The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-05-21
STRANGE IF TRUE.
A Doctor hRs n Remarkable Mental Vision
The Murderer and his Victim.

A Doctor has n Remarkable Mental Vision |
The Murderer and his Victim,
The San Francisco Chronicle publishes
an interview with noted physician of
that city who is the possessor of pecu-
liar order of mental power, in which he |
relates the following experience:
" 1t was in the fall OF 1851 in the days |
of primitive morality and laxer justice
in San Francisco. l had been but few
months in the city, and had become
moderately established in my practice
Early one morning | was called to at
tend man who had attained some
prominence as q speculator and operator
in real estate. He had been discovered
lying upon the floor of his lodgings in
dying condition 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 were evidences of q desperate
struggle having occurred before the un-
fortunate man yielded to his fate. He
was entirely unconscious in the spas
modic gasps of death, and he breathed
his last in very few moments after |
reached the spot. As his last breath
went out l became conscious of new
and mysterious presence, and my mind
seemed to pass under the control of a
superior mental power yielded pas
sive obedience to the influence, and inn
mediately the scene of a death struggle
passed before my mental view. It tseem
! ed for an instant as if | was myself en-
deavoring to ward off murderous at
tack. With one hand my assailant held
a suffocating grip upon my throat, while,
with the other, he plunged the deadly
knife again and again into my body.
saw his clenched teeth, and his fierce,
cruel eyes cleaning into mine with the
malignity of q demon. Such were the
force and horror Of the impression that l
staggered and fell, as if in a faint The
bystanders, who were Injured to sanguin-
airy scenes, supposed that had been
overcome by the spectacle of the murder
ed man, and their comments were any
thing but complimentary to my nerve
and experience as physician. But the
cool and cereful manner in which | sub
sequently performed the autopsy dissi-
pated what might have been fatal sus-
picion cast upon my professional capaci-
ty. l found the marks of clenched fin
gers upon the throat of the murdered
man. l knew that / had beheld and ex-
perienced the incidents of his death
struggle precisely as they were impress
ed upon my own mind. The stout
burly man of my vision. full whiskered
with a red shirt, slouched hat, and 9
black kerchief tied loosely about his
neck, and that fierce, fiendish glow o.
countenance, could never forget. Bu
| did not recognize the man, and in those
days suspicion was not safe, based ever
; upon better foundation than the preten
| sions of soothsayer. l did not care tC
, hazard either my life or my professional
reputation in a manner that could &C
complish no good purpose.
= " Y ears after the occurrence, in tht
Y early part of the '60s, was returnin!
= from a trip to the East, when | met
gentleman on the steamer on the wa,
: up from Panama. He came aboard a
Y one of the Mexican ports, accompanied
4 by one or two others. Acquaintance
were speedily made, and the usual so
i cialty on shipboard was cultivated
: One evening we We're seated at gam
S of whist, and the gentleman l speciall
n refer to had taken hand as my partner
| was leading out a suit, and incidental
n ly looked across the table to catch an in
v spiration from the countenance of m
e partner. Instantly a spell came upo
Vt me. The features of the gentleman as
sumed malignant expression; his fu
e gray beard was restored to a sable hue
q he had on a slouch hat, a black bandBel
d chief, red shirt-it was the horrible II
IS carnation of my vision, standing besic
g the murdered man. The shock overcan
s. me, and l reeled limp and helpless frol
my chair. A glass of water revived m
l. and disposition to sudden attacks
x vertigo was the explanation | gave
T. the sympathizing group. The followir
rs morning the gentleman approached n
o, while leaning upon the rail and accostC
We me with cordial salutation. Ha'
a. we not met beforeP' he inquired. Ju
he as you were taken ill last evening
70 Sc med to catch a sudden glimpse of
miliarity in your countenance.' Il (
st not know l replied; were you in 81
ed Francisco in SIP 'Yes-not as recC
SIS lect he again stammered. l was loo
We ing in his face again; his features seem
nd again to gather that horrible distorti
ut Of malignity; it held me as the fascin
n ton of serpent, and with despera
= effort l turned away and hurried frC
his presence. No explanation was ask
or made on either side. l have met t
gentleman often since-a wealthy a
respected person-but there seems to
SITS a repulsive force between us, and of N
tual accord we keep aloof Do we kn'
7er each others minds? l cannot tell"