Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1907 — KILLED IN RELIGIOUS RITES AT ZION CITY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KILLED IN RELIGIOUS RITES AT ZION CITY.

Five persons, members of the sect of Parhainltes, were arrested in Zion City, 111., accused of torturing to death Mrs. Letltla Greenbaulgh, 64 years •Id, to show their belief in the rellglbn they profess. Those arrested are Walter and Jennie Greenbaulgh, the son aud daughter of the woman, Harold Mitchell. Mrs. Harold Mitchell and a Mrs. Smith. AH of them are charged with manslaughter. Mrs. Greenbaulgh had been for twenty years an invalid, Buffering from paralysis and rheupmtism. The sect of Parhaniltes was founded about a year ago by Charles F. Parham and numbers about 200. The members originally belonged to Dowie's church and believe dn the gift of tongues and especially In diabolical possession. It is the/r theory that sickness is an evidence of the possession of tht h y ntftl The condition of Mrs. Greenhaulgb convinced her son and daughter and the three persons arrested with them tbnt she must be possessed of the devil and they determined to exorcise the evl 1 spirit The five gathered. It Is said, at the bedside and after prayer, commenced tbelr work. The jirms of Mrs. Greenbaulgh. stiffened by rheumatism, were jerked and ftflfSed about in order that the devil might be driven out. The cries of the aged woman were considered to be those of an evil spirit and were greeted with triumphant abouta After a course of this violent treatment Mrs Greenbaulgh not only became so weak that she could not use her limbs, but l>ecame incapable of making any matioa. Tbs five wwrkod ever the victim mW she died. After that according to Greenbaulgh, Mrs. Smith became the leader in a “resurrection scene.” In this, efforts were made to rertore the dead woman to Ufa Thaw the announcement of her death was made.

LETITIA GREENHAULGH