The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-16
4 Very Mysterious Case.

ONE of the most singular cases which
has ever been ventilated through the pub
lie press has recently come to my notice.
The circumstances are almost too singu-
lar for belief, and were it not that their
! truth is vouchcd for by numerous repre-
sentative men of this section, among them
a prominent minister Of the gospel, would
| be considered as almost too eXtravagant
for even the most fertile imagination. The
| following are the facts Of the case, and a
wonderful tale they tell:
Mr. William Hutchinson is a wcll-to-do
farmer, residing about mile from Spring
field, Erie County, Pa. During the great
er part Of his lifc-hc is now in the vicin-
ity Of fifty years of age-he has resided
there, and has raised quitca large family
OF children. lie was always remarka-
bly, healthy man, never was troubled with
any disorder whatever, except those incl
dent to childhood, and is dcvout Chris
tan and well respected by all who know
him. One winters evening, eighteen
years ago, he was suddenly seized with
violent COMMISSIONS His violence was
of five men to hold him. His contortions
are described as simply horrible-every
muscle in his body seemed TO writhe and
twist, his limbs and arms were flung
around convulsively, his face was con-
torted to a hideous degree, and, as one of
my infOrmantS said, he "would assume
all manner Of shapes, actually tying him
self into a knot, until it seemed that every
bone in his body must break" These
commissions lasted nearly two hours, and
finally passed off, leaving the victim in a
state OF unteigned bewilderment. He
stated that he was conscious during the
whole time, but had no control over him
self. He experienced no pain, and after
they had left him felt perfectly natural.
The affair occasioned considerable com
ment, and was regarded as a most re-
markable incident. The general aston
ishment was largely increased, however,
when the following evening, at the same
hour and in the same manner, the gentle
man was again attacked. The same in
voluntary exercises were gone through
with, and after two hours had elapsed the
victim arose, feeling, if possible, more
bcwildcrcd than ever. But the end was
not yet. The next night and the next,
and every night for upward of two weeks,
Mr.. Hutchinson found himself compelled
to conduct himself in this extraordinary
manner. Physicians were called in, but
all in vain: they could net grasp the case,
and their remedies were alike useless.
Chloroform produced no more effect upon
him than so much water. Morphine,
taken internally and injected into the
blood, proved as useless as the chloro-
form. They even piled him with liquor
and made him dead drunk, but as soon as
the hour arrived for his visitation" the
effects of the liquor disappeared, and
after convulsins" for the usual time he
would emerge & sober man. The case was
wholly incomprehensible, and long after
the disease lcfthim was the talk of the town.
VI NiltC llutSil-
ison was entirely free from these strange
attacks, and during the following sum-
mcr pursued his avocation as farmer in
peace, with nothing TO disturb him in re-
gard TO the affair excep. in the way OF I'M
pleasant "reminiscences. The anniversary
Of his first attack approached and finally
arrived. 1t was not necessary for Mr..
Hutchison to look through an almanac to
see whether it was the anniversary. He
was reminded in more forcible way by
a sudden return of his dread malady.
The same performance was given as the
year previous, and after the spasms had
passed Mr.. Hutchinson began to wonder
what kind Of man he was, anyhow. lie
laughed and joked over the matter, and
spoke Of putting his strange visitations to
advantage by joining some circus. These
attacks lasted the same period as the year
before, coming every evening at the same
hour and remaining with him for nearly
,wo hours, and then they left him as sud-
lenly as before.
The following year Mr.. Hutchinson was
lgain attacked, and for two weeks in
lulgcd in these mysterious gymnastics.
lie began to grow tired of it. There was !