Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-02-25
Mesmerized in Court.

The Court of Appeals in Paris has been
the scene Of most curious and remarka-
BILE spectacle. A young man name Didier
was lately arrested for an offence in the
Champs Elysees and sentenced to three
months imprisonment. In prison he Was
examined by Drs. Motte5 and Mesnet,
two we'll known specialists in mental dis
eases, who reported that he lived in 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 YER
dict when the doctors offered to confirm
the statements made in their report by
practical experiments on the spot. The
Bench consented, and then occurred the
following painful scene, described by the
Paris correspondent of the London 'sStan-
dard:" DR.. Mottet, followed by the mag
istrates and the prisoner, retired into a
side room. Here, by the usual means OF
rapid passes of the hands before his eyes
and strong, fixed gaze, the unhapp,
subject" was mesmerized. Didier was
then left in charge of two of the Munich
ipal Guards on service, the doctors and
the judges returned to the court and the
door of the room was shut. DR.. Mottet
now called the prisoner by his name. TIL,
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 emaclated was he. Now, under the
influence of magnetism, he was like rag
ing lion. Cpsetting he guards who held
him by the wrists, he rushed at the door,
broke it open, and, knocking down every
body in his path, ran up to DR.. Mottet.-
Here be 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 a few seconds Older
stripped himself of nearly all his gar
menus. 'sDress yourself again. sail
the Doctor, and again the prisoner obeyed
with the same lightning rapidity. The
experiment appeared conclusive. DR..
Mottet then awoke his "subjectn 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 gen
Jlemen?" asked DR.. Mottet; that was
very improper" Didier, gazing with va
cant astonishment, replied, "What, 1 I'M
dressed myself impossible" And the
Young man chung to che Doctor for protec-
tion like child. The bench, however,
was not convinced and appeared to look
upon the whole affair as comedy. Doc
tor Mesnet, in his turn, now operated on
the prisoner. Having mesmerized him he
ordered him to write from memory a let
ter addressed to him while in prison.
Didier replied, Cannot, because 1 am in
prison." The doctor insisted, whereupon
the prisoner sat down to table and wrote
word for word, the letter in question with
out single mistake. While he was writ
ing it DIR. Mottet took 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
'Assezl assez p the sitting came to an
end. The Court, considering the prisoner
was not responsible for his acts, euashed
the verdict of the lower court and the un-
happy man was discharged,