A SPIRITUALIST STARVED TO DEATH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 177, 29 June 1871, Page 3

A SPIRITUALIST STARVED TO DEATH.

D. Gr. Tuttle,,of Warren, Illinois, died lately' of starvation. We clip the following account of the affair from the Warren "Sentinel:"—-" For 25 days, ending last Thursday morning, Mr. Tuttle had existed without food or nourishment, taking only a few ounces of wine and water, but on the morning alluded to nature gave way, and the spirit took its flight. Tuttle was a strong believer in spiritualisaa, and claimed that the spirits had told him that he must fast for4o days, after which he would go into a trance and the spirit would depart, but after six days it would come back and we would be all bretheren. He said he suffered no pain of any kind, but was tormented by those who came to talk to him. The day before he died we visited him at the residence of his mother, in this place. Going in, we lound him alone in a small room without furniture, lying on a bed with a quilt thrown over him. On entering the room, he told us to go out. 'If you want to talk to me,' said he, ' go round to the north end of the house, and talk through the window. Youmaketheroom too close — too close.' To gratify him we proceeced to the window. 'Do you suffer any pain, or are you troubled, Mr. Tuttle '/ ' 'No, I am perfectly easy. You torment me when you talk to me. My strength is almost gone now.' What do you think is to become of you V ' I am going to sleep now pretty soon, when the spirit will depart After six days it will return, and we all will be brothers. 1 To gratify him we were then driven away from the window. Lying there on the bed be presented a horrible appearance. All his flesh had been consumed by the vital organs to sustain life, and the skin clung tight to the bones. With long, uncombed hair and whiskers, sunken eyes, and hollow cheeks, he presented a wreck to look upon. The Sunday before he died he was immersed in Sappaford Branch, he believing that it was neccessary to cleanse his spirit; and he also had some teeth pulled out to carry on the cleansing process. On Wednesday last the authorities were called in, who endeavoured to persuade him to eat, and succeeded in getting him to take a little beef tea ; but the remedy came to late. He was past redemption, and gradually sank into the ' trance ' from which there is no wakening."