Purnell's Death, I'm Just a Rumor.

13 young women testified under oath in court that they had sexual relationships with the patriarch while still minors. The trial was like lengthy over 300 witness testimonies, 15,000 pages of documentation. On November 10, 1927, Purnell was found guilty of fraud and the assets of the colony were put into a receiver ship While the members had to choose a new leader. At 65 years old and in poor health and during the trial, he died of tuberculosis.