McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-02-11
-4-44-l 49,
Our New York Letter.
EDITOR INDEPENDENT:

Following up stories of Arkansas
life, and especially Of the doing of the
religious fanatics such as the Holy
Rollers and Holy Jumpers out there,
the following will be of interest as
showing how easily people can be
fooled by false prophets. The Nor
mons, with their folderal bible" had
nothing on the supersanctifed Eli
jah the Third" known in common
everyday lingo as Elijah Scaggs, a
black-halred, black browed, sallow
man who sailed into Fort Smith, Ark,
about eight years ago, claiming to be
the King of the Gentiles. He had
with him the runaway wife of an Ok
lahoma lawyer. whom he fondly intro
duced as the Queen of the Gentiles.
This royal pair, having no occupation
but the crazy preaching" and no cap
ital but their absurd claims of domin-
ion over the Gentiles, lived on the fat
of the land. Within a couple of
weeks they had gathered at least one
hundred disciples" and the ridiculous
movement was growing at a great
rate. when something happened; one
of the most amazing of all my expe-
riences, and hardly to be placed among
the doings of a sane people.
THE Queen" rushed into the Office
Of a justice of the peace in Fort Smith
one afternoon, her hair flying loose.
her clothing torn and her appearance
showing great agitation. She exclaim-
ed between hysterical sobs, that "the
King elijah Scaggs) had committed
a criminal assault upon her. Had she
been woman Of ordinary standing,
Elijah would have needed no trial,
but ten feet of rope would have towed
him across the dark river in hurry.
AS it was, no one got excited, and
Elijah was quietly arrested and lodged
in Jail on the warrant sworn out by
the woman. The case came to trial.
| was there, and saw the alleged
prophet seated in his corner, his hands
folded and his eyes raised to heaven
in martyr fashion, while self-satisfed
smirk covered his sallow features.
Then the Queen, placed on the stand
as the only witness againt him, Gre
ated a sensation. She swore that
Elijah was perfectly innocent; had
never laid the weight of his hand up
on her, and the charge against him
was utterly false. Elijah's lips moved
as if in prayer, and his smirk was i'm
mense.
The Judge, gasping with astonish-
ment, asked the woman why she had
charged the man with this awful
crime, if he was innocent. She then
replied in calm, even voice:
you see, Elijah, being the same
prophet as Of old, come back to the
flesh, saw the world was being de-
stroyed by sin, and that a sacrifice
was needed to save it. Since the
atonement by Christ, the world had
not appreciated the sacrifice, and is
now so wicked that another atone
ment it needed, and Elijah and | made
covenant with each other that |
should accuse him of capital crime
and have him hung so as to save the
world from sin again. That is why |
had him arrested. But | can't stand
to see him treated that way when he
is not to blame, and / have decided to
tell the truth"
There was silence in the courtroom
for a minute or so, and there was
whispering among the officials as to
what to do. Elijah enjoyed the scene
immensely, his lips wobbling incess-
antly and his thumbs twirling with
satisfaction. But his joy was soon
overcast, for the judge in few sharp
words ordered his Queen held for per-
jury, and sentenced Elijah himself to
Imprisonment at hard labor for life in
the state penitentiary. Then Elijah's
sanctifed smile gave way to sorry
grin, and his face sunk lower till no
ongcould see it. The woman was
hrl ried away to one cell and he to an
oker. | saw him few minutes
EteSward. He was crying like a
s,hippsd child.
Il Was ready to die for this here
sinful old world" he whispered, ''be-
cause hit needs regeneration hit
shorely does. They mought-a hung
me. and | wouldn't-a said word, but
this here hard labor for life--boo-hoo