The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-30
IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
SHOCKING TALE OF CRUELTY BY
 FAITH WORKERS IN OLD LYME.

phlIA " OIth 1yAto IN OLD LAIuA1s Holiness Band Bound Over to the Superior
 Court-Rites Inflicted Upon Mrs. Albina
 Msther, an Aged Cripple-Four Witt
 nesses Testify to the Treatment by the
 Alleged Miracle Workers.
 Lyme, Conn.,, Oct. 29.-Before Justice Old Lyme to-day Mr. and Mrs. Ansel Champion, MT. and Mrs. Herbert Cal- kins. Wilbur Anderson and Charles Young, members of the Holiness Band, were given a. hearing on g. charge all leging assault and battery and breach of the peace upon Mrs. Albina Mather, an aged cripple whom they sought to cure of rheumatism by faith and treatment altogether religious. Proba- ble cause was found and all of the &C., cused were bound over for trial in the superior court under bonds of $75 each. The decision in the case was reached at 4:45 o'clock this afternoon after hearing which lasted from a. m. until | ined. Dr. William H. 1T. Wallace, the | physician who attended MT. Mather, Mrs. Elizabeth Green, with whom Mrs. Mather lived; Mrs. Lida Howard, member of the Holy Ghosters, and Mrs. Mather, the alleged victim.
 The hearing was replete with sensa- tional incidents. None of the accused wished counsel, Anderson particularly being emphatic on that point. He pre- ferred to have the case tried before another magistrate. MT. Caulkins in- dulged in a. religious harangue, claim ing that he preferred to leave the matt | ter to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was quieted with some difficulty. Through out the policy of the accused was con- 1 fessedly one of resignation and satis- faction of their innocence.
 1 Mrs. Elizabeth Green, with whom Mrs. Mather lives, was at Young's house on l the night of October Il, when the faith cure test was made. Her story on the witness stand proved that the reports in circulation about the fanaticism of this band have not been exaggerated. She said that on the night in question twelve members of the Holiness Band" including all the accused, were at Charles Young's house. Mrs. Ma ther was taken from Mrs. Greens house to Young's house in a buggy. She was first anointed with oil and then placed in rocking chair. The mem- bers of the band formed a circle about here and with hands joined, sang and marched around. The witness descrip- tion of the next occurrences were deci- dedly sensational. She continued:
 "After a while Mr. and Mrs. Cham pion shook Mrs. Mather's chair fearful- ly Finally the old woman fell out. Previously, MT. Young in a sort of Il spasm of religious ecstacy had fallen prostrate at Mrs. Mather's feet, and as the victim was thrown from her chair her body fell across that of Young and her forehead struck heavily on the floor.
 Young took the old woman in his arms and threw her from his body on to the
 floor, The band meanwhile continued to sing.
 .'The old woman lay on the hoor
 eroaning. begging for water and ass-
 ing to be picked up. Anderson put his
 foot under her and turned her over. !
 started to pick her up, but something
 within me restrained me. ThenAnder-
 son, Champion, Caulkins and Young joined hands and swayed from one
 side of the room to the other, shouting and singing, and finally all fell on the
 floor exhausted. They remained there l half an hour.
 "This thing went onfrom il o'clock at night until after in the morning. F1n-
 ally Caulkins started toward. the pros- s trate old woman with the remark: The
 Lord didn't want her picked up. but will do it. and the unfortunate woman was put to bed in Young's house.
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