Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-06-12
STRANGE IF TRUE:
A Doctor has q Remarkable Mental Vision
@-za~ The Murderer and his Victim. -..

-
y The San Francisco Chronicle publishes
an interview with noted physician Of
that city who is the possessof Of pecu-
liar order Of mental power, in which he
relates the following Experience e. !
1T was in the fall of 1851, in the days
OF primitive morality and laxar Justice In
San Francisco. J. had been but few
months in the city, and had become mod
erately established in my practice. Ear
" one morning was called to attend a
man who had attained some prominence
as Spectator and operator in real estate.
He had been discovered lying on the floor
OF MS lodgings in dying con dition from
half dozen knife wounds, the horrible
instrument OF his death still remaining
where it had last been thrust into his
body to the hilt, penetrating through the
right lung. There was evidence of a
desperate struggle having occurred be-
fore the unfortunate man Welded to his
fate. He was entirely unconscious in the
spasmodic gasp of death, and he breathed
his last in very few moments after I
reached the spot: As his last breath
went out became conscious of a new
and mysterious presence, and nv mind
seemed to pass under the control of a
superior mental power. I yielded a pas
sive obedience to the influence, and i'm
mediately the scene Of death struggle
passed before my mental view.. 1t seem
ed tor an instant as if was myself en-
deavoring to ward off a murderous at
tack. With one hand my assailant held
sufocating grip upon my throat, while,
with the other, he plunged the deadly
knife again and again into my body. I
saw his clenched teeth, and his fierce,
cruel eyes cleaning into mine with the
malignity Of demon. Such were the
force and horror Of the impression that
staggered and fell, as if in faint. The
bystanders, who were injured toasanguin-
airy scenes, supposed that I had been
overcome by the spectacle of the murder
eel man, and their comments were any,
thing but complimentary to my nerve
and experience as physician. But the
cool and careful manner in which I sub
sequently performed the autopsy dissi-
pated what mi ght have been fatal sus-
picion cast upon my professional capaci-
ty. found the marks Of clenched fin
gers upon the throat of the murdered
man. l knew that had beheld and ex-
perienced the insidents of his death
struggle precisely as they were impress
ed upon my own mind. The stout, bur-
ly man of my vision, full whiskered,
with a red shirt, slouched hat, and a
black kerchief tied loosely about his
neck, and that fierce, fendish glow of
countenance, could never forget. But
| did not recognize the man, and in those
days suspicion was not safe, based even
upon better foundation than the preten-
sions Of a soothsayer. did not care to
hazard either my life or my professional
reputation in a manner that could &C
complish no good purpose.
"Years after the occurrence, in the
early part of the '60s, l was returning
from trip to the East, when I met a
gentleman on the steamer on the way up
from Panama. He came aboard at one
of the Mexican ports, accompanied bv
one or two others. Acquaintance were
speedily made, and the usual socially on
shipboard was cultivated. One evening
we were seated at a game of whist, and
the gentleman I specially refer to had
taken hand as my partner. I was lead
ing out suit, and incidentally looked
across the table to catch an inspiration
from the countenance of my partner. In
stantly spell came upon me. The fea-
lures of the gentleman assumed malig-
nant expression; his full gray beard was
restored to a sable hue; he had on a
SLOUGH hat, black handkerchief, red
shirt-it was the horrible incarnation of
my vision, standing beside the murdered
man. The shock overcame me, and l
reeled limp and helpless from my chair.
A glass of water revived me. And a
disposition to sudden attacks of
vertigo was the explanation l gave to
the sympathizing group. The following
morning the gentleman approached me
while leaning upon the rail and accosted
me with cordial salution. Have we
not met bcfore?' he inquired. Just as
you were taken i'll last evening l seemed
to catch sudden glimpse of familiarity
IN your countenancc.' Il do know
replied; were you in San Francisco in
'51?' 'Yes-not as recollect,' he again
stammered. l was looking in his face
again; his features seemed again to gath
er that horrible distortion of malignity
it held me as the fascination of serpent,
and with desperate effort I turned away
and hurried from his presence. No ex-
PLANTATION was asked or made Oh either
side. have met the gentleman often
since-a wealthy and respected person.
but there seems to be arepulsive force be-
tween us, and of mutual accord we keep
aloof. Do We know each others minds?
I cannot tell"