The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
CULTIST BA|LED
ON ASSAULT
CHARGE
Guess I'm All Washed
Up His Comment
In New York Cell

NEW YORK, April % G.NS0
Father Divine, scratching the very
earthly name Of Major ]. Divine
to a bail acknowledgment, was
turned back by police today to
his Historically jubilant followers
after going through the lineup
and arraignment in felony court.
The man who played at being
God was alternately frightened,
puzzled, humble and smiling, and
through it all spoke only once.
That was when he asked:
"What name do 1 sgn?"
His release followed attempts by
hundreds Of his followers to storm
their way into the Criminal Courts
Building, giving police bad half
hour.
Hearing Next Week
He is to be given a hearing
next Friday on the felonious as
sault charge which he fled last
Tuesday, leaving his "kingdoms''
tottering behind him.
One of his followers, negress,
was injured when a policeman'S
horse stepped on her foot during
an attempt to rush the court
building.
Nearly 5000 whites and negroes,
watched by foot and mounted
police, milled about the structure
as he was arraigned. Thirty
were searched and admitted to
the courtroom. When he came
out, protected by a V-shaped
wedge Of detectives, his disciples
raised a vast roar Of acclaim,
some even prostrating themselves.
500 Storm Building
Under questioning, Divine said
he had no idea police were search
ing for him. Before his release a
young negreSs arrived in court with
a steaming tray of food for his
luncheon.
White-hot floodlights beat on
the little man as he painfully
called Capt. Thomas Dugan your
Honor" and denied having caused
the riot last Monday night in his
main kingdom here.
Paul Comora, a process server
who slapped papers on the Harlem
evangelist at the kingdom, was
beaten, and his friend, Harry
Green, was stabbed with an ice
pick. Joseph Denoye, Evening
Journal reporter, was thrown
down the stairs.
PrOclaimS Him God
The crowds had streamed be-
hind the prison van which took
the 'man-who-would-be God" from
police headquarters to felony
court lookup this morning. They
sang, paraded, unfurled banners
proclaiming Divine to be God and
yelled:
1--WE want Father-we want to
see Father"
Divine finally was gotten into
the building without serious
trouble, although the throng out
side kept up an unending chant:
1--WE want Father"
Inside, in a drab cell, Father
Divine was the picture Of gloom
after virtually renouncing his far
flung Kingdom"
'AII Washed up
Brought here last night follow
ing his capture in the dingy cellar
of a minor Kingdom" in Milford,
Conn.,, late yesterday, the one
time idol of Harlem had dis
carded his heavenly aura and
heavenly phrases with the glum
admission, in good old Broadway
slang:
81 guess I'm all washed up"
The admission Of defeat was
not spoken publicly, but to an
ardent supporter following his ar
rest. He said:
"It is over. I am not guilty Of
this charge; I am not guilty Of
any charge that has ever been
made, but the spirit is dead"
STOLEN COAL TRACED
The messiah" faced further
trouble as authorities sought to
link his heavens" with the sale
of coal stolen and bootlegged from
the anthracite fields of Schuylkill
county, Pa.
Meantime Harlem was in an
uproar, and extra squads of de-
tectiveS were assigned to the dis
trict in anticipation Of trouble as
Father Divine's loyal followers
angrily echoed the cry you can't
arrest God!"