Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-15
A Murder committed under slesmeric In.

A Murder committed under MesmeriC In.
duence.-M Monday night last . murder was COM
mtted in the town Of fernando, Mississippi. un-
der circumstances Of the most singular and re-
markable character. From the particulars with
which we have been furnished, il appears that
there was a young man about one of the hotels in
fernando, some eighteen years of age. whom the
landlord was in the habit Of placing under the in
fuence of mesmerisn and, while under its real or
pretended influence, experimenting upon him in
the usual manner. Whenever the young man was
placed under this influence, q remarkable disposi
ton manifested itself He would always go to a
drawer get out his pistols, and attempt TO shoot
some one present, without, however, exhibiting
any luminosity to any particular individual. The
evening on which the murder was committed, he
had been through the usual formula of mesmeric
experiments and, after he had been relieved of the
influences, he rejoined some others in game of
cards. During the play he was detected in cheat
ing, and the others refused TO continue the game
with him any longer He manifested no anger in
consequence ofthe exposure, but freely admitted
the truth of the accusation.
Shortly afterwards he appeared to relapse in
mesmerc state, and, while seemingly in that con-
dition, went TO his bed and laid down. His COM
panions began 10 annoy him. He several times
warned them 10 desist, threatening 10 shoot them
if they did not. One Of them, however, believing
the young man had no weapons, examined him,
and finally discovered aslarge dueling pistol under
his pillow. Upon attempting TO remove it, the
young man seemed to be aroused from his e-
thargy. He seized his late companion by the
wrist with one hand, and with the other got pos
session Of the pistol, and threatened 10 shoot any
one who should modest him. He remained nndis-
turbed until the man in whose room he was Ia
stranger from Georgia. who was in fernando on
business connected with the estate of deceased
brother remarked that il was dangerous to let the
Young man stay in the room all night with the
pistol and that he would take il from him. He
attempted to do so, a scule ensued, when the
young man wrested the pistol from him, and i'm
mediatey shot him through the body causing his
death in few minutes All this time several of
the Witnesses testified he kept his eyes closed,
and showed no signs Of anger except when dis.
turbed. Others testiiedto his being under the in
huence of liquor; and some physicians testified
that the symptoms showed more Of that influence
than Of mesmerisn.- Memphis Enquirer, Feb 2.
Cost Of q Daily Papcr.-The Times and
Transcript, Of San Francisco, estimates the weekly
cost OF daily paper at San Francisco at 2700
or $4,000 per annum. There are some twelve
OF these daily newspapers, and some ten weekes;
so that we may safely estimate the cost Of San
Francisco newspaper literature at 81 100000 per
annum. tsi@
Y r. Il. Barnum. esq, is now engaged in writing
his own life and adventures. Five thousand dol
lars have already been offered for the copyright.
Although Barnum (says the Norwalk Gazette is
Of the cleverest fellows in the land, it is inti
mated that he will receive ocular demonstration
that there are a least half million Of persons
ready TO take his life the first opportunity that
is given them. We don't doubt his courage, but
then, we rather reckon he'll pocket the i'asuh. He
does generally