All language subtitles for 1976 - The Disappearance of Aimee.eng

[Applause]

it was in the mid 1920s a woman flashed

across the consciousness of millions a

startling erratic Comet successfully

competing for headlines with bootleggers

flagpole sitters the Scopes Monkey Trial

also competing with the brilliant

personalities of the sports world

the glitter of Hollywood Valentino

Chaplin Senate and his famous bathing

beauties and many more she inspired the

most impassioned belief the most acid

skepticism legally she was Amy Semple

McPherson but to the world

she was Amy or sister Amy Amy was

inspirational amy was unpredictable amy

was news

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Jesus

Oh

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the Lord bless you god bless you for

coming here in such strength tonight the

ordeal that I and my poor mother are

facing my beloved mother whose only

crime has been to love and cherish her

daughter the ordeal you must face

tomorrow is nothing new

far from it

what we are enduring what each one of

you is sharing with us is part of the

unending struggle the age-old fight

between the children of light and the

people of darkness

[Applause]

I don't have to tell you that the enemy

is powerful and unscrupulous and

determined to destroy me no I know

word has reached me that the district

attorney said either she will have to go

or we will have to go yes I know the

district attorney means to do plenty to

me but I am Not Afraid let the district

attorney plant his false evidence let

him parade his pack of professional

liars let him look back over the 17

years I have given to preaching price if

you can find a flaw anywhere

[Applause]

the mother and I are called to make it

stand for the right and such standards

must be made alone as our Lord made

these on the cross mother and I are

going on trial alone as our Lord did on

the cross mother and I want to go

through it alone as our Lord get on the

cross mother and I want to go through it

alone as our Lord did on the cross we

are going down this morning

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not even in the building already she's

winning the first round

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the people vs. McPherson this is a

preliminary hearing for this court to

determine whether or not there's

sufficient evidence to try the case

before a jury mr. kise

Your Honor the people proposed to show

that Aimee Semple McPherson along with

her mother Minnie Kennedy conspired to

commit acts injurious to the public

morals to prevent and obstruct justice

the people will share that Aimee Semple

McPherson disappeared surreptitiously

from Venice California on or about May

18 1926 and reappeared on or about 2:00

a.m. in the morning June 23rd 1926

behind a slaughterhouse

in Sonora Mexico the people will share

that Aimee Semple McPherson went before

a grand jury and knowing full well at

the time that she had not been kidnapped

falsely and fraudulently represented and

pretended that she had been kidnapped

and kept in an unconscious condition for

more than 30 days the people will share

that from May 19th on up to and

including the 29th of May 1926 Aimee

Semple McPherson resided and remained

concealed with goggles and other devices

and contrivances at carmel-by-the-sea

from which place she departed with

Kenneth Jean

with the full knowledge acquiescence and

consent of her mother Minnie Kennedy and

finally we would point out to the court

that is a direct result of the

defendants faked disappearance two men

Worf their lives in the Pacific Ocean we

take this action against a person and so

high in the religious esteem of many

with regret but the people of this

community and the righteous people of

all religions deserve a right to a fair

and open hearing of this situation which

has become a nationwide worldwide

as our first witness to call Emma shot

place your left hand on the Bible please

and raise your right you solemnly swear

that the testimony you shall give shall

be the truth the whole truth and nothing

but the truth so help you God I do is it

miss Schaefer Oh miss miss are you

employed I'm secretary mrs. McPherson

you often accompany your employer on

errands outside the temple yes where did

you accompany her on the afternoon of

May 18th we went to Ocean Park Beach and

while sister enjoyed the water

I looked up Bible references for her did

you leave mrs. McPherson alone at any

time yes I went to the hotel to call

mother Kennedy to tell her that sister

was unable to keep a 4:30 appointment

and also to bring back some orange juice

so you reported mother Kennedy that mrs.

Macpherson had drought no I didn't I

never said that she drowned

I was afraid that's what had happened

but I never used that word I told mother

Kennedy that sister have disappeared in

the water when you told mother Kennedy

that her daughter had disappeared into

the water did she become a sterile that

she go all to pieces all the pieces

she's the one who holds things together

she said I'll have to stand up and make

the best of it and instead of asking for

comfort she tried to comfort us brothers

and sisters here in the temple and dear

friends sitting at home beside your

radios we share a heavy burden tonight

as many of you may have heard this

afternoon while swimming at Ocean Park

Beach our beloved Amy my cherished

daughter drowned

so far all our desperate efforts to

recover her body have failed I know the

words that's echoing in every heart that

word is quiet she was such a powerful

swimmer I cannot believe she was drowned

by any ordinary current or time I

believe a blow on her head caused her

death the sordid scenes

heartbreaking for those pitiful young

girls there weren't any threats but you

know

the underworld never warns before it

strikes it cannot be a coincidence that

we lost a me on the very beach she was

going to preach against why she was

taken we do not know how she was taken

we cannot be sure but we do know she is

with Jesus pray for her

[Music]

by we shall meet on that beautiful Shore

[Music]

miss Shepard would you say mother

Kennedy accepted her daughter's death

very readily she accepted it what else

could she do everything was being done

to recover the body

[Applause]

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mother Kennedy had a search headquarters

set up on the beach and we serve coffee

and sandwiches round-the-clock

a deep-sea diver was brought in and

mother Kennedy was there listening to

his progress step by step and yet many

people felt from the first that there

was reason to believe that mrs.

McPherson was in fact along well there

were rumors vicious stories made up to

sell newspapers as if mother Kennedy

hadn't enough to bear the reporters gave

her no peace could you daughter have

slipped out of the water and chosen to

disappear

she Kuna but she didn't she drowned have

you actually a hope since she may be

alive no mrs. Kennedy most people in

your situation would cling to the leash

thread of hope nobody's ever been in my

situation before you say you have no

hope but you've posted a $25,000 reward

to stop the rumors calling the bluff of

all the people who claim to know where

Amy is that's a generous offer and yet

we understand the temple is in financial

trouble another vicious rumor with mrs.

Macpherson heavily insured

there's no one pennies worth of

insurance on Amy's life if the true that

you've heard from kidnapper to claim to

be holding mrs. Macpherson that's true

I've handed it over to the police

is it true district attorney Kai's is

considering to move into the case ask

him how many people lost their lives

searching for a body that was never

there lost their lives wasn't there at

least two deaths directly related to the

search there was the diver from Catalina

they said he died of a ruptured appendix

and pneumonia induced by strenuous

diving and icy waters and there was

another young man with the unlikely name

a Robert Brown

I remember now he thought he saw

sister's body and he tried to swim out

and an hour later his body washed ashore

can you identify this photograph please

speak up who is this man

Kenneth Ormiston

people call for this photograph of

Kenneth ormiston at Exhibit A

where did you know Kenneth ormiston from

he worked at the temple and what

capacity he's a radio engineer he

installed the station for City for mrs.

Macpherson

how long was mr. ormiston employed by

mrs. Macpherson about a year maybe a

little more

did mr. Orman some work closely with

mrs. Macpherson he did his job

why did Kenneth ormiston lead the time

he was dismissed by home my mother

Kennedy she does all the hiring and

firing why would mother Kennedy fire

Kenneth Ormiston you'll have to ask her

with Kenneth or mister in a married man

yes but while working with mrs.

Macpherson he was separated from his

wife for part of the time yes hadn't

Kenneth Emerson's wife threatened to

divorce him a name mrs. McPherson is the

other woman objection mr. kise is

leading the witness

sustained when did mr. almost at the

temple in January of this year

did you ever see Kenneth warminster at

the temple after he was dismissed in May

May shortly before mrs. Macpherson's

disappearance a shovel in the temple is

there a direct telephone line from the

platform to the radio station upstairs

there is did mrs. McPherson often use

that phone to speak with Kenneth

ormiston when the occasion demanded

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is that an order well you know I don't

take orders very grace well this is one

more exception I'm gonna make in your

case me too

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well mrs. Kennedy it's been a long time

not long enough

visitors are not allowed in the studio

obeying us how Kenny

mr. ormiston used to work here I figured

he was an exception there are no

exceptions and if there were he wouldn't

be one of them

what are you doing here I came to see

Charlie well see Charlie on his own time

and in his own place I thought you had

accepted the fact that the climate of

Southern California didn't agree with

you unfortunately it does seem hazardous

when your employment here was terminated

we added a get-well bonus to finance

your search for a healthier spot blessed

are the merciful for they shall obtain

mercy

don't you mock me we had an

understanding

abroad you're not living up to your part

of it I mean I plan to move to the

northwest Seattle when very soon

tonight on June 18th

one month after mrs. Macpherson's

disappearance

did the corner for Los Angeles County

refuse your request for a death

certificate he did but mother Kennedy

decided to overrule the coroner and hold

a gigantic memorial fundraising benefit

anyway is that not so

there were memorial services held four

sister on Sunday June 20th and again in

you shall see me because verily verily I

say you shall weep and lament but the

world shall rejoice yes you shall be

sorrowful but your sorrow shall have

turned into joy alas dear friends you

and I can no longer see our beloved

sister for she has gone to the Father

for the wicked of the world it is reason

to rejoice many of you still breathe we

could not recover sister's body I never

thought we would recover her body it was

too precious to Jesus

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her pulpit chatter stands empty it will

never be occupied again in tribute to

that knowing and undying presence I know

all of you are going to be especially

generous in your donations and pledges

to our memorial collection tonight

sister gave all to you her dear dear

people I know that each one of you will

always remember that

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how much money was collected from the

memorial tributes

I can't exactly recall wasn't it $40,000

not that much as I remember it's about

$4,500 in cash and about $30,000 in

pledges

The Sharper do you recognize the symbol

of these tight pages

yes this is the kidnap letter from The

Avengers have you read this letter yes

they claim to be holding sister and

would release her if mother Kennedy pay

them five hundred thousand dollars do

you recognize this yes that's a lock of

hair that came with that letter does

this letter claim this to be a lock of

mrs. Macpherson's hair yes did you think

it was no I couldn't recognize what his

sisters

Misha in this letter

aren't there answers to certain

questions which mother Kennedy posed as

a test of the authenticity of the

kidnappers earlier claims yes they

described a special hammock that mother

Kennedy had on her farm in Canada and

her little dog chip surely this lock of

hair and those accurate answers must

have convinced you and mother Kennedy

that mrs. Macpherson was in fact alive

no we weren't convinced when did you

give this letter to mother Kennedy I

believe it was Monday or Tuesday

wasn't it Saturday no didn't mother

Kennedy preacher element $35,000

memorial service on Sunday after she had

read this letter on Saturday no after

she had seen this very convincing

evidence that mrs. McPherson was in fact

alive that letter wasn't read until

Monday or Tuesday after the service

you may step down

so help you God I do mr. moral you're

reported for the Santa Barbara press yes

would you tell the court what happened

to you on the afternoon of May 29th of

this year well we got a tip to the Los

Angeles Times that Kenneth ormiston was

headed south from San Luis Obispo in a

blue Chrysler and there was a woman with

him Santa Barbara is halfway between San

Luis Obispo and Los Angeles yeah that's

right

so late afternoon I drove a little

distance north on the Coast Highway and

parked at an intersection

hello hello what's this all about

we've been alerted to look out for Karan

Singh this description policeman I'm

working with the police yeah what's your

name

Mike Gibson mm-hmm and where are you

from I'm a hardware a man from

Sacramento who alerted you where are you

going Los Angeles how do you do

Oh Cara what's all this about well like

you're driving a car here that fits the

description of the machine that Kenneth

Ormiston and mrs. Macpherson

I suppose all driving you hate to be

mistaken for those do yeah is this one

here this lady you're right that's right

now I want to know what authority you

have to be questioning us oh well no

more questions I'm sorry to have

bothered you have a safe trip

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the more is this the man that was

driving the blue Chrysler coupe on the

afternoon of May 29th yes you posit but

the man who said he was frank gibson was

really kenneth Ormiston i'm sure of it

mr. Moore

is that the woman that was with Kenneth

ormiston that night I don't know mr.

Moore you were within a few feet of that

woman I'm sorry I just can't say for

sure

more questions that's more have you seen

mr. McPherson prior to her disappearance

yes I had covered a revival in Fresno

four years ago so you would recognize

her I think so I have here a copy of the

Santa Barbara press May 30th of this

year in which your story appears and

that quote the woman did not resemble Ms

McPherson except in general Bill

did you write those words yes as a

matter of fact when you returned to the

office after interviewing that couple in

the car did you say to your city editor

the woman was not Miss McPherson mr.

Moore witness will answer the question

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yes I said in my opinion it wasn't they

need

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today 100% in fact I'm going to forget

what little I know about arithmetic and

say it was to represent

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of course we all knew that our dear

sister Emma would stand firm and

unyielding a rock of truth and sanity

and love a shining example we have in

sister Emma's quiet strength but that

was only part of our triumph

today after dear sister Emma mr. kise

brought on the fearless newspaper

reporter from Santa Barbara what

happened well trained little parrot said

the woman was not mrs. McPherson in my

opinion

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dear friends I wish you could have seen

a Zack eyes face when he heard that his

lower lip quivered and dropped to his

chin

and we all know

mr. kise has good reason to week since

our accounting supervisors have sworn

out a complaint against him

yes our County Supervisors have charged

a dark-eyed with improper use

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while he persecutes us in one courtroom

he is

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but I asked you to do the loving and

Christian thing praying for the man who

is trying to bring us down bring you

down she neglected to mention that I

indicted the supervisors first sort of a

strong consistent day by day we can put

it together in the courtroom not after

tonight she can tear it apart of the

temple do you have any idea how many

people hurt her just now two hundred

thousand two hundred doesn't happen

most of them don't take her seriously

we'll have our day tomorrow

captain Klein you are now chief of

detectives of the Los Angeles Police

Department

17 years served since 19 at night when

mrs. McPherson disappeared on May 18th

of this year did you take a personal

interest in the case I did I put myself

on 24-hour Duty out at the beach isn't

that rather unusual captain this was a

rather unusual case sir I believe mrs.

Macpherson had drowned but I wanted to

make sure every lead was traced through

why were you convinced the lady of drown

well sir

what were the other possibilities

suicide there was no known motive and

besides why would a woman bother to

change into a bathing suit to drown

herself murder she was last seen she was

in the water there was nobody near her a

lapse of memory well if a woman in a

green bathing suit came out of the water

and wandered off how far do you think

she'd get without being seen and

kidnapping well sir how could the

kidnappers spirit the lady out of the

water past her secretary

you dismissed the possibility of kidnap

but want their ransom notes from alleged

kidnappers then we followed a mouth rule

but they were mostly from cranks seem

like half the population of California

wanted to be part of it

sure you investigation was any attempt

made to locate Kenneth ormiston or

certainly did we had witnesses of Psalm

at Angela's temple the week before mrs.

McPherson disappeared then three days

after her disappearance he was at the

state motor vehicle department in San

Francisco I was considering an all-out

search from when nine days after she

disappeared he strolled into search

headquarters without so much as a

by-your-leave

not accounting

I understand you're looking for me

why can this mother surprise Captain

Bligh this is mr. Alveston

captain - investigating sister's

disappearance I'm glad you decided to

come in - I read in a newspaper up in

San Francisco what was wanted for

questioning

I caught the first train south ah that's

fine that's fine did I would you please

take a seat no right on the beach mrs.

Macpherson the day she disappeared

no of course I wasn't no of course not

and when was the last time that you seen

her then at the temple a couple of days

before I spoke with mother Kennedy then

- and your relationship with mrs.

McPherson I admired and respected her

and the insinuations in the paper are an

insult to her memory oh yes indeed you

have been traveling around and there a

lot of different names mr. well on my

wife's print and make adult thing the

basis of a divorce suit in this state

captain adulteries a statutory crime a

man could end up in prison

or a woman does your wife intend to

charge mrs. Macpherson in this action

oh no I don't think even Ruth that

desperate I'm the one she wants to

punish however in the face of what

mother Kennedy is going through my

problems seem very unimportant the

people who knew mrs. McPherson all they

have left as a memory of her and ice

simply won't let the newspapers use me

to disfigure and malign that memory so

you found Kenneth or mr. very

cooperative we cooperated beautifully

for about an hour on May 27 he has not

been seen since captain what was the

next major development in your

investigation oh it didn't do much

except check out for any leads until the

morning of June 23rd I was awakened by a

phone call from the Chief of Police of

Douglas Arizona I went immediately to

the temple residence to report to mother

Kennedy sure that dismisses McPherson

where is Douglas Arizona well it's in

the southeast corner of the state and

the part of Mexico as a matter of fact

apparently the kidnappers have been

holding her in Mexico I don't believe it

well it is quite a ways

our Beach she escaped from the

kidnappers you ended up in a dead faint

in some mexicans yard and a little

nowhere place called that agua preacher

can I call her she is going to call you

here

7:30 it's an hour later over there there

have been so many false alarms

one from Coos Bay another one from

Montreal yes but this time the

authorities are quite sure that it's the

real McCoy but I can't blame you for

being skeptical I mean II did get your

hopes up and then they're dashed to the

ground

hello

Amy

it is you and oh my god it is you are

you all right yes

don't talk I'm coming there and until I

get there you just rest and relax don't

talk

could she have been taken without being

seen Amy never listened to strangers

are you all right mrs. what it's just

that after accepting your death

delivering her memorial service to hear

her voice

what's this a ransom letter

when did you receive this letter mrs.

yesterday and why didn't you notify me

then I was going to call you this

morning did you accompany mrs. Kennedy

to Douglas Arizona I did and a mr.

Joseph Ryan a deputy from your own

office went along with us

mother sister are these gentlemen uh

course

this is mr. Ryan of the district

attorney's office and captain Klein

chief of detectives from Los Angeles oh

and uh this young man is a stenographer

that we've borrowed from the US Cavalry

where you don't you sit over there hi

captain Klein mrs. Macpherson yeah they

burned me when they were trying to get

information out of me mr. Ryan it's very

good of you to come this way you're

looking very well mrs. McPherson

I'm feeling much stronger but I still

tire so easily mr. Ryan you must not

question sister now no mother

these gentlemen have come 500 miles to

see me being brought us to know go

through with

I can't disappoint them won't you sit

down

alright thank you but may I ask you if I

may go through my story from start to

finish without something Oh that'll be

fine I have the time for all the

questions and please I hope you'll be

patient with me because I won't be able

to give you exact times and dates

because I was blindfolded and gagged

kept locked

it seems so long ago

I was in the mortal mo but mr. Shepard

my secretary was on the beach working on

my sermon notes I swam out past the pier

and as I came back the tide carried me

way beyond where Emma sat on the beach

as I waded out I heard a voice say mrs.

Macpherson there was a woman I had never

seen before she had black hair and brown

eyes

she was until she weighed in the

vicinity of 180 pounds and she was

plainly dressed now you tell me if I go

too fast

and there was a man with her he was

clean-shaven heavyset with their clear

complexion and brown hair mrs. McPherson

woman said my baby's dying won't you

please come and pray for my baby

she said the baby was in an automobile

parked by the bathhouse I asked them how

they had managed to find me they told me

they have gone to the temple and talked

to you nothing and you were told them

that I was at the beach and that she was

sure I would be glad to pray for the

baby

that sounded so much like you that I had

to believe the woman had a long black

coat

and she put it around my shoulders as we

came close to the bathhouse she ran on

ahead to a sedan that was parked by the

curb there was another man at the

driver's wheel and the woman climbed in

the backseat

hobbled far into the corner with a

bundle in her laps I thought it was the

baby I stepped my foot onto the running

board

came from behind me and pushed me

headlong into the into the backseat of

the car

there was a blanket thrown over me and

something pressed to my face

I smell sister are you sure you should

try this yes yes I'm sure

when I came to the woman was standing

over me I was lying on an old iron bed

vomiting severely it seemed to be done

terrible one window almost brought it up

to the top the light came from a

kerosene lamp I could make out a table a

chair a dress you had no idea where you

work later I heard them speak of

Calexico

when the woman saw that I was awake she

called Steve and the man who had pushed

me into the car came in he told me that

I was being held for ransom

they wanted me to write a letter and I

said they were asking $500,000 in ransom

I have $100,000 I told them it just

couldn't be raised

you've got a million Steve soon then we

began to question

they asked me about a hammock in Canada

I told them it was a wire one stretched

between two apple trees they wanted me

to describe our dog then they asked me

to describe

your dining room stove

and then they asked for a description of

Wallace I wouldn't give him those

descriptions

that's when they began to torture me one

of them grabbed me and Steve took my

head and burned it

the red cigar I told him to go ahead and

burn it I never moved my head

finally when they saw they couldn't

frighten me they stopped finally Rose

was the woman's name gave me an old

dress to wear much too large one night I

was blindfolded and taken outside they

threw me into the back of an auto bound

and gagged and we began to drive he put

a blanket over me so I couldn't see we

were going I heard another machine

finally the auto stopped they took me to

an old adobe Shack dirty with one poor

room they put down soldiers cars for

survival

Rosie slept on the cot next to mine two

days later Steve came back and demanded

again did I write a letter to you when I

refused they cut off two locks of hair

from my head if that doesn't convince

her I'll cut off your finger and will

send back to her

the next Tuesday was the first time that

I was alone it was when Rosie went in

for supplies I begged her not to not to

gab me again and she promised that she

wouldn't she bound my wrists with a flat

strap and she put me on the card she

left

as I lay on the cops

I saw in the corner of the room a tin

can with a jagged edge it was the kind

we used to put maple syrup in in Canada

I managed to get off the cart and crawl

over to where the can was and by working

and pulling the stripes against the

jagged edge of the can I managed to pull

myself free and bring the straps I was

feeling

I prayed for help and it came I managed

to go to the window I fell from the

outside it wasn't much of a drop and

then I started running

I ran ran from the position of the Sun I

would say it was about 11 o'clock in the

morning it was hot I stumbled on and on

and I felt many many times night

descended on me but I was afraid to

sleep many times I dropped from sheer

exhaustion blisters came on my feet and

the pain is terrible after a long long

while I came to a little shack with a

tin roof

and I went to the door and I called

it was empty

I still put on it on until finally I saw

a glow in the sky

it looked like heaven

a village at last

I went closer I saw a shadow and then as

I came even nearer so that it was a

building a slaughterhouse

a man came out attracted by the barking

of his dogs he was dressed in his BVDs I

asked him for help

he didn't seem to understand so I went

on I stumbled on and on until finally

finally I saw a house with a light I

called out

those kind Mexican people notified the

authorities and they brought me back

over the border

Hey

that's an incredible story mrs.

McPherson

thank God it's over now there's just a

few questions detectives and review

horses this is my first

there have been persistent rumors about

your relationship with Kenneth ormiston

witnesses claimed that they saw you with

him in Salinas and San Luis Obispo

riding with him in a blue Chrysler coupe

near Santa Barbara now all this

supposedly during the time you were

missing mr. Ryan says I was bound hand

and foot in a Mexican desert I obviously

wasn't joyriding with mr. ormiston in

Santa Barbara or anywhere else mr.

McPherson

the fact is Kenneth ormiston does own a

blue Chrysler coupe in fact he purchased

it with a money order in Seattle signed

by a James Wallace now the only James

Wallace we could turn up was your

half-brother who has been dead for 15

years you're treating me like a criminal

instead of the victim please mrs.

Macpherson we're only doing what we have

to what what was my crime I tried to

help a woman who said her baby was dying

gentlemen I'll have to ask you to leave

no I didn't intend to upset you I'm not

myself you hit mr. Ryan

I promised the local police that I would

go with them to try to locate the shack

this afternoon I really believe rest

may we talk later thank you

yes you may go I will look after sister

mother if you don't mind I really would

like to rest it's a joy seeing you but

also a strain very well I'll check into

the hotel then I'll be back

the most experienced trackers in the

southwest fine-tooth comb the entire

area nor door be shocked with a wooden

floor could be felled did you accompany

mrs. Macpherson on her own personal

search they did on three separate

occasions she could not lead you to it

she didn't see him to recognize anything

well she was real confident and

high-spirited at first but when I took

her in mother Kennedy back to their

hotel that last time it was obvious to

me mrs. Macpherson was very discouraged

Amy don't start at me mother I want the

truth you've heard it so far I haven't

heard one word I believe where were you

oh you're not walking out on me without

an explanation you owe me that much

after what I've been through after what

you've been through

disappearing like that and leaving me to

face the music I've been through hell

all these past five weeks did your fault

if you think you can stroll back into my

life as though nothing else happened

think again I want the whole truth and I

want it right now right let's call it

newspaper people - oh you have done

enough damage there already I warned you

not to talk to anyone but you Amy how

can I protect you if I don't know I'll

protect myself by making up more of

these fairy tales Oh wake up who do you

think you're fooling certainly not me

you're half of those reporters down

there I think most people will believe

me as most people always have those who

don't I'll just have to get along with

don't threaten me Missy no threat mother

believe or get out that's a choice but

if I am to defend you to defend me all

you have to remember is that from this

moment on everything you do or say is

based on the simple fact

mother I don't want to lose you

I need all the help I can get but I

can't have you with me if you're

doubting me questioning weakening me

all right

you know I won't abandon did you tell me

I have to believe then I have to believe

but the reporters won't be so easily

managed they smell a big story aren't

giving them a big story they smell a

bigger one didn't you see them talking

to the Mexicans the man who owned most

of the land that you claim to it walked

over way well don't you think he would

know this Shack and at the hospital

questioning the nurses why weren't you

not or more exhausted dehydrated

sunburned they seem to believe me

see they're setting you up Amy to pull

you down let them try

let them my people will believe me

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this is what kept me believing this is

what kept me from despair knowing this

moment would come when we would be

together again please everyone

home home again

the Lord has brought me home it's Santa

for hours just looking into these gears

from a million faces how many times in

the 39 terrible days of my testing I

thought I would never be here again

never see my beloved brothers and

sisters again like Daniel we will still

be betrayed by false witnesses Daniel

was saved from the lion's den but not

from the lying tongue brothers and

sisters

thoughtless brothers and sisters my

kidnapping and the vicious scandals that

circulated while I was away from your

separate away the wolves rushed in with

more lies to frighten and scatter the

flock with the Sheep we're not

scandalized your courage your faith your

love have delivered your sister from the

Lions

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mr. right when you first heard the

defendant tell her story of her kidnap

and escape what was your reaction I

didn't believe it she didn't convince

you she had been kidnapped she did not

mrs. Macpherson had not been kidnapped

where did she go on May 18th the day she

disappeared from Ocean Park Beach

she went to Carmel California with

Kenneth G ormiston objection your honor

the deputy district attorney is

presenting his personal fantasy as fact

mr. Gilbert we will document mr. Ryan

statements overruled mr. Ryan what first

led you to believe that mrs. Macpherson

might have spent part of the 5 weeks she

was missing in Carmel California on July

23rd the Monterey Chief of Police called

our office he said he had convincing

evidence that mrs. McPherson had spent

10 days in Carmel I went up to

investigate his story and what did you

find

I make 14 a man calling himself George

McIntyre rented a bungalow on scenic

drive he said that his wife was

recuperating from her recent illness and

that she needed quiet and seclusion they

would move in late on the 18th of May or

early on the 19th I showed the real

estate agent and the owner of the

bungalow a photograph of Kenneth's

Ormiston they immediately identified it

as the man calling himself George

McIntyre

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is this the house yes sir it is

they move in on May 18th the day mrs.

Macpherson disappeared from Ocean Park

Beach actually was 4:00 a.m. the morning

of May 19th sir how long did the

MacIntyre stay at the house on scenic

drive ten days from the 19th of May to

the 29th of May yes sir

the 29th of May was the day that Kenneth

Lauriston and the mysterious woman were

seen fleeing south through Santa Barbara

apart from eyewitnesses was there any

other evidence that you found that might

have convinced you that mrs. MacIntyre

was mrs. McPherson yes sir it was a

small notepad hanging by the back door

how much mrs. McPherson mrs. MacIntyre

left her daily orders for groceries to

be delivered in the grass nearby I found

two of those crumpled grocery lists did

you compare the handwriting on those

grocery lists with mrs. McPherson yes

sir I did and subsequently experts held

them to be undeniably the same then why

are those grocery lists not introduced

as evidence here today well sir they

were presented along with other evidence

to the grand jury yes and as you know

sir mrs. Macpherson testified before the

grand jury some months ago

lately we've spent a lot of time

together mr. Ayad each time I've noticed

that sounds almost word-for-word the

same as if it were in fact memorized the

truth doesn't Barry

when mother Kennedy rushed into your

arms in that hospital room there was a

quick exchange of whispers did that have

anything to do with the kidnapping yes

sir I'll tell you exactly what mother

said the same question I guess any

mother would ask her daughter at such a

moment mother said my dear did they

molest you in any way and I said no

thank God

no matter they didn't

mrs. Macpherson mrs.

what was the relationship between you

and your mother just prior to your

disappearance the same as they always

were deepest love and affection did you

and she see eye-to-eye on the subject of

Kenneth or muslim' yes sir we did Thank

You mr. Carson

may I be permitted to speak directly to

the grand jury for just a moment yes

ma'am

My dear mother gave me to God before I

was born my very earliest training was

in the Bible would you believe that when

I was 5 years old

I lined up chairs and preached to me I

was converted at 17 and I fell in love

with the evangelist who converted me I

married him and sailed with him to China

never expecting to return to my beloved

country again but willing to give my

life for Jesus I buried my precious

husband in that faraway land and I came

back home with my little baby in my arms

she was born just one month after we

lost her daddy as soon as I was able I

began preaching again

poor people simple people I saved a few

dollars from the first collection and I

bought a little tent it was full of

holes but it was mine

oh my

people began to hear that I had a gift a

gift of faith

and they came and I shared it it wasn't

long before I was preaching to as many

as 16,000 people in one day now when

honest dedicated people like you asked

to investigate my story I'm not afraid

because my story is true but do you know

what does frighten me I'm afraid I'm

afraid that those were not my friends

will seize the chance to destroy a dream

thing that started when I was 5 years

old he preached to those empty chairs

if there's any doubt in your mind please

please call me talk with me let me try

to answer your questions and pray for

your sister

as she was surely preview

after mrs. Macpherson left the grand

jury took a 10-minute recess during that

period I saw mrs. home one of the jurors

examining the evidence including of

course the groceries lips then she

excused herself and she went to the

ladies room

when I went over just to reassure myself

the grocery slips were gone did you make

an extensive search of the room in the

drawers yes sir I did but I knew it was

a waste of time

those slips were on their way to El

Segundo the municipal sewage disposal

plan

mr. Rhyne how did you come to be on this

case I was assigned to the by the

district attorney's office mr. Gilbert

according to the usual procedure mm-hmm

strange coincidence that the chief

investigator captain Klein just so

happens to be a father-in-law

father-in-law did not request my son mr.

Gilbert we never even discussed the case

until the trip to Douglas Arizona didn't

you brag the chill of going to Douglas

to break miss McPherson absolutely not I

went to Douglas with an open mind and

when did you shut it when I discovered

that Kenneth geo missed and was in

Carmel thank you that's all i examined

those grocery slips and I compared the

handwriting when I returned from

the time has come for a showdown a

showdown not before officials and

officials in there but before the brave

American public feel a chain of evidence

that will make this whole damnable

conspiracy clear to every man woman and

child in the world

determined to assassinate the character

of a defenseless woman district attorney

hey Doc I'm working through is too

unscrupulous and repeatedly his beliefs

that I have drown in him Douglas he

stated equally positive in his belief

that I had been kidnapped about what

could possibly be their motivation all

too simple both Herman crime and Joseph

Ryan are Catholics persecuting of

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mr. Benedict there is no doubt in your

mind that the man who rented your

bungalow in Carmel was Kenneth ormiston

no no doubt whatsoever

when did the McIntyre's take occupancy

was very early in the morning on may

19th May 19th the day after mrs.

McPherson disappeared from Ocean Park

Beach May 19th

mr. Benedict did you ever see the woman

only once the second or third day after

they moved in I was attending to some

roses and when I was working in the yard

McIntyre came out good morning hi don't

mean to bother you folks but I had to

get these roses in the ground right away

it's good to see you don't worry I'm not

gonna be one of those live-in landlords

how does your missus like the house oh

she just loved

dear come on out here and say hello to

mr. Benedict he's working with these

rose bushes come on out here well

welcome to Carmel mrs. MacIntyre y'all

been to the beach yet yeah she's not

feeling so good well a couple of weeks

of this good Carmel air and I'm sure

she'll be feeling a lot better

mr. Benedict was that woman in Carmel

mrs. McPherson

she was very similar but if this the

woman that you knew as mrs. MacIntire I

won't name mrs. McPherson

mr. Benedict are you sure yes I wouldn't

have been able to recognize my own

sister in that getup no further

questions your witness Your Honor the

defense has no questions for mr.

Benedict at this time the witness is

excused the court will now adjourn for

lunch

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excuse me perhaps you're already aware

of this if not I've been obligated to

inform you kena Forrest and has just

surrendered and voluntarily agreed to

testify this afternoon Thank You mr.

kise after weeks and weeks of Lies and

evasions in this courtroom

perhaps we'll finally hear the truth

so we have much

[Music]

going on we've got to get a statement is

there anything I get for you keep the

reporters away

what more must to say did you send for

him boys he made a deal with the

district attorney after so many months

why should he decide you coming and

testify he must have made a deal maybe

he's tired of running maybe he's buying

some peace and quiet by telling the

truth what is the truth don't turn your

back on me once left of my life is very

important to me and I do not want to

spend any part of it in a place like

this where a mother I never let them

send you to prison I know what prison is

like what is that supposed to mean Amy I

insist you tell me if you were with

Austin why won't you tell me that isn't

the temple that isn't my peoples

you've always had nipping deficit the

one worst thing I could ever do the one

unforgivable sin was to keep a secret

from you isn't that right mother mother

everybody's entitled to something little

something of their own something she

doesn't have to share with anyone else

hasn't every person on earth the right

to that much when you became a minister

of the gospel you surrendered that right

I may have surrendered once when ohms

is you

a day I was born your daughter since you

come back you're a different person

you always confided in me we've always

shared everything everything is too much

to ask we are in this together

I have a right to know where are you

with everything and Sammy what are you

witnessing

[Music]

the people call Kenneth honest

left hand on the Bible please and raise

your right do you solemnly swear that

the testimony you shall give shall be

the truth the whole truth and nothing

but the truth so help you God I do state

your full name please

Kenneth G ormiston your occupation I'm a

radio engineer but at the moment I'm

unemployed did you at one time work for

Aimee Semple McPherson yes sir I

installed the station in the temple for

mrs. Macpherson when did you leave her

employ January for what reason

personal between you and mrs. Macpherson

my wife was impossibly jealous of the

lady and may 14th of this year did you

ran a cottage in Carmel California I did

under the name George McIntyre when did

you take occupancy early the morning of

May 19th

were you alone no sir

there was a lady with

a woman you introduced to the owner of

the cottage is mrs. MacIntire that's

correct that lady who shared the cottage

in Carmel with you for approximately ten

days late in May was she not in fact

Aimee Semple McPherson

no she was not

sir you are underneath I am aware of

that I want it on the record once and

for all that mrs. Macpherson was in no

way connected with the so-called love

nest in Carmel

no more questions at this time

the defense has no need to cross-examine

mr. Austin at this time your honor

the people would like to request a brief

recess very well ten minutes the witness

may step down

there are after scrupulous analysis of

the testimony presented in court here

today it is my carefully considered

opinion that this case should be that

this case can no longer be tried with

honor

nor with little hope of success they've

come to believe that mrs. Macpherson

will be tried in the only court of a

jurisdiction the court of public opinion

therefore the people request that all

charges be dropped against Kenneth

ormiston Minnie Kennedy and Aimee Semple

McPherson

our reaction then identical to where

isn't sometimes therefore your request

is granted

all charges dismissed

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