A RELIGIOUS FANATIC OFFERS HIS CHILD AS A SACRIFICE

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1085, 7 June 1879, Page 2

A RELIGIOUS FANATIC OFFERS HIS CHILD AS A SACRIFICE

Boston, May 2. Charles P ? Freeman, of Pocasset, Mass.* yesterday killed his five -year -old daughter. The man is a Second Adventist, and has been attending revival meetings. About a week ago, he claimed to have received wonderful revelations, and has not eaten or slept since. Ho says the Lord du-ected him to sacrifice his little daughter, and declares she will rise again m three days. Yesterday morning, he sent word to the neighbours thathe would make the revelation known, and offer an orthodox sacrifice. In the afternoon numbers of the vSecond Advent assembled at his house, but the child had then been killed. Tho littlo oue was transfixed wi%

a knife, and her blood poured out upon the table, improvised as an altar. Freeman has driven everyone from the house, and barred the doors and windows, and, having firearms, threatens death to anyone who interferes. Alone with the dead chUd, he goes through horrible incantations, whichj he says, " m three days will result m the- resurrection of his beloved child." Later despatches state that Freeman was arrested this afternoon. He tells a strange story. For 30 hours, he says, it had been impressed on him that he must kill ono of his family. Hp was doubtful whether it should be himself, his wife, the older girl, or. the little girl. Finally the Lord made it claer that it must be the little girl. He did not tell his wife at first, but at 2 o'clock yesterday morning he told her what he was going to do. They talked it over, agreed it was right, and then knelt together and prayed over it. Both then went to the room where the two little girls wero sleeping, and after looking at them 6ome minutes, he went to his shop and got a large sheathknif c singing all the way out and baok, and never feeling so happy as then. Returning to the house and to the children's room, he turned the bedclothes down to expose the child, his wife standing by, and stabbed her m the left side. She turned toward him, lifted up her arms, and said, "Oh father," and he then held her m hip arms till she died, five minutes after. The older girl was partly awake, and her mother carried her out of the room before she knew of her sister's death, and she does not know of it now. Freeman afterwards got into bed with tho dead child, and there remained until after daylight. Freeman declares he is not insane. His child will, be raised, he says, on Sunday, and he asks all who do not believe m God to come to his house on that day and they will see wonderful things. His child would theh be raised, and would help him to preach. He never felt so tenderly toward his children, he saya, than' on Wednesday night when they were put to bed. He kissed them and played with them, and hoped before he struck the fatal blow that God would stay his hand, as he did Abraham's. If resurrection does not take place he will despair.