South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-22
PURNELL'S ATTORNEY TO
ASK FOR STATE PROBE
0'Hara Will Urge Gov. Ferris
to Direct Special Grand
Jury investigation.


BENTON HARBOR. Mich, Dec. -.
james O'Hara. attorney for the Is
raelite House OF David" left st. Jo
seph this morning for Lansing for 4
/ consultation with Gov Ferris.
Before leaving ne said he would ask
the governor To direct the attorney
general To cali a grand jury for a
/ complete Investigation OF all the
/ charges and counter charges growing
out of the love cult scandal. This
! includes the charges OF immortality
raised against King benjamin, the
q school scandal and the charges made
! by the House of David that they had
been made the victims of eNtOrtion and
/ black\lan.
His Israelite majesty King Ben
/ janiin. ruler of the Flying Rollers
of the House of David colony. today
I requested "A complete investigation of
! the charges of immortality that have
been hurled against him 10y his allied
/ enemies.
To James O'Hara, counsel for the
! House of David, and Chester p.
! O'Hara. his son, prosecuting attorney
, OF Berrien county, belongs the credit
J for inducing the Seventh Angel to
sweep aside considerations OF mod
] esty and submit to a full hearing of
/ all matters IN dispute.
Grand Jury Quiz Likely.
Atty. O'Hara, the elder, announced
| that in behalf of Benjamin and his
! bewhiskered and long haired follow
/ Crs he took steps to ask Coy. Ferris
] TO order an immediate state investi-
/ cation of the charges 1t now seems
certain that an Investigation, prob
ably a grand jury hearing, will be or
/ dered for some time soon after the
] holidays.
/ Mr.. O'Hara endeavored to get into
communication with the governor
over the long distance telephone, but
! failed TO locate him at the state
/ house in Lansing. Through the gov
ernOr's secretary he requested an APP
| pOintment with Gov. Ferris, saying
! that he wished to appear personally
! before the chief executive with
king" Benjamin's demand for an
/ investigation.
FIanks COIony's Critics.
An effort will be made to locate
! the governor at his home in Big Rap
| ids. The move of the lawyers was
| intended as a flank movement against
! the critics of the colony. but these
were jubilant over the fact that a
| searching inquiry seems assured and
| that the demand for il was forced
! from the Seventh Angel himself
/ We will call the bluff of these
J carping critics" Atty. O'Hara said.
| we have no fear Of an inVestiga-
/ ton. We are going TO appear before
| the governor and ask him to institute
complete inquiry into all these
! charges of immortality and other
/ things hurled against benjamin.
! Ask Another Prosecutor.
The day was the most eventful
since the scandal broke over Benja-
Minis alleged love colony First
petition was presented to Pros
! O'Hara requesting that he step aside
! as prosecutor i'm the event of
grand jury investigation. This pc
| tition was signed by members Of
/ mems classes of various St Joseph
/ churches. based on resolutions adopt
/ ed at Sundays meetings. It included
| a request for the appointment of
: special prosecutor on the ground that
/ the prosecutor is a member of the
/ law firm of O'Hara & O'Hara. legal
! representatives of the House of
/ David.
Benjamin Eastman and John Ham
I iltOn, citizens of Benton township
/ also presented complaint 1t ask
/ ed that the prosecutor take steps to
/ Investigate the charges Of immortality
! at the House of David and the al
/ legged immoral influence TO which
J Benton township schoei children are
( subjected by reason OF the control
/ exercised by King" Benjamin over
the public schools
Eastman and Hamilton offered TO
I withdraw their complaint when they
I learned OF the petition presented by
/ the churches and We're permitted TO
do SO.
O'Hara VIII step Aside?
The prosecutor was asked if he
I would step aside i'm the event the
governor and Atty Gen. Fellows de
eide upon a grand jury inquiry as
the best way OF clearing up the
charges.
Il do not care to answer that at
/ this time. said he. There Is no
statute in this state which prevents
me from acting in this case The case
Il civil one until some complaint
Is filed charging criminal acts on the
part, OF Benjamin.
As To whether il is good taste for
me 10 act is another matter and will
be dealt with when the time comes.
II personally favor calling a grand
jury, because il would make possible
criminal action in these blackmailing
charges. i have made arrangements
as To what my action on these mat
ters viii be-. but I viii not discuss il
at this time.
There was strong intimation in the
prosecutors words that bIack kmail
eNtortion. perjury. and libel would he
among the charges 10 follow the call
ing OF an inquisitorial body
\ declaration in the $4,000 dam
axe suit against Coy Purnell. son OF
king Benjamin, was fled Monday.