Sect Members Hide From ‘Prophesied’ Nuclear Attack

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29251, 8 July 1960, Page 13

Sect Members Hide From ‘Prophesied’ Nuclear Attack

(Rec. 11 p-m.) BENSON (Arizona), July 7. Police armed with search warrants yesterday broke into the hiding place of several * members of a small religions sect which believes the United States faces Imminent destraction by atomic attack. After kicking open the ~ rear door of the home of a member of the Full Gospel Assembly, the police found a trap door in the floor of a closet in the master bedroom. The trap door was lifted, revealing another trap door. Persistent knocking brought an answer from the head of the bouse, Mr Glenn Scott, aged 36.

"I*ll tell you why we are here,'* said an annoyed Mr Scott, as he stood in a lOft-deep subterranean bomb shelter lined with concrete blocks. “We are doing what the Government has told everyone to do—taking an active part in civil defence preparation.** Asked what the preparation concerned, Mr Scott replied that he and his friends expected a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. This, he indicated, was

revealed by'divine prophecy. The city attorney, Mr F. Talmadge, who led the search, said later: “When we tried to get in, they thought the alert had come and we were outsiders trying to take advantage of their shelters. After we started to break in, they realised Who we Were and let us in with apologies.” “These are good people,” Mr Talmadge said. “We weren't particularly worried but we did want to make sure the children were okay. We plan no further action. They have a right to their beliefs.” Mr Scott indicated that the sect would emerge from its shelter if the expected attack had not eventuated by Saturday. He scoffed at reports that he and the rest of the congregation estimated at about 100 persons, believed that the end of the world was at hand. In the shelter with Mr Scott were his wife and five children, aged from 3 to 11, and about 15 others. Other members of the church are believed to be in four other similar sfielters. They have been underground since last Monday night