Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-21
Hvnnotlsm and the stranglers.

Aside from the license that the judges
have to ridicule and abuse prisoners at
the bar, the trial of the Partisan stran-
glers has disclosed some features of
French criminal procedure which are
new to the general public, though
known, we have no doubt, to erudite
lawyers.
MICHAEL EYRAUD and ola Belle
GADRIELLE" BoMPARD conspired to muir
der and rob one GoUFFE. The victim, a
process-server, went to the room OF the
woman and while she was sitting on his
knees, a moose was slipped by her over
his head and EYBAUD, who was waiting
behind q curtain or partition, pulled
away at it and the love-making old fell
low was pulled off the floor and strangled
to death.
EYBAUD asserts that he only meant
to extort money not to kill, and
claims that GABRIELLE planned the
affair. The story that murder was
not premeditated disappears in the
light of the fact that the two prisoners
had been to London and bought big
trunk. in which TO put the dead body,
and did actually make that disposition of
it. So far as she participated in the
crime GABRIELLE BoMPABD declares that
she was an. unconscious agent in
EYRAUD's hands; that EYBAUD had &C
auired such control over her she was
powerless to resist his commands that
he gave her orders and she had no
strength of will to disobey. In other
words, it is a case OF alleged hypnotism ;
pretty GABRIELLE being the victim and
ugly old EYBAUD the operator,
DIR. BBoUARDEI, "the most celebrated
authority on mental diseases in France,
and DR.. MoLTETs on Thursday testified
that they had subjected the vicious little
woman "to an experiment in magnetic
slumber, but remarked no extraordinary
symptoms" and they were positively OF
the opinion that she is conscious at all
times and in any deeds she may have
committed.
A fit which she had in court on We'd
nesday, they said, was "caused by her
dread OF the male prisoner, for she ex-
claimed while in it, Stand back,
/ lo.,,& l., ,,.a ~
DIR. MoLTRrs "disavowed the theory
of the Medical School Of Nancy, which
states that GABRIELLE was acting under
tho influence Of EYBAUD, and maintained
that no crime had ever Been known tC
have been committed under hypnotic In
fiuence or OF its suggestion"
DR.. LAoREsr, physician to the Bow
pARD family in the city OF Lille. testified
that when GABRIELLE was child he had
frequently hypnotized her, and once put
her arm into the cataleptic state and
passed needle through herwrist without
causing her to feel any pain or having
any flow OF blood. Heperformed serious
operation upon her while she was in this
state and she had no knowledge of it.
Members of her family were always
present on these occasions. Her DISPOSE
ton was vicious, but the Doctor could
not say she was insane, yet mot wholly
responsible for her conduct, and be,
lievs she could have been influenced by
EYRaUD to commit crime"
| Dr.. LIEoEoIs, head OF the medical
faculty Of the College Of Nancy, wa.
soon afterwards called by GABRIELLE
counsel, and coming forward said:
81 am alone in opposition TO the other
medical experts II is the first time that
my theory has been expounded in O
court Of justice, and in such circum.
stances do not wish to be interrupted
by an audience such as that now present
in this court i therefore invoke tina,
article Of the criminal code which gives
witnesses the option OF making Their
statements before the Court and jury
alone without any spectators being pres
ent"
In conformity with this appeal the
court adjourned until Friday, when,
however, the Professor had quite q
large audience. He seems to have
waived his option. LrHaEoIs who de-
scribed himself rs "only o modest
legal professor" addressed the court for
two and half hours without interrup.