The Washington times., 1923-03-23
CHARGES
MADE BY
KING
Protest Of Conditions at Shiloh
Met by Linking Wife
With Thorpe.


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, March
23. Members Of the House Of
David are rallying today TO protect
the honor Of Queen" Mary Pur-
nell, wife Of 'aKing" Benjamin,
leader Of the Israelites, following
the linking Of Mary's name with.
her husbands "right-hand man,
Frances Thorpe.
King Accuses wife.
Benjamin, himself, accused Mary
of affairs with Thorpe when she
protested over conditions at
Shiloh" Benjamin,s palace, accord
ing to sensational testimony given
by Mrs. Esther Hannaford Hansel,
BENJAMIN, at the HanseI suit
against the cult.
Mary was doWishearted and blue
over BeIijanin's ways She protest.
ed with him. told him he WINS run
ming b disorderiy house.
And what did BENJAMIN say to
that?" Mrs. Hansel was asked.
! :. He flew Into i n - he asked
what right Mary HAD 10 Protest Ms
relations with eiEI ifitnS Of
bhiloia when the whole cCluYiv of
Shiloh was talking about her III.
tinacy with Frances Thorpe. He
shouted at her: You don't trouble
to hide your affection for Thorpe
That was but one 81 the many
quarrels they had over Thorpe.
Counters Her Tlrsa1s.
Another time Mary threatened
to move all Of the girls out OF
Shiloh. BENJAMIN again became en-
ragged, and told her that IL she ever
tried to take the girls away from
him he would kick Thorpe out Of
the colony"
The color mounted into Mary's
face as Mrs. Hansel poured out her
charges Then she slumped back
into her chair, her face white. her
eyes closed.
my time is coming" she whis-
pered. wait until I get on the
witness stand. feel like a lion
suddenly freed from it's cage"
Girl Driven Insane, She Says.
Calmly and without hesitation
Mrs. Hansel told Of years of alleged
intimacy with BENJAMIN. She pic
tured him as a DR.. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde, posing as a spiritual leader Of
his followers but revealing his true
nature to the girls he kept In bond
age at Shiloh.
Cline, picked by Benjamin for his
"harem," was 80 badly misused that
she went insane and subsequently
was sent back to Germany by Ben
jamin.
She told Of tunnels leading from
Shiloh. rs it not possible that these
tunnels were for sewage?" the court
asked.
yes, your honor, they were used
for sewage, the kind that crawls on
hands and knees" came the quick
reply.
Benjamin always was armed to
the teeth. Mrs. Hansel said, carry.
ing a revolver, a combination sword
and cane, and set of brass
knuckles.
Aim to Protect Children.
The thought of protection to their
children and those they may have
some day, who will grow up to be
pretty girls such as might fall VIC
Tins to men Of the alleged brand of
King Benjamin Purnell-not venge-
ance upon the man who they de-
clared wrecked their own girlhood-
Is prompting the dozen or so former
| girl faVor1teS or the House of Da-
Vid to bare the secrets of their
many years of life within the hid.
den walls Of Shiloh, inner shrine of
the colony.
These women have Travelled many
miles to testify against King
Benjamin, founder Of the cult, who
calls himself "The Seventh Angel"
and the "Son Of Man." teaches his
followers that he can bestow to
them Immortality on earth.
Deny Bearing Malice.
| Many of these women have
brought their children who ronp
around the corridors of the Federal
court, while their mothers reveal
their past lives, at a cost thew
alone know.
To the spectators eagerly absorb
| Continued on Page 2, Column 81