Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-21
FORMER MINISTER
DIES AFTER FAST
COMPANIONS of John D. 0'Neil in
Strange Religious Pact
Are Seriously III
STARVATION lMPERILS THREE
investigators Think Young Girl
Was Forced Into Promise
to Foreuo Food
STARVATION IMPERILS THREE

terry" at 1918 Bonner street, III WHICH
four persons-two men, a woman and
a nretty girl of 1G-had been fasting
for more than five weeks when the or
ficials began an investigation yester-
day. These are some of them;
John Irving ONeil, former Baptist
minister and leader of the fasters,
died during the early morning hours
as a result of his devotion TO MS
strange religious idea.
The fact developed that O'Neil ana
Mrs. Nellie Boyle, the woman faster,
fled together from Jersey City two
years ago to come west, the woman
deserting a husband and a luxurious
home.
Mrs. G. Schwan appeared at the
house, claiming to be in search Of Mrs.
BOYLE and bearing letters to her from
her former home.
The relationship of Miss Alice Crit
fin, the young girl, and Mrs. Boyle
became more uncertain, Mrs. Boyle
claiming Miss Griffin is the daughter
of her dead sister, while Mrs. Schwan
claims that Miss Griffin was adopted
by the Boyle woman.
The authorities, visiting the house
to remove the body of the dead man,
were powerless to take action toward
making the three who are yet alive,
but slowly dying, break their long fast.
Mrs. Boyle when told that Mrs.
Schwan was there with a letter for
her, refused to see either the letter or
bearer.
Mrs. Schwan went to the house about
8 o'clock yesterday morning. She was
first noticed leaning against the side
of the structure as If listening to what
was going on within. When ques-
toned she gave her name as Mrs G.
SchWan and stated that she lived at
1907 North Main street, but had for
merly lived in Jersey City and had
known Mrs. Nellie Boyle there. She
was refused admission by neighbors
who had taken charge of the house.
They ordered her away, but she re-
fused to go. She was finally admitted,
but Mrs. Boyle, either because she was
so weak she could not see or because
she did not care to face the woman,
ignored her presence completely when
she was in the room. Later she told a
neighbor that she would not see Mrs.
Schwan.
ALLEGED HOME DISRUPTION
According to the story of the former
life of Mrs. Boyle, told by Mrs.
Schwan, the former lived in Jersey
City two years ago with her husband
and with a married sister. The fam
lily was in good circumstances, Mr..
Boyle being a merchant, and until
O'Nel appeared on the scene their
home life was serene. When O'Neil
in Arizona, went to Jersey City he
became acquainted with Mrs. Boyle
and, converting her to his strange re-
ligion, persuaded her to come west
with him. From that time her hus-
band heard nothing of the runaway
woman until G. Miller, a former be-
lever, who had also known of the
Boyles in Jersey City, discovered her
here and communicated with her hus-
band.
Mrs. Schwan states that Miller re-
ceived the letter from New York and,
telling her of Mrs. Boyle's where
abouts, persuaded her to try to de-
liver it. She further states that she
knew nothing of the state of affairs
existing at the "houSe of mystery"
when she arrived there yesterday.
Mrs Schwan denies the claim of the
Boyle woman that Miss Alice Griffin
is her niece. Mrs. Schwan stated that
Mrs. Boyle's only sister was the mother
of one child and that that one died
when an infant. She claims Miss Grif-
fin was adopted by Mrs. Boyle and
O'Nei. This is indicated by the fact
that Miss Griffin was always known
among the followers of the pair az
"Alice O'Neil." George A. Griffin a
prominent optiCian in Brooklyn, is said
to be the girls uncle. Her father is
in Jersey City.
DEAD MAN ONCE PASTOR
O'Neil himself was an unmarried
man of AZ and we'll educated. He
claimed to be Mrs Boyle's cousin and
was accepted as such by his followers.
Mrs. SchWan could throw no light on
the truth or falsity of this claim, eX-
cept that she had never heard him
spoken OF by any of the Boyle family
until he appeared in Jersey City. He
Is known to have been formerly in the
ministry, having been pastor of sew
eral Baptist churches in different cities
in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas be-
fore taking up the new faith.
The three survivors of the fast
stated to the authorities yesterday,
when ONeil's body was removed, that
they did not believe he died of starVa-
tion. They could not give any other
reason for his DEATH however, and II
Is believed that they are simply max
ing such statements to reaSsure them
selves that they are not dying. Until
late Friday night O'Neil was appar-
emily the strongest of the four.
At q, post-mOrtem examination held
yesterday afternoon death was pro-
nounced due to starvation. The body
is being held at Robert Sharp & Sons
undertaking parlors pending instruc-
tions as to its disposal from relatives
of the dead man or the authorities
FREQUENT COMPLAINT BY GIRL
According to stories told Herman
Sergeant, a lad of 16 whose parents
were former followers of O'Neil, by
Alice Griffin, the latter was not i'm
bued with the religious frenzy Of O'Neil
and Mrs. Boyle and went through the
different forms and regulations Of the
faith under protest. Young Sergeant
states that the girl would never admit
this to the other persons, but often
complained to him about the treat
ment accorded her and express a de-
sire to return to her former home or
to Dallas, Tex. where she had at
tended school The girl was especially
bitter about the fasting part Of the re-
ligion, and complained to Sergeant re-
peatedly.
knowledge of these facts has led
many to believe that the girl entered
into the compact to fast under protest
and would have broken the fast at any
time had she been given the oppor-
tunity. Yesterday when offered food
she accepted 1t readily, and not under
protest, as the others did, Nor did
She at any time show much affection
for Mrs. Boyle, according to former fol-
lowers and young Sergeant. That she
obeyed her and lived with her because
she was powerless to do otherwise is
the consensus of opinion among all in
timately acquainted with the trio,
County Health Officer Powers visited