Evening star., 1909-09-05
A Psychological Phenomenon.


Orchard is regarded as a psychologi-
ca phenomenon and religious en-
thusiast He has organized a praying
band in the prison. and holds prayer
meetings daily. at which he and sew
eral other convicts who have become
subject to his influence confess their
sins and pray for forgiveness. Orchard
was baptized into the Seventh Day Ad-
ventist Church on the 21st of last July.
when the preacher announced that his
repentance was complete and that his
sins had been forgiven. but Orchard
himself does not go SO far as that. He
told me that while he believed that the
blood of the Savior was sufficient to
wipe ont his guilt he felt that no pen
atty that he could possibly pay was
ADEQUATE to his case He believes in
the atonement, but feels that he must
do something and suffer something him
self in order to be sure of salvation.
He wants to pay some penalty or fur-
nish some evidence to show MS repent
ance, and discussed at length the ques-
ton whether he could atone for his
guilt better by suffering death upon the
gallows OF by living 4 life of useful
ness trying to reform criminals and
other men of his class. 1t is L subject
to which he has given a great deal of
thought, and one that he does not con-
slider himself competent to decide.
Orchard told me that he did not believe
in creeds. His family were Quakers
Both his father and mother were devout
Christians. His early training was of
that kind. He has always believed in
prayer and in the teachings of the Bib'e,
although he departed very far from them
He has never been a member of any
church, but thinks that everybody ought
to be, because cooperation is more ef-
fective than Individual labor In every
kind of activity, and those who believe
in the same doctrines can do more good
for themselves and for each other and
for the outside world by getting together.
He had no particular reason for being
baptized by the Seventh Day Adventists
he told me that he had no special pref
erence for that denomination, but since
Dean Hinko of the Episcopal Church
who. with Detective Mcfarland. the
Pinkerton representative at Denver, was
responsible for his conversion, moved
away, the Adventist minister has been
very kind and attentive to him and ad-
vised him that baptism was essential to
salvation.
High Degree Of Intelligence.
sat with Orchard nearly an hour and
we discussed many subjects besides re-
ligion. He showed the extraordinary me-
mory that has been so much commented
upon and high degree of intelligence
He has been subjected to repeated exam
nations by psychological experts and has
submitted cheerfully to all the tests
they have desired to apply. They have
amused him rather than otherwise; but
the doctors do not agree. Some of them
give him credit for abnormal intellectual!
force like Prof. Webster and Prof. RuloH
of Elmira, two eminent criminals. who
are usually referred to In the discus
sion of all of such cases RulOn was
one of the greatest linguists ever known.
While he was in prison awaiting trial
he learned several new languages and
was able to speak and read nearly every
civilized tongue; but at the same time he
was guilty Of one of the most atrocious
crimes in history
Other students have come to the
conclusion that Orchard Is an ex-
that he is simple-minded and harmless
in his motives, without any natural VIC
o.usne ss. but subject to the control of
stronger wills, and that the twenty-seven
murders to which he has confessed were
committed under the hypnotic IN
fluence Of the labor leaders 1t is DIFF
ficult to accept such theory after one
has conversed with him a little while He
talks easily and simply, and expresses
himself in perfect English. He is perfect
ly self-possessed and seems to have alb
solute control of all his faculties He is
frank and fearless and has a sense of
humor. / have never seen a more natural.
or unaffected man.
Anecdotes About Orchard.
Many interesting anecdotes are told 20
illustrate Orchards extraordinary rats
of character. Rev. Mr.. Kinks. formerly