The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-21
Deposition of Louis s. Fitch, Who Was
Bookkeeper for the '.Priestess"
mt Point Iona.
QUEER CEREMONIAL DRESSES
CHEESE CLOTH BELTED AND A CORD
ABOUT THE WAIST.
Mr.. Judges Spirit Alleged by Mrs.
TingIey to Have Entered Spot, a
Dog Once Owned by Mr.. Judge.

SAN DIEGO. Cal, Dec 2O-The formal
evidence was turned to what purports to
be a remarkable revelation of the inner
workings of the theosophical institution at
Point Iona that to-days session of the
pending trial of an action for libel in which
Mrs. Katherine Tingley, head of the Uni
versal Brotherhood. is plaintiff. against the
Times Mirror Company, of Los Angeles, de-
PENDANTS. This evidence is in the form of
a deposition made by Louis S. Fitch, of 200
Bond street, Hartford, Conn. The deponent
said he was employed as a bookkeeper by
the Universal Brotherhood, of which he
became a member and had privileges ac-
corded to few others. He stated that Mrs.
Tingley was regarded as a prophet in line
of succession, including Buddha, Christ and
Mahomet, and that she had told deponent
that marriage relations known to the
world in her belief were wholly false and
perverted, and that people who lived the
life at Point Iona would evolve so as to
reach stage where marriage would not be
necessary.
Mr. Fitch said he lived at Point Iona
from August, 1900, till March, 1901. He said
the pledge of the Esoteric Society of The
osophy was very binding with members
taking the oath to obey the leaders In all
things, the leader being Katherine Tingley
Mrs. Tingley had absolute control over
everything and everybody, and she exer-
cised this in the minutest detail. She regu-
lated where every member should lodge,
what they should eat and where they should
eat at; whom they should have CONVERSE
ton with; whom they should walk or talk
with, and whom they must not speak TO or
look at.
Deponent testified that Mrs Tingley had
dnp nod nd
Mrs. Tingley told me that Spot was a
great deal more than a pet. i believe l
know said Mrs Tinglsy: that Mt is Judge 1dstb
Mr.. Judge gave spot" to me at the time
of his death. and at the time that l as
sumed the leadership of the Universal
Brotherhood as his successor.
The deponent testified further that Mrs.
Tingley's supervision of the intercourse OF
members extended to interference of rela-
tons between the members OF the same
Mrs. Arson, 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 some of the cere-
monies performed in connection with some
of the orders to which he belonged. The
costume prescribed for all meetings and
gatherings, except the Sunday morning
services, consisted of a cheese cloth with
out clothes, belted with a cord at the waist,
this garment to be worn over under cloth
ing only, and that no starched clothing was
to be worn. according to Mrs. Tingley 8
orders.
Mr. Fitch says further that Mrs. Tingley
was a very hard worker and that, although
her official title was that of leader she
was frequently addressed as Purple" by
her official cabinet and oftentimes as
''P" and frequently as Mother until she
requested that the latter be stopped. Mr..
Fitch affirmed that, to his own knowledge.
women members of the colony were en-
ployed at hard work in the gardens and
fields.