The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-02
FANATIC CONFESSES
Bachman Admits Killing His
Niece In Religious Frenzy.
RAvlNG IN EASTOH PRIS ON

Cries out That He Did No Wrong ane
That He Is to Sc crueinei. ane
I@eads With Jailer to Hurry the
Execution.
Easton. Pa. April 80. - Carun al
Fetherolf at Nszsreth held an inquest
into the death OF Irene May smith
the fveyearoli daughter OF Mr.. ami
Mrs. Henry Smith Of Alliance. w Il
was offered as a sacrifice 10y her pas
cuts ami uncle. members OF the tan
attic religious sect whose actions have
startled the community. The jury 70
turned a verdict charging Bach mar
with the murder OF the chl1. The
surgeons who made the post morton
found death o. have been eau eel by
stranculat.on. Mrs Smith. mother IT
the Nttle girl was ono of the witncs
SEES. but her counsel wou'i not permit
her 20 answer many questions She
sWore that her brother. Bacbmln. kill
"a che child during a az OF religion,
frenzy while she and her husband
were in another part o. the house
While on their way To- their home Of
Alliance SIR. and Mrs. Smith couclljci
that Dachman's reiigion YVES all wro-
and that the death OF the child was
the work OF TIE devil AID not OF God
as Bachman claimed.
Daubert. one 90 the party who has
been holding the meetings. swore the,
dl not believe in the work OF Bach
man and that the lsttev was insane
iis testimony vas To the eject thai
tie meetings at the outstart were n
more than gatherings fer prayer am
fiolc reading So common In this sec.
ticn among certain classes OF PennsyL
vauia Germans. These Eathcrings are
known as experience" meetings. The
neishbors of the Bachmans testified
90 the noise made in the house On
Sunday and Monday and TO the Smith
child telling them that her mother AMI
father were lying on the foor kicking
and crying and OF her uncle smashing
furniture and doors. She was hungr,
and was given food.
The Jury went 70 the Bachman
house and In the rom where the
child was killed everything was
smashed 90 pieces. Mrs. Smith was
released en- bail after the inquest. Hcg
husband remains I'm jail. His condition
is serious Bachman continues 70 rant
and rave and insists that be committee
no wrong.
Bachman contends that the chill
was possessed OF the devil and that he
Killed her by command from heaven.
lie maintains that hc Ola no wrong and
that God VIII protect him. lie cries
out from his cell that ho Is TO D. cru
cifed and pleads with the jaler 70
hurry the execution. that he may ap-
pear before the throne of God. who
sent him 90 earth TO perform a great
mission for The salvation OF mankind.
Bachmau said. i didn't Kill little
May. I was only the instrument 81
God I chokei the life ont of her and
then stamped On her body wlh my
feet believe the end has come and !
am roN ready to Dee cruicihcd"
Saith is in a pitiable condition both
mentally AMI physically. He appears to
know little or nothing OF the killing OF
his daughter. ard when the subject is
preached 20 him he insists that moth.
ing wrong has happened. and that his
brotherinlaw was directed by the
holy spirit Mrs. Smith on the other
hand. is rational and realizes the awful
gravity a. the crime that was com
mitted. She IS heart broken anI walls
piteously over the tragic fate OF her
child. whom she loved and cherished
dearly. She declares the religion she
and her husband adopted is a myth
and that they were not acting by the
direction OF God She never had much
faith In the teachings OF the sect. but
Joined them in order TO keep peace in
the family.