The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-03-08
WAR ON FALSE GOD.
Authorities Of WaIworth County, s. D.,
Anoered by Fanatical Band.

Authorities Of WaIworth County, s. D.,
Ansered by Fanatical Band.
The authorities Of Walworth county
have declared war against an individ-
ual named Jacob Merkel, who claims
to be Christ, and who has become, in
the opinion of the authorities, a very
dangerous person to be at large.
Merkel Is a religious fanatic of the
extreme type, and at least one death
and an attempt at arson is alleged to
he directly traceable to his fanatical
teachings. The alleged victim of his
influence was Karl Moser, a farmer,
who recently committed suicide by
strangling himself after he had in
formed his wife that he had been in
structed by Christ to sacrifice himself
for the sins Of the world.
Moser was an intimate friend of
Merkel, and the coroner's jury which
investigated Moser's death returned a
verdict containing these words: The
direct cause of suicide being religious
insanity, which in turn has been orig.
mated and fostered by close ~associa-
ton with one Jacob Merkel, whose
pernicious influence unhinged the meh-
tai balance of deceased"
There was evidence tending to show
that Merkel threatened that II Moser
did not take his own life he (Merkel)
would kill him. 1t was believed by the
religious fanatics with whom Moser as
ISOLATED that Moser would return from
the dead on the third day after he end
ed his own life, but they were disap-
pointed.
The fanatics refused to bury the
dead man, even after they had lost all
hope of his coming back to life, and
other neighbors had to perform this
service.
For months Merkel has been a dis
turbing element in the community in
which the tragic death Of Moser &C.
Cured, and has on frequent occasions,
it is said, inntimidated his neighbors
by oral threats of killing, burning and
destroying. He also has used the mails
to send his literature to those who
have refused to believe in him.
The records of the county show that
he has been accused Of attempting to
kill a resident of the neighborhood
because God told him to-" Moser at
the time Of his death at his W hands
was under bonds for his appearance at
the next term Of state circuit court in
Walworth county for trial on the
charge of arson.
Those who investigated the case dis
covered that Moser, who. as stated,
was an intimate friend and disciple Of
Merkel, was seen with Merkel shortly
before he (Moser) set fire to Kerner's
dwelling house, the offense having
been committed late last year.
After Moser's death his neighbors
were afraid to enter the house where
his body lay for fear Of being shot,
they said, and nom of the neighbors
would consent to act as administrator
for the widow for fear Of offending
Merkel.
DR.. A. Bell, coroner of Walworth
county, In discussing the presence in
his county of these religious fanatics,
said:
THE danger in having at large per-
sons so afflicted is very great, because
the tendency of the disease is toward
homicide as we'll as suicide. One a
readily perceive the small mental jump
required to switch from homicide to
suicide, and that a person with the
false belief of being Christ himself
does not feel himself bound by any
law, human or divine. He becomes a
dangerous outlaw, and should have
that proper rest and treatment that the
state provides for such at the Yankton
hospital for the insane.
Testimony shows that there exists
in the northeast corner of Walworth
county a very hotbed of insanity, re-
sulting in a state of lawlessness hard
to believe"
The coroner's Jury in the Moser case
recommended that vigorous means
should be adopted by the authorities
of Walworth county to put a stop to
the undue influence. religious or other.
wise. exerted by Jacob Merkel, the
false Christ" upon the followers of his
religious decisions.
In view of this, 1t is probable that an
effort will be made in the near future
to place Merkel and his more fanatical
followers In the state hospital for the
insane.