He continued intermittently excited until the early part of
August, 1910. It should be noted here that at this time there were two
other cases confined in the same building, two cases of dementia
praecox, who manifested similar religious excitement. It is of
importance to note this, inasmuch as suggestion plays a considerable
role in the choice of the malingered symptom, and because one of the
characteristics of the type of individuals under consideration is a
high degree of suggestibility.

In his conduct in the ward he was quiet and orderly, frequently talked
in a rational and coherent manner, but invariably brought into the
conversation his delusional ideas. In his demeanor towards me he was
very evasive, suspicious, and showed a marked disinclination to enter
into a protracted interview. Soon after an unsuccessful attempt to
examine him more thoroughly he handed me a letter addressed to Judge
Landis at Chicago, in which he ordered said Judge to remove Voliva
from Zion City and turn the latter over to him, the patient, as the
rightful heir and the only real Elijah III. Following this there was
another tranquil period, during which the patient's conduct was quite
good. About a month later another attempt was made to examine him in
detail, but so soon as he noticed my intention to take notes of the
examination he became very suspicious and evasive and absolutely
refused to cooeperate. This episode was likewise soon followed by a
letter as follows. The letter was addressed to the warden of the
United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., and he requested that
it be mailed immediately, as it was very important. It was correctly
dated and read:--

"DEAR SIR: When you receive this letter you will immediately take
steps to have me returned to the penitentiary, where I have a divine
mission to perform. You old ... do you realize that you are fooling
with the prophet Elijah, the Lord's chosen? Have you no fear of the
wrath that God shall bestow on you if you even dare to offend His
divine servant? Don't you ever for a minute think that you can
connive to beat me out of my property in Zion City, you and that
interloper, L. L. Voliva. I shall have it all just as the Lord meant
I should, and I shall carry on the work just as the Divine Master
meant I should. For what matter it if the world is against us, so
long as God is for us?