The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-26
THE HYPNOTIC THEORY.

Reference was made in these columns
not long ago to the lively interest that has
been excited In France, and 70 some ex-
tent in this and other countries. in respect
10 the operation of hypnotism and its reia-
ton TO crime and many phases OF human
affairs that have heretofore seemed mex
plicable. In France Of late years no sub
iect has attracted moro attention or in
duced profounder investigation.
But nothing has been reported from that
country thus far that more strongly sus-
tains the new theories than do the revel-
atoms connected with . death-bed confess
sion OF murder which WAS made ct Waynes-
town. Ind. . few days ago. James Dennis.
who died at that place on the evening OF
the 18th inst. being In full possession OF
his mental faculties and aware that he was
about to breathe his last, made detailed
and circumstantial confession Is follows:
In 1885 one John +. Coffee was working
on the farm of H. X. McMuilen,
who had . fine place and was
weli-to-do. While thus at work
Coffee learned that McMullen had about
500 concealed in his house, and approached
Dennis, who was then out of work, with
proposition that they try to find it. A
night was agreed upon. and Dennis went
through tho house while Coffee remained
outside. McMullcn awoke and showed
fight, when Dennis struck him over the
head with club several times and killed
him instantly. Mrs. McMullen escaped to
the yard. where she was waylaid by Coffee.
who, intending only to stun her, hit her
over the head with fatal effect. They then
dragged the bodies into the house and set
fire to Il.
Shortly afterward both men were ar
rested. Dennis managed TO get off quite
easily. Coffee was convicted of numbering
both the old man and his wife. and was
sentenced to be hanged. Dennis was pres
ent at the execution. and Was perfectly
composed. At the last moment Coffee
made fun confession of both murders.
and fully exonerated Dennis. the guiltier
party OF the two. from all connection or
completely. This, in view OF Dennis later
and APPARENTLY trustworthy confession. has
occasioned great surprise. Prior TO the
murder the men had been comparative
strangers, and from first to last there was
no known bond of friendship or sympathy
between them. The actions of Coffee in
diverting suspicion from Dennis. and the
confession in the face OF death by which
he falsely took npon himself the odium of
the double murder. could not be explained
on any theory consistent with accepted
rules of reasoning. .
Bat IL hypnotism is the art that Pro-
fessor Charcot claims il is. and capable of
being practiced in the manner and to the
extent that he asserts his experiments
have demonstrated, then II is easy to con-
ceivs that Dennis. being possessed of
superior magnetism, bypnotized his COM
panion in crime and By that subtle power
influenced and controlled his actions and
declarations. On this hypothesis the
escape OF the gailtier man in the first in
stance, and the strange fslsehood uttered
by the other with his last breath are easily
accounted for. For lack of something
upon which to found some such hypo,he-
sis these circumstances appear mysterious
and inexplicahle. The case is big spoke
in the wheel Of the hypnotic theorists.