Changes

Two other main sources were obtained roughly 50 years after the alleged events by the investigation of Thomas B. Allen and form the basis for his book on the subject, ''Possessed''. One is the testimony of [[Walter Halloran|Rev. Walter H. Halloran]], at the time one of the last surviving eyewitnesses of the events. According to Rev. Walter H. Halloran, streaks and arrows and words such as "hell" appeared on the boy's skin.<ref name="Washington Post"/> The other is a diary which was kept at the time of the events by a [[Raymond J. Bishop|Rev. Raymond J. Bishop]], another clergyman which became involved in the events after March 9, 1949, several months after it is claimed the initial symptoms occurred. The same diary used by the 1975 ''Fate'' article.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Possessed is the only book">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage2.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= Possessed is the only book to focus entirely on the exorcism of the possessed boy... and is essentially based on two sources: the 26-page diary ... and interviews with Father Walter H. Halloran|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>  

Two other main sources were obtained roughly 50 years after the alleged events by the investigation of Thomas B. Allen and form the basis for his book on the subject, ''Possessed''. One is the testimony of [[Walter Halloran|Rev. Walter H. Halloran]], at the time one of the last surviving eyewitnesses of the events. According to Rev. Walter H. Halloran, streaks and arrows and words such as "hell" appeared on the boy's skin.<ref name="Washington Post"/> The other is a diary which was kept at the time of the events by a [[Raymond J. Bishop|Rev. Raymond J. Bishop]], another clergyman which became involved in the events after March 9, 1949, several months after it is claimed the initial symptoms occurred. The same diary used by the 1975 ''Fate'' article.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Possessed is the only book">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage2.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= Possessed is the only book to focus entirely on the exorcism of the possessed boy... and is essentially based on two sources: the 26-page diary ... and interviews with Father Walter H. Halloran|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>  

Another author, Mark Opsasnick claims to have independently investigated these events and spoken to people involved in the case, including several people close to Mannheim and his family, other priests in their parish, a source at the hospital mentioned in the claims and even Allen and Halloran.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Possessed is the only book">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage4.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= The bulk of my investigative time spent on this case was directed at interviewing present and former Cottage City residents who had personally known Rob Doe and his family.|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> The results of his investigation are published as an article in ''Strange Magazine'' called "''The Haunted Boy of Cottage City: The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story That Inspired "The Exorcist".''" In the article Opsasnick describes the inconsistencies he found in the reports and other testimonies which he claims brings into question the veracity of the claims as reported in Allen's book, especially the more fantastic and supernatural claims, such as the claim that Mannheim spoke languages he couldn't know; According to Opsasnick, Halloran himself admitted he thought Mannheim had simply mimicked [[Latin]] words he heard the clergymen speak.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Did it appear he understood ">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage5.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= “Did it appear he understood the Latin he was speaking?”

Another author, Mark Opsasnick claims to have independently investigated these events and spoken to people involved in the case, including several people close to Mannheim and his family, other priests in their parish, a source at the hospital mentioned in the claims and even Allen and Halloran.<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Possessed is the only book">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage4.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote= The bulk of my investigative time spent on this case was directed at interviewing present and former Cottage City residents who had personally known Rob Doe and his family.|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

“I think he mimicked us.”|publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> In conclusion Opsasnick writes "Those involved saw what they were trained to see".<ref name="Mark Opsasnick - Each of the parties involved ">{{cite web|url = http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage5.html|title=The Cold Hard Facts Behind the Story that Inspired "The Exorcist"|quote=Those involved saw what they were trained to see. Each purported to look at the facts but just the opposite was true—in actuality they manipulated the facts and emphasized information that fit their own agendas. |publisher =Strange Magazine|accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref>

==Early life==

==Early life==