Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-20
POLICE FIND -FOUR
DYING OF HUNGER.
Members of Cult in Arroyo StartIe
Residents by Nightly
Means
CLAIM THE GIFT OF TONGUES
Beautiful Girl Found When Near
Death and Taken Away
by Officers

Four persons-two men, a woman
and beautiful girl of 16 years of age
lying on touches in a "house of mys-
terry" at 1913 Benner street, in the
Arroyo Seco, all so weak from fasting
five weeks that they could scarcely
arise, was the amazing spectacle re-
vealed to officers who visited the place
yesterday. after many neighbors had
demanded an investigation.
John Irving O'Neal, leader Of q cult
claiming the gift of tongues" and en-
bracing many nationalitles; James But
Ter, one of his lieutenants; Nellie e.
Doyle aged 40. and Alice Priffon, 16,
comprise the strangely assorted quartet
which, out of loyalty to strange be-
liefs, braved death by starvation. Soon
after the officers left the house a
neighbor woman carried a quart of
milk to those inside, and they broke
their fast by partaking of 1t.
Up to five months ago O'Neal had
following of fully 500 persons, according
to those familiar with the cult. Serv-
ices were held in a tent in the arroyo
and often lasted as long as forty-eight
hours. Only those who were members
were allowed to go near the tent, it is
said. Finally disintegrating agencies
began their work and O'Neafs follow
ing fell away from him. 1t dwindled
rapidly until only those now SO near
death from starvation remained.
BEGIN STRANGE FAST
Five weeks ago people residing on
either side of the cottage occupied
by O'Neal, Butler, the woman and girl,
noticed them locking the doors and
windows in midafternoon. The older
woman at that time volunteered the
information that the quartet were
about to commence the fast they be-
lieved was expected of them.
The neighbors looked on the occu-
pants of the house as fanatics and,
thinking that they would eat after a
fast of 4S hours, paid no further at
tention.
During the forepart of this week, one
of that vicinity, while passing the
house, saw Alice Priffon. the girl, APP
pear at the window. She was pale,
haggard and thin, and with great diff
ficulty opened the window to obtain
air. She Immediately closed it, for the
fumes OF cooking food was waited to
her from a nearby kitchen.
Casting a piteous look of appeal to-
wards the open kitchen door the girl
slowly backed away from the window
and was seen to sink to the floor. An
hour later she opened another window
on the opposite side, but this was
closed by man who had the appear
ance of one nearly dead.
Thursday afternoon, at the supper
hour of the neighbors, they heard
the creaking Of the front window, and
going out, saw the emaciated form of
the girl She opened the windows and
informed the neighbors who volun-
teered assistance that she and the
others did not want any food but de-
sired to be left alone. Hardly had
twilight fallen Thursday when groans
began emanating from the darkened
house. and loudest of all could be
heard the walls of the girl. All
throughout the night the groans were
audible
Yesterday morning the police were
notified and trio of officers visited
the house. One of them FORCED open
a rear door.
AS the house is just outside the city
the case wa out of the jurisdiction of
the police, so they reported 1t to the
sheriff. The latter, believing that the
handling of the case belonged to the
marshal of South Pasadena, notified
that official. The marshal began an in
vestigation and found out that the
house is just outside of his baliwick,
He will report this to the sheriff this
morning.
HUNGER WEAKENS WOMAN
The Doyle woman, who lay last night
on couch near an open WINDOW
stated that the Lord had hidden them
to break their fast. She paused be-
tween each word and appeared to be
extremely weak, though she stated that
she was able to walk half the distance
across the room. The young girl spoke
in a low, weak tone and said that
everybody was well and doing nicely,
therefore people should not bother
| them.
The people of the arroyo are deter
| mined to have the girl properly cared
for, and it is likely her case will be
| brought to the attention of the proba-
| ton officers today.