New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-06
''OOM'S" SECRETS Barred /
Miss Hopp Tells Court About
Bernard's "Tantrik Order"
POSED AS A PHYSICIAN
Girl Says Well Known Men Were
Callers at House, and Police
Are Investigating.

Pierre a. Bernard, who until q few days
! ago ruled as Dom the Omnipotent' over
the destinies OF the inner circle OF the Low
ing Seventh Degree Tantrik Order Of
America in the house at No 25S West
18th street. was taken before Magistrate
Breen yesterday In the West Side police
court, where he heard part of the story
which Miss Zella Hopp, of No. 42S East
149th street told the police when she
charged him with abduction and led raid
OF the headquarters of the mystic cult.
The secrets OF the Tantrfk gllru will be
further barred to-day, when Miss Hopp viii
take the witness stand and tell all she
knows of the weird ceremony which she
saws was enacted at the meetings Bernard
the "Omnipotent," known to his friends as
Peter Coon. is under $4,000 bail, and al
though the high chiefs OF the Loving Sew
enth Degree" have resorted to every known
Hindu method of persuasion, they have
failed to get any one TO go on his bond.
Miss Hopp told the court that Bernard
was introduced to her under the name of
DR.. Warren. Then she explained that the
doctor told her Of the teachings of the
''Tantrik" and its benefits TO those who
were afflicted, as she was, with heart trou-
BILE Miss Hopp said that the examination
to which she was subjected appeared to be
in no way different from that employed by
regular physicians.
After the first examination was intro
duced 70 man who gave his name as KEEL
logg and who appeared as a worshipper I'M
der the name of San" said Miss Hopp, as
she trembIed under the gaze of the ON
nipotent-" Bernard told me that my con-
dition was very serious and that If I went
] 70 at house ne would furnish a
room for me and help my case. heard him
tell San To go out and rent furnished
house San got q place at No 70 West
1O9th street and it was there I became a
'Tantrik Novitiate-' "
Miss HOpp was prevented from telling
any more as the magistrate adjourned the
hearing until this morning. There Is an
other witness who will tell how she was
brought from Seattle to this city by the
Oriental organizer. She is Miss Gertrude
Leo. whose sister. Mrs Mary II. Miller
came from the Pacific Coast TO take part
in the raid on the Tantrik Order.
After the hearing detectives started out
on search for a number of men, who, &C
cording to Miss Hopp were members of the
order and who were familiar with the ORR
entail rites which were part of an amaz-
Ing ceremonial In the rooms OF the West
18th street house.
THE man who could tell all about the
ceremony of the inner circle is r. L. Par
IRISH, who lived in the 'Tantrik Home under
the name of 'Fergie'," said Miss Hopp.
when she returned to her home last night
This man came TO the house with wom-
an They had a baby. but it only lived q
short time The child's mother was known
TO US as DuvaL' We all lived under as
sumed names.
Parrish moved 10 Brooklyn. where he
took an apartment in Plerrepont street,
Columbia Heights. He came TO my home
on Wednesday. but left before the police
came in answer TO telephone message.
When he came to the order he brought
several men, who were well known here. but
who always discarded their real names"
The story which was told by Miss Leo
and Miss Hopp was investigated last night
by detective who called at the house in
Pierrepont street. It learned there
that Parrish moved yesterday afternoon.
An old man, who fits the description of
one of the members of the Tantrik Order.
arranged the moving. He told the janitor
that Mr. Parrish and his sister. who came
10 the place about six weeks ago, had de-
cided to move away because of the high
rent.
The janitor of the apartment also told
the police that Parrish destroyed bundle
of letters before he left his apartment or
Monday He explained that the letters
belonged to a friend and that he was
wanted as a witness in a court proceeding.
The janitor gave Parrish permission to
burn the letters in the furnace Parrish s
representative left no address when the
furniture was taken away