CLAIM TO DIVINITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 11

CLAIM TO DIVINITY.

AMERICAN RELIGIOUS CULT*

DECLARED PUBLIC NUISANCE.

A. and N.Z. STEW YORK. Nov. 10. A message From' Lansing,-Michigan, says Judge Fead hais ! declared the "House of David" is dominated by the so-called " King," benjamin PurneU,'to be u"'pribtle on the ground of immorality. The Sfudge refused to dissolve the cult's colony, because he lacked statutory power to do this, but he ordered a receivership, which will take care of the claims of those past and present members who have been defrauded of tliefr property aildi labour by Purneirp claims to divinity.

An injunction will .also be issued restraining Purnell from farther association with the women members, except under proper protective conditions. The entire property of the colony is valued at £1,200,000. Purnell, who is a chronic invalid, is expected to appeal against the decision.

: !"I ' ' In a reference, tjie proceedings against the cult referred to.'in the message the Chicago Tribune of-September 25 said* When final arguments in the dissolution case of the \ "House of David" colony ar<J completed nest'week in Berrien Cpunty Circuit " Court," the longest ease in the history of Michigan ..will have been Judge Louis Fead will be here on Monday to hear the final argument# -in the State's suit to dissolve the colony as* a :pnblic nuisance. The State will insist upon the distribution of the colony's assetSi- totalling £1.400,000, among the members who have now dwindled to less than" 400.. . In the course of the trial sensational charges were made by ,15 women against Benjamin Purnell, long-haired, emaciated and sick chieftain of the strange cult which was established 30 years ago. These women, former members' of the cult, .charged that Benjamin, the selfstyled "Seventh Messenger/' hid' attacked them under the guise of a religious purificßtioTKXit«7ihati would bring them a reward of immortality. The State charges the entire pi-eisent ""membership of the colony with. .aiding and abetting their leader* and with perjury. It alleges that Benjamin built up. kingdom which defied the laws of the State of Michigan In returp the colony will attack the State's witnesses, chaining them with conspiracy to use the State as a tool in an effort to wrest money from the organisation Three months and one day already have been taken up with the case. Approximately 11,000 pages of testimony, 235 witnesses, 89 depositions, and 500 exhibits have features' of this unusual case. ,i