The Portland Daily Press

A SAD TRAGEDY.

Fit of Religious Frenzy:

Who Attempts to Arrest Him.

NORTH SANDWICH, Mass., May 2.—Some time yesterday, Charles F. Freeman of Pocasset, in a freak of religious frenzy, killed his five-years-old daughter Edith. The man is a Second Adventist, and has become greatly excited during the last few days while attending a series of revival meetings. About a week ago he claimed to have received a "wonderful revelation," and has not eaten or slept since. He says that the Lord directed him to sacrifice his little daughter and declares that she will rise again in three days.

Yesterday morning he sent word around the village that he would make the revelation known and offer an Orthodox sacrifice at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. A number of the Second Advent people assembled at his house. Previous to their arrival the horrible deed was performed, with cool deliberation, and accompanied with what was intended to be an impressive religious ceremony. The little one was transfixed with a knife by her insane father, and her blood was poured out upon a table, which was improvised as an altar.

Those people present at Freeman's house in the afternoon refuse to state the circumstances of the terrible affair, and it is not known whether the bloody deed was performed in their presence or earlier in the day. It is intimated that all that might be told about the tragedy has not yet been revealed.

The madman has driven everyone from his house and has not yet been secured. He has locked and barred the doors and windows, and being supplied with firearms, he threatens death to any one who shall interfere. Alone with his dead, he goes through a horrible incantation, which he says will in three days result in the "resurrection of my beloved child."

The community has been horror stricken by the awful occurrence, and no one has as yet had the courage to attempt to secure the maniac.

Freeman is about thirty five years of age, and lives with his wife and family on his farm in Pocasset. He has another daughter, about seven years old. Edith being just five. He has lived in Pocasset about seven years, and was a man in moderate circumstances. He is insane only on this one subject.

(SECOND DISPATCH.)

NORTH SANDWICH, Mass., May 2.—The particulars of the Freeman tragedy at Pocasset, as near as can be learned, are as follows: Freeman got up at about two o'clock yesterday morning, and told his wife the Lord had called upon him to kill Edith. He then went to his shop near the house and came back with a knife, with which he killed the child while asleep in bed with an older sister. Nothing was known of the affair until the members of the society assembled at the house in the afternoon, when Freeman told them he had done the deed. "by command of the Lord, and that the Lord would raise her again."
The strangest part of the affair is that those who went to the house in the afternoon should have kept the matter secret, nearly all of them being so under the influence of the faith that if not countenancing the act, they at least are trying to shield Freeman.
The resident selectman of the village did not learn of the affair until last night at about twelve o'clock.
Freeman is about thirty-four years old, and a man of good standing. His wife is equally fanatical and was accessory. Medical Examiner Smith and Deputy Sheriff Harris of Barnstable are on their way to the scene.