The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-24
AFRAID OF HTPNOTISH.
San Quentin Prisoners Refuse
to Be Experimental On.
ONE DID NOT BELIEVE IN III.
Stevens and Connolly, Suspected Of Stage
Robbery at Sheep Ranch, in Terror
of Professor Tyndali.

Yesterday morning three men visited the
penitentary at San Quentin.
One was Professor Tyndall, the hypn0tist,
the second Mr.. Z. A. ChapDell, a recent
arrival from the East, and the third a
stenographer.
Professor Tyndall, after introducing him.
self to Warden Hale, stated that be had
come to the prison for the purpose of hyp-
nothing two prisoners from Calaveras, who
were recently sent to the penitentiary, one
for twenty-seYen aud the other for thirty
seven years, for participation in twenty
one burglaries Of which they pleaded
guilty.
Tie Warden politely informed the pro-
fessor that he did not approve OF hypnotic
ing any one and was DESTROYS of knowing
the purpose of the experiments was pro-
posed to make.
Il will tell you," said the professor. "tbe
people of Calaveras County have an idea
that the two men We want to see, Joe Con-
molly and George Stevens, had hand in the
stage.robbery at Sheep Ranch, about the
1st Of last May"
You recollect. Mr.. Warden" continued
the professor, THAT the driver OF the stage
was fred upon from ambush that the driver,
Babe Raggie. was seriously wounded; that
Mike T0yey, the express messenger, was
shot in the arm, and that Miss Rodersino
was killed"
Yes" unused the Warden.
''Well," added the professor, "a shoe
worn by one of the men fitted one OF the
tracks found near where the crime was COM
mitted and upon that is based the belief that
the wearer Of the shoe was concern ed in the
robbery. We have come here al the request
of Sheriff Ben Thorn OF Calaveras TO see if
either OF these men while under hypnotic
int will toll oh hat
which, If they were concerned in that rob-
berry and murder, must be uppermoSt in their
minds"
IF that Is the case" said the Warden,
You may see the men and If they Will per-
nit you TO experiment on them you may do
so. but under no other condition"
The two prisoners were seen and each
was very sullen and dSinclined to talk.
Connolly positively declined to be hypno-
tied, but Stevens, while not Directing, said
that he did not believe in it because on a
previous occasion the professor had failed in
an experiment on a prisoner.
The professor, wishing 10 place himself
en- rapport with the prisoner he desired TO
place under the influence, asked him n
number Of questions, which we're answered,
but when he was asked if he had ever
heard of the Sheep Ranch crime Stevens
became suddenly dumb, and with his fell
low prisoner signed to the guard that they
wanted to end the interview, and no
amount of questioning ELECTED a reply troIn
either, so there was an end TO the proposed
experiment..
''What is your deduction from this mans
conduct" was asked of the professor.
Simply this" he replied. These men
know more about the robbery and murder
than they care to tell. They pleaded guilty
to the charges brought against them in the
hope that when they were sent TO prison
they would be forgotten as far as the muir
der Of the girl was concerned"
Stevens must have become impressed
with the idea that if hypnotzed he would
talk about the Sheep Ranch crime and tell
enough to enable to fix the crime upon him
and those who were engaged in it with him.