The 'Messiah' of North Tacoma
After his arrest for assault, police uncovered a stash of love letters from women across the country who believed Joshua Klein was a spiritual master.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Joshua Klein, who was arrested Wednesday night after attacking Miss Dora Culbertson at the home of her sister, Mrs. Nellie C. Sauvageot, at 3908 North Thirty-second Street, will likely have his preliminary hearing later next week. According to the county attorney's office, new evidence is being gleaned, and they intend to present a strong case. Klein is being held at the county jail, an object of much curiosity. Prosecuting attorneys found many letters written by women from all parts of the country who refer to Klein as 'The Messiah' and 'The Spiritual Resurrection.' One letter, written in 1905, addresses him as 'Dear Hubby,' while another from a Seattle society woman confirms that Klein held 'sittings' in her home and those of her friends. Despite his imprisonment, some followers abroad, including women in Austria and Switzerland, continue to express devotion to his doctrine.
“My Dear Hubby, You say that the day will dawn when I will no longer misunderstand your mission. But I do not know what your mission is. It's all a riddle to me.”
This story highlights the vulnerability of early 20th-century cult dynamics, where charismatic figures used spiritual authority to exploit domestic and financial trust. The intersection of local news and far-reaching cult influence feels uncomfortably modern in our age of online gurus and parasocial exploitation.
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