THE HERALD EXPRESS

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

19 June 1952

Dead Scientist.

‘Black Magic’ Cult Told.

Behind the tragic explosion death of John W. Parsons [Jack Parsons], Pasadena rocket scientist, and the grief-inspired suicide of his mother, today was disclosed the strange story of how his brilliant mind wandered into mystic fields in unending search for a perfect way of life.

The 37-year-old jet propulsion expert, often an enigma to his friends, actually lived two lives, Pasadena police disclosed. In one he probed deep into the scientific fields of speed and sound and stratosphere—

And in another he sought the cosmos which man has strived throughout the ages to attain; to weld science and philosophy and religion into a Utopian existence.

Old police files in Pasadena tell the story of how the quiet scientist who died in the city-shaking explosion of his laboratory Tuesday night, lived a double life.

In 1942, Chief of Detectives Stanley Decker revealed, police received a letter from San Antonio, Texas. It was signed “A Real Soldier” and stated a “black magic” cult flourished at 1003 South Orange Grove Avenue.

Detectives investigated and found the premises had been leased by Parsons and his wife Marjorie [Cameron Parsons]. They were interviewed and frankly told of organizing a fraternal study group to discuss “philosophy, religion, personal freedom and the mysteries of life and eternity.”

There were, too, studies of the pseudo-psychologies of fortune telling and séances.