NOI Cult Murders p.1 Head Of Cult Admits Killing

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Detroit News, Monday Nov 21 1932, page 1
HEAD OF CULT ADMITS KILLING - Says 'Unbeliever' Was Sacrificed to the Gods of His Order - Wife Also Under Arrest

The Negro leader of a strange religious cult has confessed that he killed an "unbeliever" on a rude table in his home at 1429 Dubois street early Sunday, because his gods demanded a human sacrifice.

Robert Harris, head of the cult, and his wife, Bertha, are held on murder charges. The victim was HEAD OF CULT ADMITS KILLING - Says 'Unbeliever' Was Sacrificed to the Gods of His Order - Wife Also Under Arrest

The Negro leader of a strange religious cult has confessed that he killed an "unbeliever" on a rude table in his home at 1429 Dubois street early Sunday, because his gods demanded a human sacrifice.

Robert Harris, head of the cult, and his wife, Bertha, are held on murder charges. The victim was Jams J. Smith, also a Negro and a roomer in the Harris home. Police found the body, with a fractured skull and a sliver knife in the chest, in a rear room of the house Sunday afternoon.

According to Harris, the victim mounted an altar in the room and stood with his arms outstretched, gazing at the ceiling. Then a few seconds before the minute hand of the clocked reached 12 Harris got his dirk out of a drawer and plunged it into Smith's heart, according to his tale. The victim's skull was then fractured by an automobile axle.
Prints Don't Check

Harris' fingerprints today were compared by Sergt. Thomas Dwyer, of the identification bureau, with the print found at the scene of the Evangelista slayings. Benny Evangelista, his wife and their four children were slain July 3, 1929, in their home at 3586 St. Aubin avenue, with an ax.

Following the comparison, inspector John I. Navarre, of the homicide squad, said that the prints did not check. He said detectives would question Harris in connection with the Evangelista slayings but that he was "reasonably convinced" that Harris had no connection with them.

Evangelista was the leader of a cult and police believe the slaying was linked in some way with his religious practices. A single fingerprint in blood, which was found on the door knob of the Evangelista home, was the only clue the slayer left. The print has not been matched in police records.

Harris told Meier that his cult was called the Order of Islam and that he had almost 100 followers among Detroit Negroes.

Following the slaying, Harris and his wife went to the home of friends at 2729 Clinton street, where they were later arrested.

The body was discovered shortly after noon Sunday by a man whose name is not known to the police.
Battles Police

A printed sentence, "The unbeliever must be stabbed through the heart," was found pasted on a sheet of paper. It apparently had been cut from a book or magazine.

Harris made his confession readily but he made a violent struggle when the police attempted to fingerprint him. The prints were obtained after four detectives overpowered him.

Mrs. Harris substantiated her husband's statements. Several other persons were questioned and released. Several of these, police say, were members of the Order of Islam.

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#voodoo
#humansacrifice