The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-21
HAD POWER TO REGULATE
HOME LIFE OF FOLLOWERS
Mrs. Tlneey Says She Had Power TO
Select Place Where Members Eat
and SIeep-tiad Dog With
Peculiar Traits.

San Francisco, December 20-Formal
evidence was turned TO what purports to
be remarkable revelation of the inner
workings of the theosophicaI institution
at Point Iona at tday's session of the
pending trial of an action for libel. in
which Mrs Catherine Tingley, head of
the Universal Brotherhood is plaintiff
against The Times Mirror company of
Los Angeles, defendants. This evidence
is In the form of a deposition made by
Louis S. Fitch of 200 Bond street, Hart
ford, Conn., The deponent said he was
employed as a bookkeeper by the Univer-
sal Brotherhood of which he became
member and had privileges accorded to
few others. He said Mrs. Tingley was re-
garded as prophet in line of succession,
including Buddha, Christ and Mahomet.
and that she had told deponent that mar
riage relations. as known to the world, in
her belief were wholly false and pervert-
ed, and that people who lived the life at
Point Iona would evolve so as to reach
a stage where marriage would not be
necessary.
Mr. Fitch said he lived at Point Iona
from August 1900 to March 1901.
Pledge sesg binding.
He said the pledge Of the Esoteric So
ciety OF Theosopha swas very binding.
members taking oath o1obey THE lead
ers in all things, the leader being Cath
crime Tingley Mrs Tingley had absolute
control over everything and everybody.
and she exercised this In the minutest
detail. She regulated where all the MEM
bers should lodge what they should eat
and where they should eat at; whom they
should have conversation with; whom
they should walk or talk with, and whom
they must not speak to or look at. De-
ponent testified that Mrs. Tingley had
dog named shot" and further said:
Mrs. Tingley told me that Shot was a
great deal more than pet. I believe
know, said Mrs. Tingley. that Mr..
Judges spirit entered into Shot at his
death. Mr.. Judge gave Shot to me at
the time of his death, and at the time I
assumed the leadership of the Universal
brotherhood as his successor"
Could Stop Relations.
The deponent testified further that Mrs.
Tingley's supervision of the intercourse
of members extended to interference of
relations between the members of the
same family; that she did not allow Mr..
and Mrs. Anson, who were inmates, to
speak with their own children; that the
colony was patrolled by armed guards.
and that restrictions were placed upon
the entrance of visitors.
Mr.. Fitch described somS OF the cere-
monies performed in connection with some
of the orders to which he belonged. The
costume prescribed for all meetings, ex-
cept the Sunday morning services, con-
sisted of a cheese cloth, belted with
cord at the waist this garment to be
worn over underclothing only, and that
no starched clothing was 10 worn, ac-
cordng to Mrs. Tngleys orders
Mr.. Fitch said further that Mrs. Ting
ley was a very hard worker. and, al
though her official title was that OF lead
er, she was frequently addressed as "Pur-
ple' by her official cabinet, and oftentime
as 'P" and frequently as mother" un-
til she requested that the latter be
stopped. Mr.. Fitch affirmed that to his
own knowledge women members or the
colony were employed at hard work In
the gardens and fields.