Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-05
MEsMgRlsM EXTRAORDINARY.

Auau., RsdelI Under Complete Mental Con.
troll or Two Men separasely-Unable to
Perform the slightest Act OF Hts Own
voIitiou.
Portland Orcgonian.l
About noon yesterday an extraordinary
instance Of nervousness and OF the com
nlete mastery Of one mind over another
was brought 10 the notice Of the police at
headGuar,ers, when Al. Whitfield applied
for nrotection from August Redell. man
from whom IL was impossible TO free himself.
Whitfleld's first words were: Where
Is the chief OF polIcey" Immediately
come from Redell, Where i the
chief Of police 80 Then every word
shaken by Whitfield was repeated
by Redell, and every action dupli-
Gated. The captain on watch, under the
imr,ression that two strangers were trying
10 play practical joke upon him, ordered
them away. Whitfield insisted that he
was in dead earnest, and tried n explain
the situation, whereup0u bis double using
exactly the same words and earnest tones,
made the same explanation. Finally, 10
learn which man OF the two was insane.
Cartain Hair conducted Whitfield into the
pllNdit OliiCt duu N'0Nu AHN t'ti o
At this RedeIl slowly swOOncd
and would have fallen 10 the door
,ad he not been caught by bystanders.
The door was thrown upon, and Redell,
catching sight Of Whitfield. revived imme-
diately. For the next half hour Reilel, did
not remove his eyes from Whitfield. and
duplicated every word. motion. gesture.
and expression Of Whitfield. The insane
man-it was evident that Redell was ncr.
yous, bordering on the insane-wls Obliyi-
Gus 10 all surroundings. but did not answer
questions put TO him by others, did not
seem to bear them, and, in fac had lost all
mental and physical power except tint ~
being a shadow Of the man who happened
then TO control him.
The strangest result Of the remarkable
case follows. but it Is well enough to give
the start. This was learned later in the
afternoon by an OrogOpidR reporter from
Whitfield, whose story is worthy OF belief.
He Is young man and works IN the shop
Of his uncle. W. W. ESpey. Yesterday he
was not at work. About 10 o'clock in the
morning he met Redell, whom be hid no.
seen since last December, and they walked
around town together. Two years ago
they were out together in tclc-
graphic construction party on the
Sound and were great chums. \ few
minutes after they started out yesterday
Whitfield noticed that Redcll repeated his
words and initiated his actions, but at first
paid no attention TO It. They ate luncheon
together. and kedcll repeated every mo ION
Of Whitfcld's at the table. Whitfield then
went into store, bought a pair Of shoe.
and put them on. Redell followed suit,
choosing the same style and not ncglcctins
to pay for them. Whitfield becoming
alarmed now and exceedingly annoyed by
his " double " went 10 police headquarters.
After the men had been in the OH some
time. and II having been demonstrated
that the insane man could not be separated
from Whitfield without flinting, physl-
elan was sent for. Pending his arrival
Whitfield seated himself on a lounge. and.
there being no other seat in the room, Re-
dell stood opposite him, bending hi knees,
and coming as near sitting posture a he
could. In this position he remained for
more than half an hour, never taking his
eyes from Whitfield. A dozen or more
men came in, and each fresh one wanted
10 see the power eXert'd. Whitfield ac-
c0mmodated them until he himself was
exhausted. II Whitfield removed his
hat. or pulled his mou>tachc, or rose
and kicked The door, or laughed, or looked
distressed. Redel did The same, and he
repeated every word that Whitfield spoke.
Finally policeman stepped between them,
and stood for perhaps fifteen seconds. 80 as
to obscure Redcl's view. when he fell to
the flooi entirely unconscious. He did not
appear to be in pain. though his arms and
legs twitcEed occasionally, and twice he
went into violent paroYysms, which lasted
minute or more. After h. had lain for
ten minutes Whitfield returned aud
spoke TO him. Rcdell moved HIS lips.
framing them 10 pronounce the words,
but no sound came. BY this time DR.. {.
ii. Wheeler arrived. From the infOrmItion
given by bystanderS. he got 4 fair idea OF
the case, and he asked Whitfield TO take
hold Of the mans hands and bid him TO
rise. Whitfield did so, and in an instant
the man was on his feet laughing. Whit
field left him. and he again sank TO the
floor unconscious. DR.. Saylor and Dr.
Mckenzie were then sent for by DIR.
Wheeler to see the case. Stlmulants were
gwen. and the patient opened his eyes,
though he did not speak, and gave NJ
signs OF consciousness. DR.. Wheeler KEEP,
his eyes fixed on the PATIENTS for several
minutes, and then ordered him to get up.
To the surprise Of all present the man in.
stanlly jumped to his feet. DR.. Wheeler
remarked, "I've got him now, and you
will see what mesmerism will do" Whit
field now spoke to the man, but no more
attention was paid TO him than to the others
in the room. Or. Wheeler asked the man
TO stand up on chair and extend his arms.
He Obeyed, and the Doctor left the room.
Ii was impossible for two OF the strongest
men in the room to pull his arms down. the
muscles being rigid as iron. In minute
or two the Doctor returned and nodded 10
the man to get down. Instantly his arms
dropped and he sat down. Similar expert
ments were repeated, aud having once
placed his arms or legs in one position. aud
the Doctor away, no two men present were
powerful enough to change them. At last
DR.. Wheeler ordered him to lie down and
20 10 sleep, and in second he was stretched
upon the lounge, perfectly unconscious.
There he remained until awakened by d..
Wheeler. Others had not the power to
disturb him.
Very little is known Of RedeIl or OF his
history. He is about thirty years old. and
Of medium height, and. though not efiem-
nate, has fiae features and fine hair. His
malady is probably spinal nervousness.
Late this afternoon he was resting COM
fortaby, and was part of the time rational.