Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-18
YOGI PRIEsTESS TOOK
HER OWN LIFE
was Prosecuted Because of the In,
decent Literature She Put
Ont for the Public.

NEW YORK. October II.-(Speciall.
Miss Ida Craddock, a high priestess an
pastor of the church OF Yogi, and mis-
sionary of her peculiar philosophy IN TINS
city. killed herself last night by taxing
illuminating gas at her home. ISL west
Twenty-third street Her body was FOUND
In her room this morning Her suicide
was undoubtedly caused by prosecuLiohs
which she suffered for circulating DOORS
and pamphlets in the propaganda Oh hef
remarkable tenets.
They were so bold that not only An
thony Comstock. but the United States
authorities had her arrested She served
three months on Blackwells Island lot
circulating a book called The " eddih.
Night" having been convicted last MarcA
and she was to have appeared IN inc
United States Court BEFORE Judge Ihoflas
this morning for sentence under conYc-
ton of sending obscene matter thFous
the mails.
Miss Craddock was about 20 years OF
age. She was a woman OF remarkably
fine appearance. She was always beauti-
fully eowned She was unQuestlonably
woman of great culture and mental az
tainments, and her persistence in cIrcu'
lating her nasty books in the face OF th'
protests of decent persons and the Adi
OF the law passed the comprehension 0.
all who came in contact with her
Miss Craddock's home was original!
in Denver She first came into puoA'
prominence during the worlds fair by ne
defence of the Danse du Ventre, on
solemnly maintained that the dance wax
a most sacred religious performance AM
held that only those OF foul nina SouiH
possibly see i'll in II. She wrote ana ite
tured on the subject, and some Oh '"'
things she said were so botd that l1oI'
were almost raised among her auditors
Phallic worship was TO her pure reHgl1h'
and she did not hesitate 10 say So As
the result of her writings in Chicaso
she was sentenced to three months IN tA'
penitentiary but sentence was suspehaea
and she left there for New fork. 'Hs
had several conflicts with Anthony IoHi,
stock. but she mapaged TO keep our %
prison until she published her DOOR, 4'
Wedding Night.
This was so broad that she wal
arrested ana tried before d court "
special sessions last March She was oe
tended by Hugh O. Pentrost. and ooa.
DR.. William S. Rainsford and "iiI!2iti l
Stead, the great English editor, indofse.
her book IT. part. but this did not sa''
her from prison she got tifee t,'.L
William T. Stead wrote a letter, "H!.'
vas produced: in court. in which ne spoH.
Of her having worked on lis paper Il
| England for two years. and testified 70 hFi
high moral character.
She served her term and then the | ni'a
States authorities got after her As S.'
saw no hope TO escape punishment the.s
she undoubtedly preferred 70 ole rasA7'
than undergo Imprisonment a second Cfso
She lived on the top floor in htle
parely-furnished hall room The ~oila.
was dead in bed with q gas tube IN Es.
mouth She was In her night gown ~
| ner side was an open book, Inc ~
Heaven There was a letter when nn
later turned over to the coroner -n
Craddock. who lives in this city. was Nv ~,
tilted and took charge OF the booy'
| the door hen of the apartment ABOVE ,"'
wonan's name were these WORDS. ~
structor OF Divine Science.