The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-07-21
MRS. lNGERSOLL AND OTHERS
OF THE FAMILY DENY AND DE.
NoUNCE REPORTS.
He DIED AS he HAD LIVED
Today Mrs. lngersoll Remains Firm
In Her Adherence TO the Views OF
Religion Entertained BY Her late
Husband.

New York. July 2l--Tca years ago
today. ON July p, 1899. the ncwspa
pcrs Of the world announced che
death of the greatest foe of Chris
tiauity. Robert c. lngcrsull. Although
the a.d of the famous aguostic ora.
tor cSne suddenly and silently and
ne expired without a word. this fact
has not prevented the circulation of
many reports alleging that ngcrsoll
rccantod on his deathbod.
These statements are denounced by
Mrs mgcrsoll widow OF the nFros
tic. as base perversions OF truth and
absolutely without foundation. Mrs.
lngcrsoll remains firm in her adhcr.
cnce to the views on religion on.
tcrtancd by her late husband She
Indignantly denies the widely pub
lshcd report that she has become n
Sprituaist Rumors TO the effect
that she has accepted the Baptist or
any other faith she dismisscs as un-
worthy OF attention.
What is denounced by friends OF
the IngcrsOll family as one Of the
most barefaccd falsehoods regarunns
the death OF the great orator is in
cludcd in what purports TO be an
affidavit signed by an Oregon man,
which is now being given wide public
ity by evangelists and the religious
press. This sworn statement Is as
follows:
81 do thereby declare that Robert
lngersoll confessed to my father,
Jochicl s. Berry, on his dying bed
that he did not believe the doctrine
ne preached
He said these words, "Joehiel.
wish | had my life TO live over again.
when asked why, he said, Because
| do not believe what ! have preach
ed and never have. ] only did It for
/ the money that was in it.
His daughter then asked, who's,
life shall | live after, yours or moth
er'so' Mrs lngersoll was a strict Bap
tist and a sister to my father
Signed ARCHIE Il. BERRY, st
John, Oregon"
Mrs. lngersoll denies any relation
ship to or knowledge of the
Berry family. says that no such per
son as Berry was present at hel
husbands death, and that she Is no
and never has been Baptist stric
or otherwise. Another story which
meets with as firm denial is {,
the effect that before his death. Col
mgersoll sent for priest. who wa
introduced into the Dobb's Ferr.
house by the back way. Several 9th
er reports concerning lngersoll's a
legged recantation. published by re
ligious and Sunday school paper
during the last decade, are allege
to be but new versions of simila
fables about Voltaire, Paine and othe
Free thinkers. II is also stated tina
an almost Identical affidavit to tn
one signed by Berry was once eli
culated by Ethan Allen, the Ticonde
roga hero, who was an atheist, an
his daughter. Another recent storl
accredited to famous evangelist VIII
is now touring the west, alleges tina
lngcrsol's son committed suicid,
but it is invalhated by the fact tina
: the agnostic had no son.
In attempt to put an end 10 thes
deathbed recantation fables, Mrs. II
gcrsoll, her hister Mrs. Sue NJ Fa
rell and Susan Sharkley, anothc
member OF the family, prepared a
affidavit setting forth the facts r,
garding Colonel lngersoll's passing
Il Is as follows:
"On November 1G 1896, w'h'le o
a lecture trip, at Janesvlle. Wis
Colonel Ingersoll had a cerebral hen
orrhage He continued TO lecture fC
few days. but at the solicitatio
OF his family went TO Chicago All
consulted DR.. Frank Billings WI
advised HIM TO return home andre'
for two months. which he did. II
then, January "a, 1887, resumed le
turing, which he continued up to N
time OF his death II was at tn
time. early in 1897 that ne developC
angina pectoris, from which he su
tered greatly and which was u
cause OF his death, Since his deaf
we have learned that he knew e
actly his condition In other word
his physicians told him that he WI
likely 10 die nj any moment, b
acceding 10 his earnest entreati
they did not tell his family. In spi
OF the fact that death was ever b
sde him he was always very chez
full. and when asked as 10 his heal