The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-24
D0WIE TROUBLES IN OHIO.
Two Elders Given Coats of Tar at
Mansfield.

MANSFIELD. Ohio, Sept 23.-Again
trouble has occurred in this city over the
presence of Dowie representatives, and as
result Elders Silas Moot of Lima, Ohio.
| and Ephraim Bassinger, of BlufTton, Ohio.
received coats of tar today
After several elders of the church who
were sent to Mansfield had been mobbsd
| the authorities, to protect them, took them
into custody and sent them out of the city
again on the next train. This plan OF
action was followed several successive
Sundays and people were satisfied. The
authorities had tried every means in their
power to persuade leaders of the churcn
not to send preachers to Mansfield, but
without avail. The authorities then fol-
lAwed the plan of sending the elders out
of the city, and it was thought That the
trouble was over.
Last Sunday Elder Bassinger, of Bluff
tol, came to this city and the authorities
were threatened with an injunction in
case they took him into custody and with
writ of habeas corpus. The authorities
were thus rendered powerless, and Basin
ger held services at the home of E. H
Leiby, a local Dowieite, and a crowd of 300
people assembled. Bassinger and LeIay
were hustled to the depot by the citizens,
put on a train and warned not to return.
The telegram which Elder-at-Large Pipe
sent TO Governor Nash this week demand
ing that he send troops to Mansfield Sun
day aroused the citizens to action again.
When the Erie train, due in Mansfield
at 6:35 o'clock. arrived this morning Elders
Moot and Bassinger alighted and were rec
ognized by a crowd of fifty people who
were at the station. The two elders en-
deavored to secure a cab, but they were
nd CT ad IN wq IN N
city. When near the heart of he city a
crowd of 200 people met them and took
them in charge. Moot showed fight and
was pummeled and kicked by the mob.
Bassinger was also roughly handled. The
two elders were hurried away, followed by
a hooting mob which constantly increased
il numbers, to the Richland Buggy Com
paay, mile distant. The two were or
dered to disrobe. Moot refused and his
clothes were torn from him. The two were
placed in vat of roof tar stark naked
and were covered from the tops of their
head to their feet. The tar was poured on
in bucketfuls. Bassinger was again al
lowed to put on his garments and Moot
donned his shreds of clothing.
Followed by jeering. hootlng mob. the
two sorrowful looking objects were paraded
through the streets, targets for all kinds
OF missiles. Bassinger had tar in his hair
also coated with tar and one trouser leg
was entirely gone, showing the black
tarred flesh. At the head Of the procession
the two elders marched arm in arm. They
were marched to the home of E. H. Leiby
the local Zion leader, but it was found
that he had left the city and the march
was again taken UP into the city. dozen
policemen. in charge of Chief Barret, met
the mob and took the two elders in charge
They were taken to police headquarters
and vaseline, lard, and benzine were sent
for.
James P. Seward, who is Mayor Browns
legal adviser. donned a pair of overalls
and, assisted by a policeman and several
others, removed the coat of tar after a
couple of hours hard work The e.dars
were furnished bath and provided with
new clothing. Every provision was made
for their comfort by the authorities. Ell
ders Moot and Bassinger promised that
they would never again return to Mans
fed If It was in their power to prevent
1t. 1t had been their intention to hold
services in the Zion Tabernacle in the
morning and evening.
An indictment is hanging over Piper
for libel. and he would have been ar
rested by the authorities had he arrived
here today. Moot and Bassinger were
taken to the Erie train, due at Mansfield
at noon, followed by large crowd and
sent on to Lima The trouble originated
in Mansfield over sne TRADE OF abuse
heaped upon an classes Of people by the
Dowie representatives, and by "Leay es
of Healing" the official publication of
the sect. The citizens were stirred up
over the death of children caused by
their being treated with prayers in
stead of by physicians.