The Washington herald., 1910-07-21

If Addie Codding, disciple OF
Rev. Jonah Sturdivant, Holy
Chester" and negro prophet, in
sists upon staying in Washington
the police will either deport or Jail
her for vagrancy.
During a hearing before the
Board of Charities yesterday she
declared she had been granted a
revelation during the night, and
that she did not intend to go back
to Boston until the Rev. Jonah IS
released from his cell in Baltimore.
Capt, Boardman declared at po-
lice headquarters last night that if
she refuses 10 move he will arrest
her as vagrant. Hilda Johnston,
the Norwegian girl who married
Sturdivant as a religious duty, will
be taken to Norway as soon ds she
can be moved from Freedmen 5
Hospital.
HER CASE WATCHED.
The world is watching the case OF
Gertrude Monsen. the third of the trio
of fanatics who is wasting away from
pelagra in spite OF everything the most
eminent physicians can do to save her
Both Miss Johnston and Miss Monsen
still retain their strange belief in the
weird doctrine taught by sturdivant, and
each believes that his release from JAN
depends upon the sacrifices Of the white
women who came under his uncanny in
huence
Cool to the point OF Indifference. Miss
Codding left the squslid home of Moth
er" williams. T65 Twentieth street, yes
terday morning accompanied by Mrs. NJ
B. Graves. the good Samaritan who has
interested herself in the case. and visited
police headquarters.
Capt. BOsrdman referred them 10 the
Board Of Charities. and there it was de-
cided that she be sent back to Boston.
Arrangements were made for the rescue
of the baggage OF the Holy Ghosters.
which has been held for charges at Union
Station for three months Just when il
seemed that the womans troubles were
over she rebelled.
Revelation Granted Her.
God granted me a revelation last
night" she declared He told me TO
stay here in Washington I must stay.
When Brother Sturdlvant is released
from the prison of the PhiIistines, when
the Almighty bursts his bonds then I
shall leave But it viii not be before"
Tuesday night the girl told detectives
and reporters she would gladly leave the
negro house and go back to Boston, but
she was obdurate yesterday, asserting
again and again that a dream had told
her she must stay here. Mrs. Graves and
the police decided TO give her another
day OF grace. and If she is still under the
impression she must stay, they viii send
her away or lock her up.
Little hope is given by the doctors who
are watching at the bedside of Miss Mon
sen. PeIagra. the loathsome disease that
has orept northward from the Gulf, has
gripped her beyond hope. and it is ex-
pected she win waste away slowly, after
the manner of most OF its victims She
does not want to i've and that makes the
case more hopeless.
Girls Case Hopeless.
At Freedmens Hospital the doctors are
pessimistie about the chances of the
Johnston giri. They think the woman is
still in the clutches of Rev. Jonah's will.
and that she is determined to give I'D
her life as a sacrifice. The tiny black
child she bore him lies near her cot. out
she takes no interest in him. and stead
fastly means bitter prayers for deliver
ance from the suffering that has changed
her from a blooming Norwegian girl TO
q wasted. shrunken fanatic
Mrs. Graves. who has tried strenu-
ously to force the police to act in the
case, said yesterday;
II became interested in this case
through the interest that had been taken
in it by the Misses Bird Of Baltimore.
They came here several months ago and
tried to do something for these poor girls.
and In doing so the Misses Bird. as 1 un-
stand 1t, acted for friends and relatives
who had been writing TO Baltimore about
the girls. Miss Barrett, OF Norway
came here yesterday. and it developed
that Miss Monsen, whom she had been
trying 10 locate. was in a hospital
"AH these girls came from good Nor
wegian families. and their friends and
relatives have been trying TO get them
out Of the clutches Of this negro and
his spell over them think the case
is the saddest ever brought TO my atten-
tions but that Of Miss HiIda Johnston.
who was sturdivant's wife. Is the sad
dest
Miss Johnston has married sister
living In Brooklyn. She had lovable IA
Continued ON Page 3, Column 4.
Matinee, sThe Little Grey Lady,
Today. 2.l5, Columbia Theater 25c e Soc