The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-28
SAYS HE IS ADAM.
O'Donohue Demands Recognition and
Support by Jews.

DIR. Henry Pereira Mendes, q rabbi, West
Ninth street, New York, who on the night Of
March 5, 1892, was shot and almost murdered
by a Moorish beggar named Jose Mesrachri
whose demand for money he had refused
has b had another experience with n crank who
wanted money. The man is now locked up
az police headquarters.
He gave his name John i. O'Donohue
he said he was n printer. 81 years old, and
lived at No. Eleventh street. Hoboken. He
was arrested at Rabbi Mendes house by de-
tectives Krauch and stringer. o'Donohue
believes he is Adam. and that he is on earth
second time. lie has a birthmark on his heel
which he says makes him believe he is Adam.
He demands that as no Is Adam the children
of Adam should support him like a gentle.
man.
o'DoNoHUE's QUEER LETTER.
DR.. Mendes received the following letter
from O'Donohue yesterday:
DEAR sIR-For 20 years have been assert.
ing myself TO le Ewes heel, and Ewes heel
was Adam, the founder of the genealogy OF
the Jewish books OF the Old Testament. and i
am therefore the Adam of the Jewish race.
Now, am compelled TO say that / must be
recognized among the Jewish people of the
city OF New York, and / insist upon your
priests and people making my acquaintance
SOCIALLY ana proVldlnH me from the fnultl-
tudes OF your riches with any money in any
amount. have discussed the matter in all
it's bearings for 20 years, and in the plainest
language / assert that will not he stripped
of every material thing ana right which
possess upon earth. There is law which
can prevent you from making my acquaint-
ance and supply my wants. j remain, yours
truly, JOHN L. UDoNoHUE.
N. B.-You can communicate this letter to
any other rabbi or persons you may see Mt,
and desire you to act like human beings and
answer my communication in person. l
would suggest that a committee be appointed
TO make my acquaintance, and visit me AT my
own homo that l may ask Of them. This
matter Is not a matter of church forms and
ceremonies: II is not "a matter Of Circum-
cisiop. It Is y matter OF family blood and as.
by the Bible. am the first man mentioned in
tn" world, the Creator having spoken TO Eve
concerning her heel before Cain was born. /
am necessarily Adam. / have birthmark
upon my heel Therefore demand recogni-
tion from the jewish people, who were the
tion from Adam to Jesus Christ, where the
gsnealogy has strangely ended.
Whom Dr. Mendes received this letter he
hurried to police headquarters and showed il
tn Captain o'Brien. The latter advised him
to make an appointment with O'Donohus and
invite him to call at his home. Rabbi Mendes
made the appointment. and when o'Donohus
called ut II o'clock yesterday morning the
detectives were there to receive him. They
took him to headquarters. O'Donohue took
his arrest cooliy.
BE DEMANDS RECOGNITION.
In the detective bureau when questioned he
said:
81 am Adam. of the Jewish race. / demand
recognition by the Jewish people. have
birtbmark on my left heel The Bible speaks
Tef crushing the serpent,s head with the heel
ana believe the mark on my heel was OBJ
tanned through the crushing Of the serpents
head. l discovered it accidentally while
washing my feet. / can see spirits around
me IN the air. Sometimes the spirits inter.
fere with me-"
Asked IL he was p jew he said:
''If / am Adam why the jews are descend
ants from Adam. The children Of Adam
should support me like IA gentleman. /
merely went to DIR. Mendes to ask him about
Jewish history. am very particular to avoid
anything of a criminal character. There are
many oranks and bumbugs about. l am no
fool, but a very careful man.
"The Christian doctrine is resurrection of
the dead. ] have been born again. have
visions Of having lived before. havo vision
Of the flood. don't know where Eve is. I've
been looking for her. ] don't know whether
she is alive or not have interviewed some
Of the daughters of Eve"
o'Dopohue took his shoe Oft and showed the
detectives the birthmark on his heel. It is a
small red mark o'Donohue appears to be in
telligent
When detectives Krauch and Striuger ar
raigned o'Donobue, before Magistrate Brann
in jefferson Market Court. the prisoner
seemed to be perfectly sane on every su bject
except that Of his reincarnation Of Adam.
Magistrate Brapn committed the prisoner
10 Bellevue Hospital for an examination as to
his sanity.