The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
HvPNo1lsM AND THE euILLoTINe.
Weird Story OF the Experiments OF French
Physicians.

Translated from the French by NJ. L. Jett of Clay
City.l
One experiment yet failed to the glory
of hypnotism. They had not yet thought
to suggest to man that he was guillotined
and to note scrupulously his impressions
during the execution. They have asked
why the School of Nancy has not yet had
the idea to attempt this experiment
There has appeared precurse1fr in the
celebrated Belgic painter, Wiertz, OF whom
Brussels has preserved the memory in its
Museum Wiertz. The sipister experience
OF the Belgic painter has been recounted
with many variations. Monsieur Larelez
has given one version, and c00dbOrdte'r
OF the journal Russo lie Norosti has just
published another, of which here is the
essential part:
Wiertz was not an adept in the sciences
occult; he was moved by generous sem
timent, not by vain curiosity; the ques-
ton Of the legitimacy OF the penalty OF
death preoccupied him, and he was pain
fully haunted by the desire to penetrate
the mysteries of the supplice of the gull
lotine.
lis It true that the execution lasts but an
instant? What are the thoughts and
the feelings of the condemned when the
fatal couperet falls upon his neck? These
questions occupied the mind OF the
painter.
Wiertz was on terms of intimacy with
the physicians of the prison at Brussels,
Monsieur M and with DR.. D., who &C.
cupied himself with hypnotism thirty
wears ago. The latter had often put the
uaiDtpr n Slapp W HON ne fOunl an excel
lent subject.
With the consent of Monsieur NJ,
Wiertz obtained the favor to conceal him
self and his friend, DR.. D., under the
guillotine, near the place where the head
OF the prisoner would roll into the cor
BELLE
For the better to fill his role Wiertz
had himself put to sleep many times by
the doctor, who had suggested to him TO
identity himself with different persons
and to read their thoughts, to penetrate
into their souls and in their consciences,
in order TO ascertain the sentiments which
agitated them. Wier.z acquitted himself
we'll of this delicate mission. The day OF
the execution, ten minutes before the ar
rival of the condemned, Wiertz, DR.. D
and two witnesses placed themselves
under the guillotine near the corbedie, but
III buEll a pOslllOI llldl lllG DADlN wan NV
aware of their presence.
DIR. D. put the painter to sleep.
Then he suggested TO him 10 identity him
self with the criminal, to follow his
! thoughts and sensations and to express in
! a loud voice the reflections of the con-
! demned a. the moment when the cOoperet
| would touch his neck. Finally he ordered
| him, that when the head had fallen into
| the corbeNe, to attach himself to it, to pen
citrate into the brain, to analyze its
| thoughts.
Wiertz fell asleep Immediately.
| The four friends perceived by the
noise of steps above their heads that the
JOuTrean brought the condemned. The
supplied mounts the scafold; yet an in
slant the guillotine will have accom-
pished its work. Wiertz manifests an
extreme trouble and suppicates that they
| awake him. But it is too late-the knife
| has fallen.
Que senie, ro,tse2 Que roycz rouse'
What do you see? What do you hear p
demanded the physician. Wiertz
writhed in commissions and replied in
| groaning.
~ light. The thunder is fallen Oh,
horror 1t thinks! 1t seesr
"W no thinks? Who sees?"
THE head. 1t suffers horribly. 1t feels,
it thinks"
at does not comprehend that which
has passed. 1t seeks its body. 1t seems
to it that the body will rejOin it. 1t ex-
| poets the stroke supreme. 1t expects
| death Death does not come"
During the time that Wiertz pronounced
these words the witnesses saw the head
! of the condemned, which had fallen in
| the sack to 90 to the bottom of the cor
| belle The hair below, the bleeding neck
| above. The mouth open, the teeth COM
pressed. Looking. as il were, at them.
| The arteries pulsating yet, at the place
where the confedU had passed, and the
shower of blood inundating the visage,
the eyes and the hair.
| WiertZ continued to lament TO himself.
"Ah! What is this hand which strangles
me? An enormous, pitiless hand. Oh!
| the weight which brushes mel Before my
ewes do not see but a great red cloud.
But will deliver myself of this hand,
accursed All, release me, monster But
it is in vain that | Gluten at him with nv
two hands. But what is it that | feel ?
| My blood which runs? / am head cut
| oil"
1t was not until after these long suffer
ings, which appeared to him an eternity,
that the head of the guillotined was con-
scious OF the separation.
Wiertz was signing again. The doctor
recommended his question:: What do
you see? Where are you?" 81 fly in
space" replied the painter. "But am
dead? Is it all ended? If they would
connect me again to my body? Oh!
men, have pity on me! Give me
nv bodyl will live yet
1 think yet, 1 feel yet, recall all yet.
Here are my judges in their long red
robes. l hear my condemnation. Ny
unhappy wife. No. you do not love me
more. You have abandoned me. If you
will bring me me my body l shall be again
with you. No, you refuse. All TIN same
| love you my poor cherished ones. Let
/ me embrace you yet one time. Oh I'm
happy ones l have covered thy hands of
my blood! Oh! When shall that be
ended? Is not the criminal condemned 10
an eternal sufering?"'
As Wiertz pronounced these words, the
assistants thought that the eyes OF the
guillotined one opened themselves quite
wide with look borrowed of the time OF
an indescribable suffering and an ardent
prayer.
The painter continued his lamentations
as follows:
"God is mercIful. All that which be-
longs to this earth fades before my eyes.
see in the far distance a star shining
like diamond. Oh AS 1 feel the calm
to penetrate in all my being. What a
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