The Washington times., 1904-07-02
REHFRO CALLS
CURE MIRACLE
Negro Became Mute While
Doubling God.
TO BECOME AN EVANGELIST
Declares Almighty Deprived Him of
His Senses to Convince
Him.

SHREVEPORT. La. July Enjoying
greater degree of notoriety than any
other person in Louisiana, St. Julian
Renfro exists an enigma TO black ana
white alike in Shreveport. Since Thurs
day when he suddenly recovered his
speech and hearing, Of which he has
been deprived since the night of Tues
day. May 81. the interest In his case,
both among the whites and the mem
bers OF his own race, has become IN
tense.
Renfro IL a medium-sized negro pos
sessed Of good features and so light
IN color as 10 be easily mistaken for a
white man. He has light blue eyes,
which are large, and are, perhaps. his
most noteworthy feature. He dresses
neatly. expresses himself easily and well
and in other ways shows his intelH-
gence.
Renfro was born IN Shreveport and is
tSenty-one years cid. according to his
statements. Until the last three or four
years he has resided with his mother
and sistcr-in-law, with whom he has
made his home ever since he came into
prominence in Chicago. During the
month in which he was deprived of
speech and hearing he spent the time
in studying the Bible. with the view. as
he said today, OF fitting himself for a
career Of INSTRUMENTATION evangeu-
cal work among members Of his own
race.
The Negroes Belief.
Shreveport is a very wicked city"
said he earnestly, and I shall begin my
work here although I shall probably not
conilne IL here. / intend to devote my
he TO the ministry without regard 10
denomination l now believe firmly in
the existence of a God, and believe
Just as honestly that l was deprived Of
my senses In order that l might be con-
Nlnced Of the truth of that fact
DO not want money. II that was
what had wanted l could have got
plenty Of it in Chicago 1 Joined the
Methodist Church, but 1 have not been
what you call protesting Christian for
some years. l feel that my case has
Deen the means Of attracting widespread
attention and believe that will assist
me IN the work that I intend to do.
have received hundreds Of letters. They
nave come from every State in the
Union and Canada.
Inc most OF them We're inquiries as
70 the truth OF my story and these were
& answered when stamps were fnclosed.
tefs, several Of whom made me Offers
= 70 80 on The lecture platform with them
Sle proposition was from minister fn
6 Sf1SsISoh, VINO wished me to come there,
OI1erlng 20 pay all my expenses"
Speaking Of the theory advanced In
some quarters that he was under
aypnotie influence. Renfro said some
What bitterly: Yes, 1 know. / ex
pected all that but what else could I
eNpect In the South, where negro ignor-
ahce Is the one prevailing idea %
To Reveal the Secret.
When questioned regarding the man
her in which the intimation that his
seases would be restored to him was
received, Renfro was reticent. and re-
marked that he did not care to tell nm
til after Sunday.
among the intelligent white people of
tne community the belief is that Rem
FRO has either been shamming or is The
Vicum OF hypnotic suggestion. the lat
Ter view being more generally held IN
medical circles where the case has been
DR. Randall Hunt. chief surgeon of
the shreveport Charity Hospital TO
Whom RenfrO is well known, said: The
DD4 1eLIfo Is undoubtedly a case OF
3-lO-susP SsllCllr not uncommon As 4
oCy working IN a local drug store hC
W@s OIIen hypnOuZed and was an easv
s-DJtcL Incoubtedly these experiments
o. auto-suS6esti with the attendant
result
Dr. Julian Saenger. in whose drug
store heuiro was employed for nearly
Two years prior 10 RenfrO's trip to Chi
caro-, is even more emphatic I'm the be
Let that the negro was a victim OF
hypnotic suggestion.
Maiden, Mass. July 2.-Frcderlck NJ
Eoboins. OF this city. has IN his posses
son letter. signed st Julian Reufro. ."
which confirms the published report that
person OF that name whose home IS
- shreveport. la. was recently stricken
deaf and dumb while in the act OF DENY
!-G God
According % the story. Renfro. who
ls tEenty-oEe years old. had been play
Ing whist with some friends in Chicago.
whe-e he had been living. when the con
versatiOn turned 90 religion and RcuTrO
remarked IL God would demonstrate
Himself In ne iu some Way-fOr instance.
II lie would STRIKE nae deaf and dumb or
blind might believe in Him"
Hardly had the words been uttered
when rs Clasped his hands % his head
and fell scuseless TO the floor When he
was revived e. was found by physicians
that he had lost the faculties Of speech
and hearing.