The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-30
Bright Six-Year.Old Girl thd
Victim of Her Uncle in
Religious Frenzy.
RAVES LIKE MADMAN
AND SAYS HE is GOD
Robert Bachman, Former Cement.
worker Of Nazareth, and Recent
Leader Of the Devil Chas- i
crs,' to Which He Had Be- I
come Converted, Says He
Did No Wrong.
.AzARETH. PA. April 2a.-"God
drove the devil out of her. Fof
hours we stood by praying for

Il
/ droVe the devil out of her. Fot
| ~ hours we stood by praying for
\ ms victory. He has triumpted.
600, who is my husband, killed
her Mrs. Robert Bachman, sister
in-law OF one OF Northampton county.s
mlllionaires. made this statement ia
the authorities here when Questioned
about the strange death OF May Irene
smith, her siX-year-old niece.
The childs death, which occurred
some time Monday. was the outcome Of
religious orgy OF a new sect styling
themselves Devil Chasers," that lasted
from late Saturday afternoon until thh
little one died.
The child's body Is horribly m,,ti.
lated, the flesh on the legs and back
having been torn into shreds. The
tragedy occurred here In the home ot
ROBERT Bachran, brother OF wealthy
cement manufacturer of Alliance. Pa.
In their frenzy tho Devil Chaserss
literally wrecked the place from cellar
to roof Doors were wrenched from
their fastenings. window frames hauled
out, and furniture smashed SO that not
trace of its original form remains.
The fact that the torn and mutilated
or a collie dog belonging to Bachman
were found scattered about leads the
authorities to believe that the Smith,
child may have been killed in some
horrible sacrfficial rite.
The shrieks of the fanatics attracted
scores of persons on Sunday. Half.
nude men nnd women. the latter with
disheveled hair. would appear at a
window. From the faces and bodice
OF some blood streamed. evidence ot
the bodily excoriation inflicted in the
strange worship.
Quit Place to Lead Sect.
Until six months ago Bachnan was
lconsidered one of the best workmen
at the cement factory OF his brother.
the Devil Chasers. which had Its
Iheadquarters in Reading, sent mission
aries through this section. Bachman
embraced the strange belief. Soon a
congregation was formed; sentries
guarded the meetings with revolverst
and none was admitted without pass
word. Bachman gave up his position
and became the leading spirit OF the
band.
After considerable persuasion his
broth er-in-law, Councilman Smith,
agreed to attend a meeting at the Bach
man house Saturday night last, with
his wife and little daughter.
From the time the Smiths arrived.
late Saturday afternoon, until the
death Of the child services continued.
WOrshippers Eat No Food.
No food passed the lips of the wor-
shippers. When the child cried for
food she was put in a room away from
where the services were being held.
When the child began crying. Bach
man, 1t is said, declared she was pos
sessed of devil and that they must
drive 1t out. Then began the hideous
scene. In the mind of Bachman, The
devil jumped Leon the child to
bureau. The furniture was promptly
sma shed. Then he said the devil was
on the ceiling. Holes We're punched in
1t. Once it was supposed to have
alishted on Mrs. Bachman. and she
was driven with blows and curses from
the house.
So it continued for hours. Mrs.
Smith was the ono who discovered
hor daughters body. Although she
herself was one of the most enthusi-s
astic In the devil chasing she says
that when she heard her little one
calling for her she ran to the child's
room.
My baby was dead she sobbed.
"Bachman was on the floor beside her
and praying"
Mrs. Bachman made statement to
the coroner 1t is asserted. In which
she says her husband jumped repeatad-f
ly on the chld's body.
Held for Grand Jury. s;52
The coroner's jury late to-day rend-t
cred a verdict charging BacEnnan with
the murder Of Irene May Smith. The
surgeons who made the post naorten
examination found that death was due
- ga ac,r,
formally charged with the murder In
the morning.
Mrs, Smith, motheE OF the little girl.
swore that her brother, Bachman, kill
led the child during a fit of religious
frenzy While she and her husband vera
IN another part OF the house. The
jury Went to the Bachnlan house, and
In the room where the child was killed
everything was smashed to pieces Mrs.
Smith was released on bail after the
inquest. Her husband is in Jail His
condition is serious, Bachman raves
like madman and insists that he
committed no wrong.
Are Cement Workers.
Smith and Bachman are braNsny
cement mill workmen, Rachman is
married, but his only child died one
year ago. He is thirty-two years OF
age. and is a brother OF DR.. j. A.
Bachman, OF Napa, Call who is largely
interested In cement, holding the con;
trolling interest In the Northampton
Portland Cement Company, at Stocker-
town. near here.
Robert Bachman was formerly as-
islstant to the general manager of ths
Dexter Portland Cement Company. OF
Nazareth. and recently resigned. last
Saturday his brother offered him ths
isuperintendency OF the Stockertawn
plant. SS$
William DuNert, or Tatan,y who is
credited with starting the strange sAct.
said this afternoon thai the Bachmans "
had broken away from his teachings