Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-27
COLD BATH TO
DRIVE DEVIL OUT
PREACHER TRIES TO OFFER a
HUMAN SACRIFICE
Fires Household FurnIture-When
Mrs. James lie Being "cIeansed" in
Open Field Nelehbors interiors.
Mad Wagon Preachers DoInqs
special to The Herald.

GRBENSBURG, Pa. Jan. 26.--An-
drew Lohr. a wandering gospel wagon
preacher, is in the county jail and Mr..
and Mrs. Samuel James of near Stahis-
town, Cook township, are said to be
insane as n result Of n week OF weird
religious rites at the James home.
Bohr was arrested yesterday after
noon by Constable Milton Hines on an
Information sworn out by neighbors
before Squire Elmer Miller of Stahls-
town. It is alleged that besides wreck
ing their home by his teachings Lohr
inducede James to burn nearly $1,000
worth OF furniture, attempted to sacri-
fee at the stake a fine four-year-old
Durham bull and his 10-year-old son,
and wound up by treating Mrs. James
to cold bath, stripped, in an open
field, to drive out the evil spirit Lohr
said possessed her.
Before offering UP the furniture as
sacrifice Lohr removed 5000 that had
been placed In a sofa for safe keeping.
A month ago Lohr began making
his headquarters at the James home.
He was bitterly opposed to the accu-
mutation of money. Mr.. James was the
first of the family to be won over and
Mrs. James followed. They were to be
the first followers of the new savior
sent to purify mankind.
Burned Household Furniture
A sacrifice of worldly goods was pro-
posed for Sunday morning. The organ
and other household goods. including
furniture and pictures, were piled In
heap in the yard They were then set
aflre and consumed. A banjo owned
by the eldest son was the last article
thrown on the fire. It was tossed a lit
tie high in the air by Mr.. James and
fell on the other side. Young James
made an effort to save 1t, but Lohr
xUraefad ~ hta hQnda nffoT a
struggle and, after smashing 1t to
pieces, threw II into the fire. The hap
tism of Mr.. and Mrs. James followed
the sacrifice. Lohr breathed into both
their mouths the breath of publication
and holiness he said, after sousing
them thoroughly with cold water.
On Tuesday great preparations we're
made for the sacrifice of a fine four
yaar-old Durham bull owned by
James. The animal is anything but
gentle, but Lohr claimed he could walk
out in the field and lead the bovine
right up to the sacrificial fire. A big
stake was driven In the ground and
wood gathered. Then Lohr sailed forth
after the bull. Then the bull sailed
forth after Lohr, and nearby fence
saved the man from sacrifice Lohr
told James and his family the bull
had too much of the devil in him for a
proper sacrifice, anyway. and accord
burn James 1O-year-old son. which, 1t
was added, was actually agreed to,
and the boy only escaped after des-
perate struggle.
Neighbors interiors
On Wednesday the climax came
when Lohr Informed James that Mrs.
James would have to be cleansed of
the eva spirit that possessed her. The
wornan's husband agreed. A large tub
was filled with cold spring water.
Every stitch Of clothing was removed
and the shivering woman was led to
an open field, where Lohr and James
were interrupted by neighbors who
found the two men pouring water over
her body with small buckets.
The matter, however, was brought to
the attention of the township authori-
ties and the arrest of Lohr followed
At the hearing before Squire Miller the
James family testified to many strange
rites that Lohr had performed and
subjected them to.