Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-16
HYPN0TISM-- CRIME.
MURDERER MICHEL eVRAUD FACED A
PARIS JURY.
snle. BompNrd WIN hliego in Her Defense
that Evraud Uypnotizcd Her 20 AZ
sist in the Killing of Gouffe.

itsclt does not hold forth any extraord-
mary inducements TO the people OF this
country to become particularly interested
in IL progress, hut from the fact that
Gabrielle Bompard il 10 offer the plea
hat she was hypnotized when she help
FL 70 stranglc Goulfe a new element Of
wonder and surprise IL added to murder
trials. and the possibilities Of escape from
punishment becomes still more extended.
As far back as 1851 William II. Sew
rrd introduced his famous plea Of "emo-
iional insanity " in behalf of his client,
Johnson. the cOlOred murderer, and es-
rbI.hed n new and recognized cause of
sudden crime by the reasoning and evil
d.nce adduccd on the occasion in his
clients behalf. About that time also
James y. Brady, the famous criminal
lVyer, offered a plea in behalf Of the
lorFcr Huntington the argument that the
man was morally unaccountable for his
actions The gist Of the evidence adj
dncfd ct the trial was in support Of
gralv's theory that Huntington was
morally insane. and when several OF the
Gllast doctors of tho time testified that
ile Plea was within reason the dawn OF a
nov era ia criminal defenccs was ostab-
lshcd.
FIRST CASE or HYPsOT1C Defence.
n remained. however. for the Eyraud
.,so 90 bring forth the extraordinary
rea0f hypnotic subservicnce as areason
'ar the commission OF crime. With all
ttc possibilities Of the weird art Of hyp-
glt,m i,s use as % factor IN the commits
flu ~ crime was never even suspected
raNl the remarkable disclosures in the
vraul cIse attracted tho stten
tom Of the scientific world to its
.rc1t power for evil rs well as bene-
rrql purposes. In the tests 10 which
Gabrielle lombard has unlimited before
ira officials Of the Paris police and de-
.ctivo bureaus and experts in the art Of
lyungH-m the inct hos been fully estab-
E-led That che in q woman easily placed
under the control Of n stronger will, and,
t4 Tvrud himself succeeded in bypno-
til.ry tine detective who had him under
Us c1rc M Nagsn Falls, IL is not sur
urising that be should Dee able 10 hypno-
IL, the woak-mIudcd woman who helped
him 10 strauglc Goufc and rob him OF
As e'. 500 or $50.
The line Of defence which Gabrielle
will therefore offer VIII be- 90 the effect
that she was aD unconscious assistant to
Tymud when She helped him TO com
mt the crime. and that not being re-
fronsihle for her actions she should be
acquitted. At the present moment the
parisnu authorities are fully convinced
Chat tine woman was completely under
fine hypnotic control of Eyraud and
they believe that she will be acquitted.
ApASGrEoUs THEORY.
The latest possibility in tho line OF
defence on charge of murder throws
Dptn the door Of escape to maleiactOrs
ulo may wish to avail themselves Of its
opportunities. II will he n difficult
mgt,cr 10 rcfute the idea of hypnotic
nb.ccu1n If ut rs offered, and thus does
new theory become On established
fact. Positively tho way OF the muir
l.r.r will be much more pleasant one
t1 traverse If these new theories continue
90 crow M they have since Mr.. Stewards
famous plea OF emotional insanity and
,'r. Brady's no less remarkable one OF
moral insanity.
During the progress Of the Eyraud
trail Henri Robert, the advocate who is
90 conduct the defence Of Gabrielle
T1mpard will adduce all possible testi-
m0ny in favor Of the plea of hypuotism.
The new science will thus I've forced into
position Of prominence before an OK
peclant world. and some Of the startling
elects caused through the subtle power
which is exerted 10y the application of
Hypnotic force will DO thrown open TO
discussiou and criticism with the ineWta-
he result that this fascinating sub
vet will become q much more sought
inter study than IL il nj present, and Its
uhsequent popular growth cannot nc
c1rhncly be questioned. As the sub
l.ct stands at present il is occupying a
position in the wide field Of science al
most similar in effect 10 the idea created
500 most minds when they try TO fathom
Oh, hidden mysteries OF the hereafter.
Tber. is q vagTeness and doubt which
succeeds the first shock of surprise at
t, wonderful possibilities Of applied
isuotsm as illustrated by many gentle
men who have given time and study
20 the development Of its strange power
lbs peculiar influence and its imitless Fos-
Huiliues complication are equally worthy
oiaimuation. but there pto the present
science las stopped. aghast as 1t we're.
aul the further development OF a power
20 extraordinary in its methods and re-
suits can only be looked forward to with
mental queries as to where its uses ana
extensions may cease.
CHARCor WILL TESTIFY.
Doubtless therea are thousands through
oetthe world who already smile incredu-
a.v ~ the underlying idea of Gabrl-
de Bompards defence. but when 1t Is
llovn that the greatest specialists OF
tIs age Of eminent specialists choose 70
disagree on the very point 10 be argued
up.n. it is not 20 be wondered at that
ibcre are so many doubters in the great
world az mere plodders IN the lay path
o., everyday life. In order 20 establish,
IF possible. the defence of Gabrielle
Tonmrl these famous specialists, Drs.
Charc0t and Noisin. will be called upon
To- testify their belief in the effects OF this
set undeyeloped science, and show by
experiments 90 be made III the court
room that 10 is possible to so place a
person under the influence Of another 8
viii that The one welding the power can
mpel the other 10 commit a heinous
crime by the mere exercise OF desire
o- the simple suggestion OF what IA
wanted 10 be done. As far back as ten
years aco Young man died on mise
rab.e cot ia the alcoholic ward of Belle
vac Hospital, who, before the dread mo-
mont drew near for him to quit this
world. uniolded to the then warden
e,5ry Of how three years previous to that
tme be had murdered girl
m Frankfort-on-the- Main, aud he
protested with dying breath that
be was under the hypnotic
power Of young German student when
De committed the crime. Asked why be
lad not made that point his defence and
stood his trial, he tearfully exclaimed
L.. ~