Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-02-17
MBsMBRIzBD IN COURT.
A Curious and Remarkable
spectacle-A Paris Lawyers Novel
Argument

A Curious and Remark able
Spectacle-A Paris Lawyers Novel
Argument.
The Court of Appeals In Paris has been
the scene Of most curious and re-
markable spectacle. A young man named
Didier was lately arrested for an otfense in
the Champs Elysees and sentenced to
three months imprisonment. In prison
he wes examined by Drs. Motset and
Mesnet, two we'll known specialists in
mental diseases, who req orted that he
lived in state OF constant somnambulism,
the attacks of which can be provoked at
will. The case was head ON appeal, and
the judges were about to withdraw TO con
slider their verdict when the doctors OH red
to confirm the statements made in their
report by practical experiments on the
spot. Tue Bench consented, and then
occurred the following painful scene,
described by the Paris correspondent OF
the London Standard.
DIR. Mottet, followed 10y the magistrates
and the prisoner, retired into side room
Here, by the usual means of rapid passes
OF the hands before his eyes and strong
fixed gaze, the unhappy subject was
mesmerized. Didier was then left in
charge OF two of the Municipal Guards on
service, the doctors and judges returned
to the court and the door Of the room WAS
shut. DIR. Mottet now called the prisoner
by his name. The next second fearful
noise was heard II came from the sick
young man. A few minutes before
touch of the finger would have almost
Knocked him over, so feeble and emaciated
was he. Now, under the influence of
magnetism, he was like a raging lion.
Upsetting the guards who held him by the
wrists, he rushed at the door, broke it
open, and, knocking down everybody in
his path, ran up to DIR. Mottet Here he
suddenly stopped, and, fixing his eyes on
his mesmerizer trembled from head to
foot in manner terrible to see. Shrieks
of horror then ran through the court.
The doctor then set to work. "Undress
yourself" said he to the prisoner. In q
few seconds Didier stripped himself OF
nearly all his garments. Dress yourself
again." said the doctor, and again the
prisoner obeyed with the same lightning
rapidity. The experiment appeared con-
elusive. DIR. Mottet then awoke his sub
ject" by blowing on his face. Didler fell
to the ground as ii shot. The doctor,
however, soon brought him round again.
"Why did you undress yourself before
these gentlemen " asked DIR. Mottet,
THAT was very improper" Didier, gazing
with vacant establishment replied,
"What l undressed myself; impossible"
And the young man chung to the doctor
for protection like child. The Bench,
however, was not convinced aud
appeared to look upon the whole
affair as comedy. DIR. Mesnet, in his
turn, now operated en- the prisoner.
Having mesmerized him he ordered him
to write from memory letter addressed
TO him while in prison. Didier replied,
Cannot because | am in prison" The
doctor insisted, whereupon the prisoner
sat down to table and wrote, word for
word, the letter in question without a
single mistake. While he was writing ii
DIR. Mottet took long needle out of his
instrument case, and plunged it into the
Young mans neck, but he felt nothing.
BY this time, however, the Bench had
seen enough of these painful experiments,
and some Of the audience crying Out
"Assez. ASSET" the sitting came to al
end. 1he Court, considering the prisoner
was not re sporsble for his acts, quashec
the verdict of the lower court aud tn,
unhappy man was discharged.