The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-09-27
HELPLESS ZION CITY PATIENT,
MRS LETiTIA cREENHAULGH,
DIES FROM TORTURE.
SEEK TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS
Alleged Consplrators Arrested On
Murder Charge After Coroner
Views Body and Hears Weird
Story OF Her Death.


GA years old, 1900 Gabriel v
nue., Zion City, q follower of the
new religious sect, 1.-The Pahamites,"
was tortured to death, her arms,
legs and neck being fractured in an
effort to cast out demons so that
she might recover from rheumatism.
Five persons are now under arrest
at Zion City. They are charged with
~manslaughter.
The details of this case surpass any
of the tragedies which have occurred
in Chicago and Zion City as a result
of religious fanaticism since DR.. John
Alexander Dowie set up his first tent
in Chicago in worlds fair times.
The husband of tbs old woman was
not held. He was excluded from the
room in which the ceremony" was
performed, and had no opportunity
to interfere. This man has been in a
state of nervous collapse since he
learned what occurred in the torture
chamber.
The son Of the victim testified to
the ron as follows:
my mother had been suffering from
rheumatism for 20 years. For some
months she had received no treat
men.. Her arms and legs were crooked
and twisted by the disease, and she
was helpless. W. wanted to do some
thing for her. We did not know what
to do.
Our belief is that when one is sick
1t is because of the demons which
beset- you. We must start work at
once. 1 gave Mitchell $50 Not
for the ceremony he performed,
but because Gold told me to do it,"
What was the ceremony you men
tom" asked the oroner.
"We went into mothers room and
told her that the ceremony was to be-
gin. She said nothing. Mitchell took
her by one hand and pulled 1t away
from her body. She screamed terribly.
I did not know what to do. ! jumped
forward. but Mitchell held me back.
Mitchell put his hand over my
mothers mouth. He choked off her
cries He stopped her.
"'What are you doing?' I cried.
Don't hurt her
"He looked at me, and then said:
OF course / shall not hurt her. Those
cries are 10 her cries. That is the
screaming of the demons and devils
as they leave her. She Is all righi.
Heard Bones Break.
at was hard for ME to believe, but
l waited. He then stepped back from
beside mother and made some strange
motions, like a h%ypnotist. He said
many strange things. The light was
turned low. Mother moaned. Sister
and l could heardly zeal it.
Then Mitchell and his wife again
drew neal The body. They took her
arms and pulled them out straight.
There was a cracking sound. ] found
out afterwards they broke the bones,
! They did the same with her legs
They pulled at her head. They
pinched and worked with her flesh
She groaned and cried out. That, he
said, was the demons leaving her
body. She would be all right, he said,
again.
Then mother seemed to be quiet
After looking at me, she said: 4 was
in hell; l am in Heaven now
II took heart. l thought she meant
that she was getting better. l be
lieved that God was helping her.
When she said this they started work
with a renewed vigor. l again became
frightened because of that awful looi
Of pain in her face. / asked them tt
stop.
Mother Begged for Help.
my mother cried out to God. SHE
begged to him for help. She said: oh
Lord, help me- Again l begged then
to be careful. Mitchell told me not Il
be afraid; that she was getting bet
ter; that she vas helping by praying
to God. Then they began work on hel
hip. AS they worked / saw blood there
I was frightened. l demanded o
Mitchell what he meant.
ooh, that's Just corruption that Il
coming out with the demons he OK
planned.
"At this moment mother seemed
seized with a wonderful strength. Sh,
struggled and fought, although he
arms and legs were broken, and the.
took her by the head. The next mo
ment she fell back. There was n,
more struRgle.