Evening star., 1923-03-21
immortality LAID
TO CHURCH HEAD
Court Ruling ProIongs Hear
ing of Suit Against lsraelite
House of David.
OPENS UP WIDE FIELD
Attorney Predicts Three-Week
Hearing and Doubts Truth
Will Then Appear.

BY the Associated Press.
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich, March 2l.-
Instead of an early conclusion or the
hearing in federal court here OF the
suit filed by John Hansell for an ac-
counting with the lsraelite House OF
David, extended testimony was IN
prospect today as a result of a rul-
ing by the court that the evidence
might deal with alleged immoral
conditions within the Benton Harbor
colony.
Under the ruling only two witnesses
for the plaintiff We're heard yester-
day. and H. T. Dewhirst. counsel for
the House OF David, informed the
court that the testimony opened up
a field that could not be covered by
both sides short of three weeks. At
the end OF that time. the attorney
declared, the testimony would be or
such a divergent nature that the
truth would not appear.
Alleged as Part of Fraud.
Walter II. Nelson Of Detroit. attor-
ney for the plaintiff succeeded in
opening up the question of moral
conditions at the colony on the
ground that misrepresentation OF, con-
a part of the fraud alleged by the
plaintiff, who seeks to recover $4,000
as the value of his Dor and property
turned over to the cult. Hansell was
expelled and the return Of his prop
erty was denied him by Benjamin
David Puruell. head of the cult. ne
alleges.
The court has ordered night ses-
sions, beginning tonight in an efort
to speed up the proceedings.
Plans for Handling Crowd.
A temporary change in seating ar
rangementS was necessary today TO
accommodate spectators, who crowd
ed the courtroom and corridors in an
effort to hear continuance or the
sensational testimony began pS
plaintiff witnesses yesterday. There
Were reports that special arrange
ments had been made for the pro
lection of witnesses, following the
statement on the witness stand by
Mrs. Hazel Wurth that she had re-
ceived threats since it became known
she wa. 10 testify, and her statement
that she feared the Israelites."
Mrs. Wurth was the chief witness
first TO disclose alleged immoral prac-
tices within the colony. As MEM
ber. she said, she was one of the
Inner circle" and told of alleged re-
lationships with Purnell who. she
was taught TO believe. could do no
wrong. These alleged relations, the
witness testified she was told, would
gain for her immortality on earth.
Similar experiences We're attri buted
by Mrs. Wurth to other women who
were then girl members Of the col
ony with her.
The witness declared Purnell main
tanned a mock court. at which the
girls We're trained for possible ap
rearance in legal action against the
cult or for an investigation such as
was once threatened by Berrien
county officials.
Tells of Group Marriages..
Miss Hilda Prichard of Chicago also
testified to conditions at the House of
Shiloh, the official residence of Pur-
nell, where between thirty and forty
girls were said TO reside. She told
of alleged group marriages, in which
the girls had little or no voice in the
selection of their husbands.
Miss Prichard said she was mar
ried in one of these group ceremonies
after thirty girls had been brought
back to the colony from High Island,
in Lake Mich gan, to which, she de-
clared, they We're sent when an in
VeStigation threatened.
High Island. the witness declared.
served as Il prison and insane asylum
for girl inmates. The isle is owned
by the House of David.