Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14
KING BEN" ADMITS |
BREAK WITH WIFE.
Says He Feared Attempt to
Undermine PoWer-Again
Denies Charges.
BY the Associated Press.


BENTON HARBOR. Mich. August
13.--The admission that he feared his
wife, Mary, and Francis Thorpe were
attempting to undermine his power
was drawn from Benjamin Purcell,
leader of the House of David colony,
by the state today in its dissolution
suit against the organization Thorpe
is a cult pillar and former secretary
of the colony.
The admission by Purnell that there
is a break between him ana his wife
climaxed weeks of effort on the part
of the State to show there was dis
sension and opposition to Benjamin s
leadership.
Purnell on the witness stand for
the second time, was brought from
the colony in an automobile. He
reclined listlessly on cot as he
testified. In a voice scarcely above
whisper. he asserted he meant Mary
when he wrote in notes held by the
State Of a person of great wicked
ness He declared he had to show
her where to head ill.,"
A moment later Purnell stated that
he went into hiding in the Diamond
House in January. 1923, because lie
did not wish to be served with capiases
issued in connection with charges of
two sisters that he mistreGted them.
Denies Sisters Charges.
charges, was there?" George 4.
Nichols, States attorney, asked.
"Why, no." Purnell replied.
"Why, then, did you fear 10 face
the charges?"
at would have worked against the
colony" the witness returned
Purnell. who seemed more active
and in better spirits than when he
first appeared Friday, was on the wit
ness stand less than an hour. His
nurse and w. j. Barnard, defense
counsel, then pleaded he was exhaust
ed and he was trundled back to the
waiting ambulance and returned to
the colony. He may resume the stand
Monday morning for the completion
of his cross-examination.
Wife Appears to BE Angry.
While Benjamin testified Mary sat
In the courtroom, apparently angry.
She left. upon the conclusion of his
testimony.
When Mary was on the stand this
week she insisted that scrawIed notes
IN Purnelfs handwriting, seized in
raid last Fall when Benjamin was
arrested, We're simply details of
gossip Benjamin had heard. He wrote
down the tales told him by Ada Ross
ana Edith Meldrum, two of his lieu
tenants, so he could give her an ac-
curate report of their words, she said
She charged the women with "at
tempting to cause trouble between
me and Benjamin"
The notes called Mary a "daceitful
reprobate."
Were these things told you by Ada
Ross and Edith Meldrunn?'' Nichols
asked
Why, no." the king replied. "They
We're my own Words
Then there was trouble between
you and Mary?"
replied
When you wrote L cannot write of
her internal wickedness,' who were
you referring TOP
Il suppose Mary PurnelI," the wit
ness whispered.
says Wife Arranged Weddings.
Benjamin again denied the charges
preferred against him, and said there
was nothing in his teachings instruct.
ing members to tell untruths to pro.
tect him. He denied being connected
with group marriages, which the State
alleges were arranged to protect him.
Mary looked after the arrange
ments," he said
He admitted taking a trip to Can
ada when trouble threatened in 1914,
but said he went to inspect a farm.
Several character witnesses were
called after Purnell left the stand.
They were former Benton Harbor OF
ficials and business men. who declared
the intelligence of the cult members is
equal to or above the average, that
the colony has never been considered
a nuisance and that they had never
heard of immortality or drinking
among the members or officials.