OF
the Bible from beginning to end, and he
can prove by certain processes OF reason
ing in a very plausible manner that he
really is the Christ.
Zone faithful woman follower recently
threw up the sponge and quit the
Schweinfurth belief. because when her
son had accidentally shot himself, he
self-named Christ did not restore him
to life, even though she begged and pray
ed upon her knees for hours in the most
Mr.. Moran. who is bright young man
OF but Is years. has had considerable
newspaper experience. He served as
reporter five years and two years as city
editor of the Rockford paper. and two
years ago bought the Weekly Repubh-
can of Belvidere and began issuing
daily edition. which has paid well from
the outset Mr.. Moran said: "Belvidere
has a population OF 5000, and a sewing
machine and bicycle factory combined.
in which 800 people are employed. The
wheels are OF a high grade. and OF course
the work is away behind the orders Hun
dreds of new bicycle factories are start
ing all over the East. but they cannot
get the tubing, and from this cause there
appears TO be no immediate prospect OF
an ED to the famine"
From the facts learned regarding the
cost of wheels from Mr.. Moran, ii seems
altogether likely that tho near future
may witness a very material decrease In
the selling price.