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INSISTS HE IS CHRISTWalworth County Individual Teaches His Neighbors That He is theLiving Christ.Bangor, March 0. — The authorities of Walworth county hare de-jclared war against an individual named Jcob Merkel, who claims to be Christ, and who ha* become, in the opinion of the authorities, a very dangerous person to be at large.Merkel is a religious fanatic of the extreme type, and at least one death 'and an attempt at arson are said to be directly traceable to hi- faiiath al teachings. The victims of his pernicious influence was Karl Moser, s farmer, who vecenlly committed suicide hy strangling himself after he had informed his wife that lie had heen instructed ty • Christ” to sacrifice himself for the sins of the world.Moser was an intimate friend of Merkel, and the coroner's Jury which investiagteri Moser's death returned a verdict containing these words:The direct cause of suicide w,i religious insanity, which, in turn, had been originated and fostered by ins close association with one Jn oh Merkel, whose pernicious Influence*ithi unhinged the mental balance of deceased.There was evidence to show that Metkei thieatenert that if Moser did i not take his own life he Merkel ; wd Id kill him. It was believed by the religious fanatics with wootn Moser associated that he Moser.: would return from the dead 011 the ! third day after he had ended his own life, and they naturally were idisappointed when he failed to return 1 to the land of the Wring.The religious fanatics refused to bury the dead man, even after they ; had lost all hope of his coming hack | to life, arid a few kindliearted neighbors had to perform this service.For months Merkel has been a dis-tuibing element in the community in which the tragic death of Moser j occurred, and has on frequent occasions intimidated Ins neighbors bv oral tlreats of killing, burning and destroying. Me also has used the I mails for the circulation of objectionable literature, this being sent I to those who have refused to believe In him.The records of the county show I that he attempted to kill a resident j of the neighborhood because God told him to. Moser at the time of ; his death at his own hands was under bonds for his appearance at the next term of state circuit court in Walworth county for trial on the charge of arson.Those who investigated the case [discovered that Moser, who. as stat-j ed. was an intimate friend and riis-J cl pie of Merkel, was seen with Merkel shortly before he Moser set lire I to Kerner’s dwelling house, the offense having been committed during the closing week-, of last year.It was also learned that ifter | Moser's death his neighbors were I afraid to enter the house where Ids body lay for fear of being shot, and none of the neighbors would consent to act as administrator for the wi 1-ow for fear of offending Merkel and receiving rcugh treatment, if not j death, at Ins hands.Dr. A. Hell, coroner of Walworth county. In discussing the presence in his county of tiies.* religious fanatics.. said:Tiie danger of leaving a large per-' sons so afflicted is very great, because the tendency of the disease is : towards homicide as well as suicide. One can readily perceive the small J mental jump required to switch fromI ! . « 3 a . e • 1 . ahomicide to suicide, and that a person with the false belief of being Cbrlst himself does not feel himself bound by any aw human or divine.He becomes a dangerous outlaw, aod ' should have that proper rest and treatment that the state provides for such at the Yankton hospital for the insane.++♦t.Testimony shows that there exists 1 in the northeast corner of Walworth county a very hotbed of insanity, j resulting In a state of lawlessness i hard to believe.The coroner's jury in the Moaer cate recommended that vigorous means should be adopted by the authorities of Walworth county to put a atop to the undue influence, religious or otherwise, exerted hy Jacob Merkel, the false Christ, upon the followers of his religious delusions.In view of this, it is probable an effort will be made In the near future to place the false Christ and his more fanatical followers in the state hoapita! for the insane.WHAT IS CATARRH?Scailin Bros. Guarantee a Cure by Hyomei or Will Refund the
Newspaper Details
Mitchell Daily Republican
Mitchell, South Dakota, US
Tue, Mar 06, 1906
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IA, USA 16 Oct 2017
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