The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-22
OLD NICK.
The Franks of n Man Endowed with lesmerIc
Powers.


Here Is an opportunity for metaphvslcans and
bhhosopbers to speculate According 70 the Spring
neld {Mass,) RepU6c07, there Is knight OF st. Crs
pin, maker or boots, pounder OF leather and
waxer OF threads, by the nalne of Downs a resident
meric power which is singular in that lis influence
does not depend solely on his volitlon but some
times independently not only of his will but even of
his knowledge while usually mesmerlsts must exert
u conscious direction over their subject. A recent
example Of this seeming hItcrposition of q power
behiud, merely working through his physical organ
ism began in his carcessly throwing his arm around
the neck of his friend and old army comrade, Charles
Woodward, sole MANUFACTURER OF Auburn Just
across the river from lewiston He thought nothing
OF. Il, and shortly aftct lst the shop This was on
Thursday afternoon; ana rom that time till Satur
day Woodward was not himself in any respect, nor
has he now any remembrance Of the occurrences OF
sob'ety, he deported himself like reckless rowdy,
danced and sung IN his shop, staid from his lodg-
ings till half-past two o'clock on Friday morning,
and when found by the man at whose house ne
boarded, Edwin Blake, he vas at a low dance, aud
disgracelully boisteroUs.
Blake got him home after q stout resistance on his
part, hut had continued IN hyStcrc state through
the night and told oil Bakrs family secrets to those
VINO came TO see him though he could not have
known one OF them IN mis- natural condition At last
physician was summoned who thought IL was hys-
suong mustard water. While Mr.. Blake was dlng
this, suddenly Woodward came to his senses, while
Sske was instantly attacked with nervous tremJr,
his muscles contracted, his body wrihedand soon it
became evident that nc was himself unconscious
-, The demoniac possession mad left Woodward, and
than Woodward had been. He was soon found TO
be- entirely unmanagcablc. lie showed thrice his
ordinary strength ana attacked with damaging ef-
feet plethorc physician who was summoned He
would dance and sing, and cut up all sorts OF antics
Nobody could do anything with him, for he seemed
10 see beforehand the intention OF those around him
Consequently II was determined TO invoke the cause
Of all this mischief to undo it. Downs was found
10 be in Gardiner, and accordingly on Sunday Blake
was secured in a carriage, taken thither, aud no
sooner had Downs placed his hands upon the mad
man, than his muscles ro1Ned and his mind cleared
and he was much amazed 10 find where he was as
his last recollection was oI rubbing woodward in
his own house.
Then Downs said that hr had been neryously un-
easy ever since he left Auburn, and queer feeling
that lie was needed there. though he had no idea
that he had mesmerled any one, and no settled
sense Of what demanded his presence. Woodward
states that in the army he was once sent through
two picket lines and back while under the control Of
Downs, and that Downs was 1T that time notorious
for his magnetic powers, keeping people FOR days
under his control. Downs and Woodward are war;
ranted respectable, and Blake IS vOuched for as a
rchable Christian by the Lewiston JOurndI, and
there is doubt about these facts II is lucky for
Downs that he didn't live in the witcA-murdering