"prince Michael" Convicted

AU last week excitement ran high in tliis city over the trial of the pretended Meesiah, known as " Prince Michael," which case was sent to this circuit from Detroit on a change of veuue. The change was made because the prisoner and his counsel thought there was so much prejudice against him and his followers in Detroit (where they were known,) that it would be impossible to obtain a fair trial. Strangers rnight be more lenient, it was argued. If the courts of Detroit have any more such obscene cases, they will do well to retain them. It should be remembered that country people the world over have a much higher sense of moral purity than do residents of a city. Things that would be winked at in a great city would meet witli the severest punishment in the country, where the people as a general thing have a much higher conception of virtue. So when this man, Michsel K. Mills, who carried on a " Godhouse " in Detroit, into whichhe had gathered several women - ten in all, it is understood - (whom he called his spiritual wives), and tvho had rnany followers, that believed him to be what he pretended to be, a holy man, and leader of the ten lost tribes of Israel, and as such submitted to him. When he came to Ann Arbor to find sympathy he struck the wrong place. Tlie "Prince" was fortúnate in one thing, however. He procured the assistance of one of the best lawyers in Michigan, and perhaps in the west, for there are but few in the profession that o'ertop Col. John Atkinson, and he had associawith him his partner, Mr. Brooke, of Detroit, and also Mr. T. D. Kearney, of this place. The Colonel fought a gallant fight in a bad cause, and used all the persuasive powers of his sil ver tongue and gifted brain to convince twelve good men and true, that debauchery and immorality were synonymous with religión. It would be very difficult to find twelve men in Washtenaw county who can be convinced that immoral practices can be considered as a part of one's religious belief. Here is a pointer that may be of some benefit. ElizaCourt, one of the spiritual wives of the " Prince," is vet to be tried. I'. is not .safe to trust a Washtenaw jury with her case. They are all prejudiced against her peculiar kind of " religión." Of course aWayne county jury is not to be trusted or tliese people would not have fied from there, in the first place. The only hope for Eliza is to get another change of venue and take case to Salt Lake City, then get some Mormon depity sheriff to pack the jury with antiGentiles. THE TRIAL'. The trial commenced kist Tuesday morning and closed Friday niglit. The examination of witnesses was listened to witli the closest atteutiou by the crowds in attendancè, and every word was eagerly drank in. At first the current of public opinión seemed to favoi the " Prince " and his followers, hut after little Bernice Bechel had told her story in a straight forward way which nothing could shake ; the tide commenced running the other way, and after the old man Bechel had given his testimony, which seemed to all who heard it to be of a brutal nature for a father against his own daughter, then there was no stemming the current. The pleas of the attorneys were fine efforts. Assistant Prosecutor Springer of Detroit, probably made the greatest plea of his life, and he was so sincere and earnest that it had great weight with the jury. There were many tears wiped away from moist eyes when he had finished. Col. Atkinson's plea for the prisoner that followed was a masterly eftbrt. The Colonel has a voice that he can use to good advantage, and he can make appeals in a pathetic way that are very touching. Clairning for every man the. right in this free country to enjoy his religión unniolested, he asserted that it was simply prejudice and prejudice alone that was condemning tlie prisoner. Prosecuting Attorney Burroughs is credited with out-doing himself when it carne liis turn to address the jury, making soine very effective points. CHARGE TO THE JURY. The case was given to tlie jury about 6 o'clock, after Judge Kinne had made the following able charge : ' Gentlemen of the Jury.- The law presumes every man to be innocent uutll he is proven to be guüty. In order to conyict the defendant in this case, you must from the evidence be satisfied of his guilt bevond a reasonable doubt. The offense with w'hich the defendant now stands eharged is not seduction or rape, the latter of which would imply the use of force or vlolence, but is 11 crime declaied and defined by the laws of this state, lookiug to the protection and purity of girls. "The issues, therefore, which you are called upon to determine in this case are neither numerous nor compiicated. Krom the evidence submitted you are to determine; 1. Whether or not on or about the 17th dav of February, 1892, the defendant had carnal knowledge of Beruice Uechel; 2. Whether or not at that time she was betvveen the ages of fourteen and sixteen: 8. Whether or not beiore the commission of the act of sexual commerce she was a chaste girl. If from the evidence in this case you are satisfied bevond a reasonable doubt ot the aifirmative of these three propositiona of fact, then it is your duty to couvict the defendaut. " I do not uuderstand that there is any controversy respecting the age of Bernice Bechel. It sms to be uudisputed that at the time when this alleged offense was committed she was between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years. Your efforts will. therefore, becentered upon the questions : First, whether or not the act us alleged was committed; seeond, if that is the fact. was the young girl previous thereto haste? ' It is claimed upon the part of the defendant that this accusation against him is uatrue, that it is diie to ill-feeliug and religious or other prejudlce against him, and that the materinl and important testimony upon the part of the prosecutiou is false, mauuiactured and fabricated. If you are satisfied that this is true, or if you are not convinced beyoud a reasonable doubt of the claim on the part of the prosecution it is your duty to acquit the prisoner. ' ün the other hand, the claim upon the part of the people, if true, presente a case of the most shocking turpitude. Seldom are courts oí justice called upon to investígate human atiiürs so painful and .distressing, if true. If such a crime has been committed as the people assen, outraged Dublic justice demands a prompt and complete vindication and admits neither of delay nor controversy. If it be true, as is claimed by the prosecution. that this defendunt lured to his home this voung girl, Bernice Bechel, for the purpose of debauchery, that she was then pure-minded and chastê; that viouning the divine inantle and clothiug H with the panoply oí heaven.hestormed the citadel of her maidenly virtue, and after repeated efforts, by arousiug the strong impulses of her religious nature, and by hispiring her with a belief that she was actiug in obedienee to God, finallv robbed this young girl of the priceless jewei of her womanhood ; if all this be true, the case is such as to sicken the heart and stagger the soul of every vlrtuous man and woman. Upon you, gentlemen of the jury, rests the grave responsibility of determinins whether or not from the evidence thuse claims are true or false, aud you must reacli your conclusions in this case from a full consideration of the evidence submitted and all the circumstances surrouuding this case as developed from the testimony. " If you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt from the evidence in this case that the story is told by Bernice Bechel upon the witnes.s stand is true, and that previous to her intlmacy with the defendant she was a chaste girl. then you Bhould convict the prisoner. THE QUESTION OF CHASTITY. "Upon this question of chastlty I instruct yon as iollows: Chastlty 18 that virtue which prevents the uulawiul comineree of the sexes, and in the case of an mimarried feinale implles purlty from all sexual eommerce. It has bi'uii disclosed in this case that this young girl when she was between the ages of seveu and eight had something to do with two young boys, the eldest of whom was betweeu the ages oí twelve and thirteen years. Yon undoubtedly uru able to recall tlie testimony upon this unfortanate feature in the Ufe oí this child. It i not important in this case for you to determine the exact character and extent of her experiencc at that time. She was theu but the merest child of the most tender years, a little body, as yet an entlre Btranger to the sensations of last' and the paasions of the flesh, and utterly incapable of unchastity. I iustruct yon that this sad chapter in the history of the Ufe of this little girl in no evidence whateverln itself of the want of chastity, and that it is yourdutyto entirely discard it,as far as it may affect the questioñ of chastity. " But it is a part of the life of this young girl and you may give it only such weight as you thiuk it ought to receive as affecting her credibility as a witness. There is no other testimony disputing her chastity. and if you uelieve her statement upon the witness stand that previous to her alleged commeree with the defendant she was a chastc girl, and if vou also fiud from the evideuce that the a!Ieged act of sexual cunnneree with the defndant took place as alleged, theu you should convict the defendaut. "Ii counsel ou either or both sides of this case in their argumeuts have passed beyond the record and alluded to auy action o-r thing or event not introdnced as evidence on the trial, it is the duty of the jury to ignore all such eoinment and dismiss the same from their consideration. " Now, gentlemeu of the jury, such is the case whieh is uow submltted to your arbitration. Disabuse your minds 01' all prejudiee; fearlessly enter upon the solution of the question of the guilt orinnoceuce of the defendant and ronder such verdict as will reflect the conscientious judgment of twelve honest men inspira! with uo other purpose than the discharge of a high and sacred duty." THE VERDICT. Court was then adjourned until seven o'clock. The jury retired to their room, were served with supper, and at 7:20 sent word that they had afreed upon a verdict. Tliere was 110 discussion, all agreeing tliat the " Priuce " was guilty of the crime charged, that of " carnally knowing a girl under 16 years of age." Wheu the jury filed into the court room a great calm feil over the immense crowd, and everyone stood inteutly listening for the verdict, and when ForemanGeorge Clarken answered "guilty," a wave of approval ran through the audience. TUE SENTKN'CE. Prosecuting Attorney Burroughs moved that sentence be passed upon the prisoner at once, which Judge Kinne approved, and asked Michael K. Mills to stand up, and state the reasons, if any, why sentence should not be passed upon liim. Hia reply was: " I desire by the strength of God to bear wliatever burden inay be laid apon me, for my people, who are tlie people of God." " He had nothing fuither to ofler and the Judge continued : . " Mr. Mills, under the Btatnte tlie ! ishment for the crime of which you have been convieted is not more than five or less than one year's imprisonment. I feel it my duty to impose upon yon the majrimum penalty nained iu the statute - that you be conñned in the state prison at Jaekson five years from and including this day." The audience were (incontrolable for a few moments, and the SherifFs gavel, together witta tliat of the judge, rapped in vain for order. After quiet had beeu restored Judge Kinne thanked Mie jury for their attention, dismissed them, and adjourned court. AN BXCITING TIME. Demonstrations were at once made that led the officers to believe that soine harm might come to the prisoners, Michael and Eliza, so tliey surronnded the couple and took them to jail, followed by an immense crowd of jeering, hooting young men. After returning from the jail they came back to the court house corridors and observing "Lucifer" Durand and Bechel in an office they immediately commenced i guying them. " Lucifer " received the contenta of an ink bottle to blacken up hia gray hair somewhat, but was not annoyed any further. Bechel did not fare so well. The crowd " had it in for him," as the expression goes. He had long, dirty-looking locks that came way below his shoulders, and the crowd commenced securing souvenirs from them. I He objected and made a hot flght for few seconde, but the numbers were too great for hiin, and he finally succumbed to the inevitable, telling the boys to do what they chose with him, only uot to take hislife. The boya had no such idea. They only wanted to see what sort of a looking human being he was wheri he got his wool ofF, so they took him to a barbershop, got him to request the barber to cut his hair and trim his beard, and then he -ivas allowed to depart in peace. There was strong talk of a coat of tar and feathers, which many good citizens were not adyerse to seeing administered, but to the credit of the good name of Ann Arbor it was nol done. Such scènes as followed this trial ane j not to be cominended. The law is abuadantly able to care for offenders, but the j feeling was so intense against the pris' oners and their followers, that the only won. Ier is that they were let off so easy. OFF TO JACKSOX. It liad been rumored that the " Princé" was lurried off to Jackson the same night to avoid the wrath of the crowd, but such was uot the fact. Sheriff Dwyer and Deputy Peterson escorted him to his new " Godhouse " Saturday p. m„ leaviug on the 2:19 train. There weie 300 or 400 people down there to see hint off, but no demonstrations were attempted. And so comes to grief another man, who pretendiug k be divinely inspired, sought religión as a cloak to gratify his lusts.