The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-14

have ara lndependent religious riat-
form MrH. q hmidi has a husband.
who iH IN Alaska She ~ the moth
- u Hix youue children the young
ebt 81 whom ia but twe years old
Mfa Nelson IL plain featured
wufuau. and her only interest ia lie
has been IN hor husband. her chill
drsu and her religion. sh- II o.
Swedish Lutheran SHE has toll.d
early and late In the service ot her
family
when In broken English ana with
tears ia her eyes. she told her story
on the witness stand yesterday. she
Wuu the sympathy % tho entire Au-
disnre. 81 said that hcr Husband
had told h~r frequently that she " a.
b follower - the devil. and spent
most Of bis tirne when hs WIS no,
preaching. In prnlNinE Mrn. schmidt
and her good works
7 could bear with my husbands
oddities. Mrs Nelson snbbed. be.
cause ~ ~ the father % my chill
dfsn. and loved him: but ! cam
not stand II to have him pu, an
other woman IN my place and then
say he Il doing the will 81 Cod
peculiar feature Of the casr 10
that until five years ago Neiaon
seofusd religion % any kiua The
Death % scn, 90 whom he vas
much attached. resulted IN his con >
version. and for some time he AZ.
tended the Lutheran church with his
wife. A year or 80 ago he invented
a religion % his own. took to street
preaching. and has attempted 90
force his family 20 give up their
church and attend his meetings
NfaaHa a ~.
became convinced that II was hts
duty ~ hold meetings Tor their su.
recial benefit az home. and hts wife
and children say he preached 10
them from different texts mornins.
noon and night
Nelson. who was tho first % tee
tlfy IN the case. told the court that
ne wanted divorce because the
Lord had told him "a get one. He
said he hated his wife. aud had long
believed Mrs schmidt Ia 10 tho hest
woman IN the world 70 and she
he said. were very likely the only
two persons IN Seattle who would
be able 10 pass ~ Peter At the
golden gate. with "A whine in his
voice. he complained that his wife
scratched his face when be told her
he loved Mrs schmidt and tried 10
keep her from going - church.
Nelson u a large man. wiih rnth-
er "A handsome. though nuiicn face
lie dresses well and always seems
70 have plenty ~ money he had
few Witnesses. and his attempt toI
make out q case Of cruelty against
his wife was pitifuiiv weak
Mrs. Nelson's Witnesses told Of
an occasion when one Of the NeIaes1
children was badly burned Tn.
preacher. who also claims 10 be IA
divine healer locked the child IN "a
room ana prayed over n. uutu Tho
neighbofa alarmed by ita screams
rushed in. and assisted the fnother
70 break down the door and get q
doctor.
Mrs. Schmidrs sister. Mrs Meyers
who r. an ardent mission worker.
ana her mother. n sweet-faced old
lady. who u broken hearted nt her
daughters departure from the or
thodoN way 81 living and believing
both testified In Mrs. Nelson's be-
half
Mrs Meyers denounced her sister
strongly. saying that she had
brought disgrace upon her family
and told Of time when she had
seen Nelson ana her sister sitting |
On the sofa together, "Spooning I'M |
a way what sisters and brothers In |
the Lord hadn't ought TO-"
Mrs. Schmidts mother testified
that Nelson had been and 10 now
living with Mrs. Schmidt IN open adj
1ltery, and wept ~ she told OF her
six little grandchildren, who she