The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-22
GIRLS STILL UNDER
STRANGE SPELL
Negro Prophets Peculiar Influence
Over Them Is Unbroken-Eive
Near To Death.

WASHINGTON, July 81. - "The
Lord told me IN dream that l must
stay in Washington until Brother
SturdeVant Is released from the prison
OF the Philistines. When the Almighty
bursts his bonds then | may leave,
but not before" declared Addie Cod
ding, the Norwegian girl, disciple or
the Rev. Jonah Sturdevant, Negro
prophet who is in Jail In Baltimore,
and under whose spell two white
women are near death In this city.
The board OF charities after consid-
ering the case OF the Codding girl or
dered that she be sent TO Boston where
she has relatives. The police endeav-
ored to enforce this order but the girl
rebelled
1T 10 the easiest thing possible for
me TO choose between the order from
on high and the order OF the police,
she declared with great composure.
"This is the most pitiful case | have
ever had anything TO do WITH said
Capt Boardman. This girl seems to
be so completely dominated by the
Negro preacher that argument and
persuasion fail utterly to affect her.
She Is absolutely convinced that she
must stay here and starve and suffer
In order to induce Providence TO re-
lease the Negro, after which she be-
lieves she will be directed by Divine
influence TO go to Africa as a mission
airy.
IF she does not agree to leave town
today we will have To arrest her, and
she will be sent to a sanitarium."
A severe blow was sustained by
Hilda Johnston, another Norwegian
girl, who under the Negroes mystic
spell surrendered herself In marriage
to him as a sacrifice and an evidence
CT her humility, when she learned by
letter OF the death OF her mother IN
Norway, and at the Negro hospital
where She lies iii today the doctors
said there was less hope for her re-
covery than there was yesterday. she
has been at the point OF death much
OF the time since she recently gave
birth TO a child, whose father Is the
Negro prophet who is serving sentence
for bigamy. Arrangements were be-
gun today by which 1t Is hoped that
the Johnston girl may be sent back
to Norway II she RECEIVERS.
When seen at Georgetown hospital
today, Gertrude Monsen the other or
the trio OF victims of the Negro Ia
natIc, today showed that she is rapidly
giving way under the ravages OF pei
lagara. She Is so weak that she is
hardly able TO speak but when the
name OF Sturdevant was mentioned,
light came into her faded eyes and her
lips moved In prayer. The nurses said
that she retained her firm belief In
the Negro.
THE worst feature OF this case
said the nurse, as that she evidently
does not wish to live. She has lost all
interest in everything except this
strange Negro, and am afraid her in
tercst In him will soon end"
Doctors who have investigated the
case on behalf OF the government and
the district health Office, agree that
the disease developed from the self
inflicted punishment and Tasting
through which the woman went In her
fanatical efforts TO bring about
miraculous deliverance OF the Negro
from prison.
The case Is receiving close and ex-
merit attention, as 1t is Of scientific
interest, being the first instance or the
dread scourge so far north.
"All these girls come from good
Norwegian families" said Mrs. NJ. Il.
Graves, mission worker today, "and
their relatives have been trying TO get
them out OF the clutches OF the Negro
and his spell I think the cases are
the saddest ever brought to my atten-
ton. but the saddest OF all is that or
Hilda Johnston. The death or her
mother has almost broken her heart
because she had not replied to letters
begging her to come home.
Some people are never satisfied.
e.. avamnla tho nriSonar who com