The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-11-14
WONDERFUL MESMERlSEi.
One OF the Most Remarkable Cases
on Record---A Victim Of Spi nal
Nervousness

WONDERFUL MESMERISEi.
One of the Most Remarkable Gases
on Record---A Victim Of Spi nal
Nervousness.
An extraordinary instance of nervous.
ness and of the complete mastery OF
one mind over another was brought to
| the notice of the police at headquar-
tiers. when AL Whitfield applied for
protection from August Redell o man
from whom it was impossible to free
himself. Whitfield's first words were:
where is the chief of police?' Imme-
diately came from Redell: where is
the chief of policep'' Then every word
spoken by Whitfield was repeated
by Rebel, and every action dupli-
Gated. The captain on watch, under
the impression that the two m zen
were trying to play practical
joke on him, ordered them away.
Whitfield insisted that he was in dead
earnest, and tried to explain the situa-
ton, whereupon his double, using ex-
actly the same language and earnest
tones, made The same explanation. FL
naily, to learn which man of the two
was insane. Captain HARE conducted
Whitfield into his private Office and
| closed the door. At this Redell slowly
swooned and would have fallen to the
floor had he MOI been caught by the
bystanders. The door was thrown
open, and Redell, catching sight Of
Whitfield, revived Immediately. For
the next half hour Redell did not take
his eyes from Whitfield, and dupli-
Gated every word, motion, gesture and
expression of Whitfield. The insane
man-it was evident that Redell was
nervous. bordering on the insane-was
oblivious to all surroundings, did not
answer questions put to him by others,
did not seem to hear them, and, in fact,
had lost all physical and mental power
except that of being the shadow of the
man who happened then to control
him.
The strangest result of this remarka-
BILE case follows, but it is we'll enough
to give the start. This was learned
later in the afternoon by an Oregonidn
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 morning he met
Redell. whom he had not seen since
last December. and they walked around
town together. Two years ago they
were out together in a telegraphic con-
structiOn party on the Sound, and were
great chums. A few minutes after they
started out Whitfield noticed that Re
dell repeated his words and initiated
his actions. but at first paid no atten-
ton to it. They ate luncheon together
and Redell repeated every motion of
Whitteld's at the table. Whitfield then
went into store and bought pair of
shoes, and put them on. Redel fol-
lowed suit, choosing the same style,
and not neglecting to pay for them.
Whitfield becoming alarmed now and
exceedingly annoyed by his double"
went to police headquarters.
After the men had been in the office
some time, and it having been demon
strated that the insane man could not
be separated from Whitfield without
fainting, physician was sent for.
Pending his arrival, Whitfield seated
himself on a lounge, and, there being
no other seat in the room, Redell stood
opposite to him. bending his knees and
coming as near 10 sitting posture as
he could. In this position he remained
for more than half an hour, never tax
ing his eyes from Whitfield. A dozen
or more men came in, and each fresh
one wanted TO see the power exerted.
Whitfield accommodated them until he
himself was exhausted. Ii Whitfield
removed his hat, or pulled his mustache,
or rose and kicked the door, or laugh
ed, or looked distressed, Redell did the
same, and he repeated every word that
Whitfield spoke. Finally a policeman
stepped between them, and stood for
perhaps fifteen seconds, SO rs to OBJ
scure Redel's view, when he fell to the
floor entirely unconscious. He did not
appear to be in pain. though his arms
and legs twitched occasionally, and
twice he went into violent paroXysms,
which lasted n minute or more. After
he had lain for ten minutes, Whitfield
returned and spoke TO him. Redell
moved his lips, framing them to pro-
nounce the words, but no sound came.
BY this time DR.. G. Wheeler arrived.
From information given by bystanders,
he got 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 sunk to
the floor unconscious. DR.. Saylor and
DR.. Mckenzie were then sent for by
DR.. Wheeler to see the case. Stimu-
lants were given and the patient open
ed his eyes, though he did not speak,
and gave no sign of consciousness. DR..
Wheeler kept his eyes fixed on the pa
tents for several minutes, and then
ordered him to getup. To the surprise
of all present, the man instantly jump
ed to his feet. DR.. Wheeler remarked:
81 have got him now, and you will see
what mesmerism will do" Whitfield
now spoke to the man but no more
attention was paid to him than to the
others in the room. DIR. Wheeler asked
the man to stand upon a chair and ex-
tend his arms. He obeyed and the
doctor left the room. 1t was impossi-
BILE for two of the strongest men in the
room to pull his arms down, the mus
cles being as rigid rs iron. In min
ute or two the doctor returned and
nodded to the man to get down. In
stantly his arms dropped and he sat
down. Similar experiments were re-
peated, and having once placed his
arms or legs in one position, and the
doctor away, no two men present were
powerful enough to change them. At
last Dr. Wheeler ordered him to lay
down and 60 to sleep, and in second
he was stretched upon the lounge per-
fectly unconscious. There he remained
until awakened by DIR. Wheeler. 9th
ers had no power to disturb him.
Very little is known of Redell or his
history. He is about thirty years old,
and of medium height, and, though
he is not effeminate, has fine features
and fine hair. His malady is probably
spinal nervousness. Late this after
noon he was resting comfortably, and
was part of the time rational.-Porttdnd
Oregonian.
Our Native Woods.
Some of our native woods can not be