Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-20
Animal Magnetism-A Singular Case.


A gentleman named Robert SadleI
was arraigned before His Honor Judge
Bruce, in the Circuit Court yesterday
ON writ of lundtico inquirendo The
case is very peculiar one, and it is ad-
mitted that be is perfectly sane on all
subjects save one, and that is animal
magnetism or mesmerism, and on that
be entertains the most radical and extra.
VACANT ideas.
Mr. Sadler is an Englishman by birth,
is about ffty-6ve years of age, above the
medium hight of men, sallow COM
plexiou, light frame, hair slightly mixed
with gray, and melancholy expression
of the countenance that seemed to in.
dicate that he had buffeted many storms
and troubles in life.
The writ was sued out in no malice, il
seems, for the prosecution was con.
Quoted by Col. Phil Lee in the most
liberal and gentlemanly manner, and
with the greatest respect to the gentle
mans feelings. He, however, alleges
that it is instigated to deprive him of an
iaheritancs that falls to him from his
parents in England, who are very
wealthy.
He lives three miles from Louisville,
on the Cane Run road; is man of ex-
cellent education, and converses freely
and nationally on the most difficult sub
jects of science and literature. He was
for many years school teacher in that
neighborhood, where he has lived for
thirty years, and borne good reputation
as such. Among the witnesses were
Gov. Meriwether, DR.. Bell, and other
prominent citizens, who all testified to
his industry, ability and sanity, except
on the one subject of mesmerism, and
confessed that on that he went far be-
yond all of whom they had ever heard.
he conducted the case on his side prinei-
pslly by himself, and was assisted by Mr..
Buford Twyman, and showed even more
than ordinary ability.
He admitted all that was said in regard
to his ideas on mesmerism, and advanced
them in O plain and able manner to the
jury. After the testimony was finished
he held conversation with Col. Lee in
the presence of the court, and related
many incidents of his life, wherein this
sympathetic influence had acted upon
him. He stated that be had great re-
pugnance to his theory, though he believed
it true, and thought it hard that one man
should suffer on account of the ills of
others. he says he believes more in
animal magnetism than in spirltualism.
When any one with whom he is con-
nected by this magnetism is hurt he can
feel the pain though he does not know
that it is as acute He once felt the
burning progress of knife cutting In his
side, and experienced iuexpressible
agonies, and afterward learned that just
such an operation as he had experienced
had been performed the same day at the
hospital in this city.
Once be was sitting in the midst of
his family, on a quiet Sabbath afternoon,
when he was seized BY a crushing sensa-
tioh in his shoulder, and imagined the
crushed bones distinctly in his shoulder
and arm, and suffered the consequent
pain, though nothing apparent to the
sight was the matter with his limb. aud
next day the city papers brought him the
news Of a man being thrown under the
wheels of an omnibus, and having his
shoulder aud arm broken.
At another time, while an operation
on the throat Of person was being per-
formed in the hospital here, he felt dis
tinctly the operation being made, and
the tube being thrust into his throat.
This continued three or four days, and
be afterward learned Of The similar op-
GRAFTON being actually performed.
One day, while passing into bis dining
room, be was suddenly overcome and
fell backward insensibls on the floor,
severely bruising bis head. This time
be suffered no pain whatever, and on
returning be found bis
family around him busied in efforts b