Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-29
VICTIM OF FANATICS
CHILD KILLED IN ORGY OF
DEVIL CHAsERs"

NAZARETH. Pa, April 29.-"God drove
the devil out Of her. For hours we stood
by praying for His victory. He has tri-
umphed God who is my husband. killed
her." Mrs. Robert Bachman. sister-in-
law Of one Of Northampton county's mil
lionaires, made this statement to the au-
thorities here when questioned about the
strange death Of May Irene Smith. her
six-year-old niece. The child's death,
which occurred some time Monday. was
the outcome Of a religious orgy Of a new
sect styling themselves Devil Chasers.'
that lasted from late Saturday afternoon
until the little one died. The child's body
il horribly mutilated. the flesh on the
legs and back having been torn into
sl1reds The tragedy occurred here In the
home of Robert Bachman, brother of a
wealthy cement manufacturer Of Alliance,
Pa.
Wrecked the Place.
orally 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
bodies of a score Of chickens and that of
"a collie dog belonging to Bachman were
found scattered about leads the authori-
ties to believe that the Smith child may
have been killed in some horrible sacri-
flcial rite
The si1rieks of the fanatics attracted
scores Of persons Sunday. Half-nude men
and women. the latter with disheveled
hair, would appear at a window. From
the faces and bodies of some blood
streamed. evidence Of the bodily excoria-
s-A tot t. ~ o<v
Quit His Job to Lead Sect.
Until six months ago Bachman was con-
sidered one Of the best workmen at the
cement factory of his brother-in-law.
Councilman Henry Smith. Then the
Devil Chasers.'' who had their head
quarters in Reading. sent missionaries
through this section.
Bachman embraced the strange belief
Soon a congregation was formed: sentries
guarded the meetings with revolvers, and
none was admitted without a password.
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 q meeting at the Bachman 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.
Worshipers 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 Bachman.
1t is said. declared she was possessed of a
devil and that they must drive it out.
Then began a hideous scene. In the mind
of Bachman the devil jumped from the
child to a bureau. The furniture was
promptly smashed Then he said the
devil was on the ceiling. Holes were
punched in it. Once 1t was supposed to
have lighted upon Mrs. Bachman. and
she was driven with blows and curses
from the house.
So 1t continued for hours. Mrs. Smith
was the one who discovered her daugh-
ter's body. Although she herself was one
Of the most enthusiastic in the devil
chasing" she says that when she heard
her little one calling for her she ran to
the childs room.
MY baby was dead she sobbed
"Bachman was on the floor beside her
and praying"
Mrs Bachman made a statement to the
coroner, it is asserted, in which she says
her husband jumped repeatedly on the
child'c hodv