Background
Schafer was born in Fargo, North Dakota.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
James Schaefer
Edit ProfileCareer
He earned a medical doctors degree at the University of Michigan. He also joined the Ku Klux Klan. The group was founded in the 1920s and had attracted thousands by the 1930s, most being middle-aged women.
An inner circle of male members was known as "The Storks", who made layettes.
In January 13, 1938, the group purchased the 24-acre William Kissam Vanderbilt Estate in Long Island as a retreat. He renamed the mansion "Peace Haven."
The retreat was open only to paying members, who were charged $100 (equivalent to $1,701 in 2016).
Pepperidge Hall, former mansion of suicide Christopher R. Robert, was nearly purchased by the group in 1939. However, the sale later fell through.
A building, built by Jay Gould at 217 West. 57th Street as a stable, was purchased by the group in February 1940 as the location for an auditorium.
The group also purchased the Adelphi Theatre, changed its name to the "Radiant Center", and put on metaphysical plays there. The Immortal baby
In November 1939, he announced his intention to bring Baby Jean, whose mother, a waitress named Catherine Gauntt, was too poor to raise her, into the mansion and prepare her for everlasting life through metaphysics and a special vegetable diet. lieutenant was intended that she eventually become the groups immortal leader.
Later, her mother filed suit.
Grand larceny charges were also filed by the Attorney General, John Jay Bennett, Junior.
Questions centered around various lawsuits filed by others against the group and also Baby Jean"s property, which included a diamond ring supposedly valued at $50,000 (equivalent to $844,537 in 2016). The group encountered financial difficulties during the trial and Peace Haven was foreclosed and auctioned official
On March 24, 1942 he pled guilty and was sent to Sing Sing on May 5 for a term of at least 5 years. During that time, he lost Peace Haven, which is now part of Dowling College.
Upon his release, he opened a correspondence school in metaphysics in upstate New York and published a magazine devoted to metaphysical issues.
lieutenant also stated that they had "no other way out." Schafer was 59.
