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Coolacrease Murders
In 1921 two Pearson brothers were executed in Coolacrease, Ireland. They were caught in the Irish War of Independence and it was reported that: The two Pearson brothers who were executed by irish Nationalists were Richard Henry "Dick" and Abraham Pratt "Abe" Pearson, the sons of William and Susan Pearson, Sr. While their father and a younger brother, Sidney, were attending a convention about thirty-five miles away, these two older unmarried sons were shot by a firing squad numerous times in their back yard and left to die. None of the shots were fatal, and the two men suffered agony for six and fourteen hours respectively before they died. The women dragged a mattress away from the burning house into the field and somehow managed to get the two dying men onto it. Several family members were professing in the 2x2 Sect and were known as "Cooneyites". The family moved to Australia after this event. Details on Wikipedia and TTT. You Tube has documentaries on this tragedy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-FxlFpg5s
I met Murder on the Way
'I met Murder on the way...The Story of the Pearsons of Coolacrease' by Alan Stanley Self published 2005 in Co. Carlow, Ireland. ISBN 0950175889 In 1921 two Pearson brothers were executed in Coolacrease, Ireland. They were caught in the Irish War of Independence and it was reported that: The two Pearson brothers who were executed by irish Nationalists were Richard Henry "Dick" and Abraham Pratt "Abe" Pearson, the sons of William and Susan Pearson, Sr. While their father and a younger brother, Sidney, were attending a convention about thirty-five miles away, these two older unmarried sons were shot by a firing squad numerous times in their back yard and left to die. None of the shots were fatal, and the two men suffered agony for six and fourteen hours respectively before they died. The women dragged a mattress away from the burning house into the field and somehow managed to get the two dying men onto it. Several family members were professing in the 2x2 Sect and were known as "Cooneyites". The family moved to Australia after this event. Details on Wikipedia and TTT. You Tube has documentaries on this tragedy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-FxlFpg5s
Groenwald, Hennie & Kosie
Hennie and Kosie Grothers were brothers in the work in South Africa, where Kosie was murdered in the 1980s.
Hendrson suicides Australia
From the Age, Melbourne, Australia Shortly before she committed suicide last year with her younger brother, 15-year-old Narelle Henderson, of Kinglake West, wrote on her arm: "Kurt Cobain is a legend." A diary found later at Narelle's home included more references to Cobain, lead singer of the American band Nirvana, who had shot himself dead several months earlier. "Kurt you are so f lucky. I would give anything to be' where you are or with you." Narelle's obsession with the grunge rock hero was cited by a coroner yesterday as a contributing factor in her suicide with her 12-year-old brother, Stephen Henderson, in the Mount Robinson State Park at Pheasants Creek in November last year. Both had bullet wounds to the back of the head. But while Cobain's suicide was influential, the dread of attending a forthcoming religious camp was probably uppermost in the children's minds at the time they shot themselves, and the immediate motivation for their suicide pact, the coroner, Ms Jacinta Heffey, found. A suicide note found in clothing worn by Narelle said: "We want to tell (whoever finds us) not to make anybody go to Meetings or Church if they really hate it. "It destroys your life and we considered running away or other things but we were afraid we would be found and get in trouble and made to go back to our awful lives . . ." The children were due to attend a four-day religious convention either the night before or the day of the convention. Ms Heffey said in her finding: "It would seem clear that the imminent 'convention' was uppermost in the children's minds and was the immediate motivation behind the joint suicide." But Ms Heffey said Narelle was "also influenced to some degree" by the suicide of Cobain in April 1994. A letter found in Narelle's room, in which the text was written backwards, said: "Satan I need help, I want to serve you and be a devil worshipper. God is dead and no one cares. I am planning to kill myself on Tuesday. When I die let me be a devil or demon and destroy everyone who hurt me. I might have a seance and try and communicate with Kurt Cobain I love him, when I die can I meet him please I need to. Let me be a devil or demon."
Murray, Michael & John Walker
Michael Murray (27 yr) & John Walker (31 yr) were killed in an auto accident in California. The accident took place somewhere between Solvang and San Luis Obispo, John was killed instantly 8/9/1987 and Michael died 8 days later. The third worker in the car, Alan Vandermyden, survived but was badly injured.
Tagedy in California
Michael Murray (27 yr) & John Walker (31 yr) were killed in an auto accident in California. The accident took place somewhere between Solvang and San Luis Obispo, John was killed instantly 8/9/1987 and Michael died 8 days later. The third worker in the car, Alan Vandermyden, survived but was badly injured. Michael Murray and John Walker are buried in Pacific Crest Cemetery, Los Angeles County, California
Jones, Evan Stmt p1 -
Evan Jones statement 1n 1994 two teen agers, Naralle and Stephen Henderson, committed suicide rather than go to convention. Evan Jones made this statement to the police regarding the tenants of the faith, etc. Page 1
Jones, Evan Stmt p2 -
Evan Jones statement 1n 1994 two teen agers, Naralle and Stephen Henderson, committed suicide rather than go to convention. Evan Jones made this statement to the police regarding the tenants of the faith, etc. Page 2
Jones, Evan Stmt p3 -
1n 1994 two teen agers, Naralle and Stephen Henderson, committed suicide rather than go to convention. Evan Jones made this statement to the police regarding the tenants of the faith, etc. Page 3
Leon, Danny 1
Daniel "Danny" Velasco Leon - drowned in Colorado River, California January 28, 1933 - November 20, 1967 Entered the work in 1960. Photo taken 1967 summer before Gilroy CA Convention preps. Buried in Pacific Crest Cemetery, Los Angeles County, California
Leon, Danny 2
James "Jim" Wood and Danny Leon California co-workers 1962-1964 Daniel "Danny" Velasco Leon - drowned in Colorado River, California January 28, 1933 - November 20, 1967 Buried in Pacific Crest Cemetery, Los Angeles County, California
Walters Family, Pelahatchie, MS
Elbert & Gertie (Bumpus) Walters and 3 of their 4 children living in Pelahatchie, MS. In 1998, Elbert bludgeoned his wife to death along with her mother, Bertha Bumpus and then shot himself.
Man Who Killed Apartheid Dimitri
Dimitri Tsafendas "Rand Daily Mail," Johannesburg, South Africa (Sept. 8, 1966) It was into this atmosphere that a 2x2 man arrived in South Africa in November 1963 named Dimitri "Demetrius" Tsafendas. He would become The Man Who Killed Apartheid. Born in Mozambique, Africa, on January 14, 1918, he was the illegitimate half-caste son of a white Greek man, Michalis Tsafendas, and mixed-race African Amelia Williams. He grew up with his father, stepmother and four siblings in Mozambique. During WWII, while hospitalized in the US, Tsafendas became friends with another patient, Brother Worker Tom Tuft. He was attracted to Tuft's simple Church; after the war, they reconnected. When he left for Greece in September 1947, Tuft provided contacts for European Church members. Tsafendas converted, was baptized by Brother Worker John Micheletos, and participated in their Church Meetings. In March 1965, Tsafendas arrived in South Africa. He moved to Cape Town in August and stayed with a 2x2 couple, Peter and Merle Daniels. They shared a duplex with Merle's 2x2 sisters Sheila (De Jager) Martin and another. Martin's first impression of Tsafendas was that he was a mysterious character. She described him as quiet, gentle and restless, but not threatening. He spoke eight languages fluently and regaled interesting stories about his travels. He attended the same Church Meetings as Martin and read his Bible often but was never quite in tune with 2x2 culture. He once prayed the Lord's Prayer aloud at Convention. He never married. He somehow acquired a job as a messenger at the House of Parliament. Prime Minister Assassinated. In 1961, Prime Minister Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd withdrew South Africa from the British Commonwealth. He was a harsh, ruthless, merciless man; some believed he was evil and insane. He planned to pass another very cruel law against the already suffering black population. On September 6, 1966, as he stepped forward to deliver a speech regarding the new law to Parliament, he was stabbed several times and died. The murderer was none other than Dimitri "Demetrius" Tsafendas, age 48. The assassination appeared well planned. The story was published in South African daily newspapers, e.g. the Argus and Cape Times, and also internationally, including in the US editions of Time and Newsweek Magazines. They reported Tsafendas claimed a tapeworm had possessed him. Reportedly, he told the police he killed Verwoerd because he was disgusted with his racial policies. At his one-day trial, Tsafendas was ruled insane, detained at Pretoria Central Prison and incarcerated until his death. Church members who testified were Daniels, O'Ryans and Brother Worker James Johnson. 46/475 Additional References: Harris Dousemetzis with Gerry Loughran. 2019. The Man Who Killed Apartheid: The Life of Dimitri Tsafendas: Jacana Media, South Africa.
Tsafendas-Alamy - smaller
Dimitri Tsafendas "Rand Daily Mail," Johannesburg, South Africa (Sept. 8, 1966) It was into this atmosphere that a 2x2 man arrived in South Africa in November 1963 named Dimitri "Demetrius" Tsafendas. He would become The Man Who Killed Apartheid. Born in Mozambique, Africa, on January 14, 1918, he was the illegitimate half-caste son of a white Greek man, Michalis Tsafendas, and mixed-race African Amelia Williams. He grew up with his father, stepmother and four siblings in Mozambique. During WWII, while hospitalized in the US, Tsafendas became friends with another patient, Brother Worker Tom Tuft. He was attracted to Tuft's simple Church; after the war, they reconnected. When he left for Greece in September 1947, Tuft provided contacts for European Church members. Tsafendas converted, was baptized by Brother Worker John Micheletos, and participated in their Church Meetings. In March 1965, Tsafendas arrived in South Africa. He moved to Cape Town in August and stayed with a 2x2 couple, Peter and Merle Daniels. They shared a duplex with Merle's 2x2 sisters Sheila (De Jager) Martin and another. Martin's first impression of Tsafendas was that he was a mysterious character. She described him as quiet, gentle and restless, but not threatening. He spoke eight languages fluently and regaled interesting stories about his travels. He attended the same Church Meetings as Martin and read his Bible often but was never quite in tune with 2x2 culture. He once prayed the Lord's Prayer aloud at Convention. He never married. He somehow acquired a job as a messenger at the House of Parliament. Prime Minister Assassinated. In 1961, Prime Minister Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd withdrew South Africa from the British Commonwealth. He was a harsh, ruthless, merciless man; some believed he was evil and insane. He planned to pass another very cruel law against the already suffering black population. On September 6, 1966, as he stepped forward to deliver a speech regarding the new law to Parliament, he was stabbed several times and died. The murderer was none other than Dimitri "Demetrius" Tsafendas, age 48. The assassination appeared well planned. The story was published in South African daily newspapers, e.g. the Argus and Cape Times, and also internationally, including in the US editions of Time and Newsweek Magazines. They reported Tsafendas claimed a tapeworm had possessed him. Reportedly, he told the police he killed Verwoerd because he was disgusted with his racial policies. At his one-day trial, Tsafendas was ruled insane, detained at Pretoria Central Prison and incarcerated until his death. Church members who testified were Daniels, O'Ryans and Brother Worker James Johnson. 46/475 Additional References: Harris Dousemetzis with Gerry Loughran. 2019. The Man Who Killed Apartheid: The Life of Dimitri Tsafendas: Jacana Media, South Africa.
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