The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-10-03
FAITH LEADS SECT
TO FATAL TORTURE
Woman, Long an Invalid, Put to
Death in Zion City.
TO CAST OUT EVIL SPIRITS
Parhamites Wrench Her Limbs and
Shout Joyfully When She Screams
Son and Daughter Aid-Five
Fanatics Held For Grand Jury.

Chicago, Hl.-Five persons, menu
bers Of the sect of Parhamites, are
under arrest in Zion City accused OF
manslaughter in t~orturing to death
Mrs. Letitia Greenhaulgh, sixty-four
years old, to show their belief in the
religion they profess. The prisoners
are Walter and Jennie Greenhaulgh,
BOZ and daughter of the woman: Har-
old Mitchell, his wife and a Mrs.
Smith.
The sect OF Parhamites was found
ed about a year ago by Charles +.
ParhRm, and numbers about 200. The
members of the sect originally be-
longed to Dowie's church, and be-
heVed In the gift OF tongues, and es-
pectally in diabolical possession OF
the body by evil spirits.
Mrs. Greenhaulgh had been an in
valid for twenty-five years, having
suffered from paralysis and rheuma-
tism. Her condition convinced her
son and daughter and the three per-
sons arrested with them that she
must be possessed Of the devil, and
they determined to exercise the evil
spirit. The I'VE knelt by the bedside,
and after prayer commenced their
work.
The arms OF Mrs. GEeenhaulgh,
StiRened by rheumatism, were jerked
and twisted about In order that the
devil might be driven out. The cries
OF the aged woman were considered
to be those of an evil spirit and were
greeted with triumphant shouts. After
. course of this violent treatment
MIRO ia h rinh nnfE NATv hnrn~~
so weak that she could not use her
limbs. but became incapable of maxi
ing any motion. Then her neck was
twisted and for some time this treat
ment was kept up.
Walter Greenhau1gh testified at the
Coronerss inquest that Mitchell and
hb wife had recently had q vision"
In which Mitchell was ordered to quit
work and devote his time to casting
out demons from the sick. Young
Grsenhaulgh declared that his moth
er's consent was obtained before the
treatment was begun.
Greenhaulgh broke down and wept
as he told his story. He said that
for some time his mother bore the
treatment braTely, but at last the
agony became SO great that she could
not restrain herself and exclaimed.
y A1S 0A 04C
The i've worked over the victim
until she died. After that, according
to Qreenhaulgh, Mrs. Smith became
the leader in a resurrection scene"
In this efforts made to restore
the dead woman to life. When these
had failed the announcement OF her
death was made.
The Coroner's Jury held Harold
and May Mitchell, Miss Louise Smith
and Walter and Jennie Greenhaulgh
to the Grand Jury for the death OF
Mrs. Greenhaulgh. The autopsy
showed that both knees, both elbows,
the left collar bone and the neck had
been fractured. Dark discolorations
on the left groin, the right side and
the forehead gave proof OF other vio-
lence.
DR.. Taylor's statement to the jury
was that there was no question as to
the OF Mrs. Greenhaulgh's
death.
"The shock coming from these frac-
lures alone" he stated, would ba
enough to cause death to q much
stronger person than she. Each OF
them vas q complicated fracture.
The bones through long invalidism
were like dry sticks, and they broks
not only crosswise but longttudinally.
They spNntered and pieces Of bone OF
several sizes are found in each Of the
fractures"
Harold Mitchell and his wife were
held as principals, the others as ac-
c~essories. The jury said: I'VE find
that certain practices are being car
ried on Ia Zion City under the leader
ship Of one Parham which are both
d~isgracefu1 and dangerous to society,
and we believe that these practices
should be thoroughly investigated b.!
1 tho nranor ar&hnr;&3a1 -