Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-06-16
MEsMERIZED COURT.
Curious and Remarkable Spectacle Be-
fore the Bench.

The Court of Appeals in Paris has been the
scene of most curious and remarkable spec
tacle. 4 young man named Didier was late
ly arrested for an offense in the Champs Ely
sees and sentenced to three months imprisOn-
ment In prison he was examined by Drs.
Mottet and Mesnet, two well-known special
lists in mental diseases, who reported that he
lived in q state of constant somnambulism,
the attacks Of which can be provoked at will.
The case was heard on appeal, and the Judges
were about to withdraw to consider their ver-
dict when the doctors offered to confirm the
statements made in their report by practical
experiments on the spot. The bench con-
sented, and then occurred the following pain
full scene, described by the Paris correspond
ent of the London Standard: "Dr Mottet,
followed by the magistrates and the prisoner,
retired into side room. Here, by the usual
means of rapid passes of the hand 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 the judges return
ed to the court and the door of the room was
shut. DR.. Mottet now called the prisoner by
his name The next second a fearful noise
was heard 1t 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 a
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 few seconds Didier strip
ped 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 conclu-
sive Dr. Mottet then awoke his subject"
by blowing on his face. Didier fell to the
ground as if 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 astonishment,
replied: What! undressed myself? I'M
possible" And the young man clung to the
doctor for protection like child. The bench,
however, was not convinced and appeared to
look upon the whole affair as a comedy. DR..
Mesnet, in his turn, now operated on the
prisoner Haying mesmerized him, he
ordered him to write from memory a letter
addressed to him while in prison. Didier
replied, Cannot, because l am in prison"
The doctor insisted whereupon the prisoner
sat down to a table and wrote, word for word,
the letter in question without single mis-
take. While he was writing it DR.. Mottet
took a 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! assez!" the sitting came to an
end The court, considering the prisoner
was not responsible for his acts, quashed the
verdict of the lower court and the unhappy
man was discharged