Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1890 — A PREACHER’S EXPERIMENT. [ARTICLE]

A PREACHER’S EXPERIMENT.

He Kills and End-a.ors to Restore to Life, But is Unsuccessful. Primus Jones, colored, was killed Sun> day morning at Sumter, S. C. A protracted meeting was being held by the negroes at Beulah Church, and the greatest ex citement prevailed. It was at first reported that Primus had been offered as a sacrifice to the Holy Ghost because of his incredulity. Deputy Coroner Norris held an inquest at the church. The testimony showed that, in a perfect frenzy of fanaticism, Jones was killed by Rev. A. H. Durant, the negro pastor, and one Richard Campbell, a prominent member of the church, because the deceased had expressed doubts about the supernatural power of Durant to kill and restore to life, and that it was a test case, but the experiment failed. A large number of Durant’s congregation believed that he possessed supernat’ ural power until his failure in th is case. The finding was that Jones was murdered by Richard Campbell and A. H. Durant. The jury was composed of intelligent colored men, and the Coroner complimented them on thqjr verdict The prisoners are in jail. -