Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-17
MRSMRRISM IN COURT.
Remarkable Spectacle In Paris-uew a
Prisoner was Acquitted.

Hema rkabls Spectacle In Paris-usw n
Prisoner was Acquitted.
The court OF appeals in Paris has
been the scene of most curious and
remarkable spectacle. A young man
named Didier was lately arrested for
an offense in the Champs Elysees and
sentenced to three months imprison-
mcnt. In prison he was examined by
Drs. Mottet and Mesnet, two we'll
known specialists in mental diseases,
who reported that he lived in a 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 con
slider their verdict 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 follow
ing painful scene, described by the
Paris correspondent of the London
.Sdndud DIR. Mottet, followed by the
magistrates and the prisoner, retired
into a side room. Here, by the usual
mode Of rapid passes Of the hands be
fore his eyes and a strong, fixed gaze,
the unhappy 4" subject was mesmerized.
Didicr was then left in charge Of two Of
the municipal guards on service, the
doctors and the judges returned TO the
court, and the door of the room WAS
shut. DIR. Mottct now called the pris-
oncr 10y his name. The next second "a
fearful noise was heard II came from
the sick young man. 4 few minutes
before a tonch Of the finger would have
almost knocked him over, 30 feeble and
cnncintcd was he. Now. under the in
iiuence Of magnetism, he was like
raging lion. Upsetting the guards who
held him 10y the wrists, he rushed at the
door broke il open, and, knocking down
everybody in his way. ran up
to DIR. Mottet Here he suddenly
stopped, and fixing his eyes on his
mesmcrizer trcmblcd from head TO foot
in a manner terrible TO see Shrieks Of
horror then ran through the court. The
doctor then set 10 work. "Undrcss
yourself" said lac to the prisoner In
second Didicr stripped himself Of
nearly all his garments. Dress your
self again, said the doctor, and again
the prisoner obeyed with the same
lightning rapidity. The experiment
appeared conclusive. DR.. Mottct then
awoke his "subjcct hy blowing on his
face. Didicr fell to the ground as II
shot. The doctor however, soon
brought him round again. why did
you undrcss Yourself before these
gentlcmcnY ? asked Dr. Mottct. that
was very improper" Didicr, gazing
withyarant astonishment, replied "N hat
/ uudrcssed myself? Impossible" And
the young man chung to the doctor
for protection like a child The bench.
however, was not convinced. and ap.
pcarcd to look on the whole affair as a
comedy. DIR. Mcsnct, in his turn, now
opcmtcd on the prisoner. Having mes
mcrized him he ordered him TO write
from memory a letter addressed to him
while in prison Didier replied: Can
not, because am in prison" The
doctor insisted. whcrcupun the prisoner
sat down 20 n table and wrote. word for
word, the letter in question. without a
single mistake While ho was writing
IT DIR. Mottet took long needle ont Of
his instrumcnt-case and plunged il into
the young mans neck, but hc felt moth.
ing. BY this time, however. the bench
had seen enough Of these painful cx-
perimcnts, and some Of the audience
crying ont Assez assez :" the sitting
came TO an end. The court. consider.
ing the prisoner was not responsible for
his acts, quashed the verdict Of the
lower court, and the unhappy man was
discharged
Training Circus Horses.