The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-15

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lpublic. do not remember mentioning
I 1t, but this occurred in India in 1878,
& and have no doubt that some of the
old officers of the old corps of my time
will remember the case.
|: Private Nolan was an actor. How he
got the strain in him don't know; but
there was no doubt about 1t. The
quiet, retiring man III public or on
duty became q rollicking farmer, or a
;1oviai step dancer, once you got him On
the boards. And as was stage man.
ager ought to know. Naturally he
jealous of his renown.
1t was among those that settled n
my own mind ~ prosecute my re-
searches and inquiries first.
A long, loose limbed Scotchman
named Macdougall was my primary
essay. knew him to be, as are most
OF his race, an intensely jealous indi-
viduaL But he did not seem to me to
'ft" the position of murderer for such
mere tribe as occasional professional
jealousy.
Then, again, there was an .,sishman.
He might have loose principles on the
tenure Of life and the advisability Of
permitting q rival to live TO eclipse
his own talents; but l didn't think even
he would go so far as cold-blooded muir.
der.
1 short, the moreI dived into the bust
ness, the more puzzled became; and,
think, so would anyone else.
Most folks who love their Shakes
pearc land am one) remember that
scene, so effectively rendered by Irving,
of Hamlet and the players.
determined, finally, to test the diff
ferent men whom I suspected by a
similar trick. l. chose the play of
1.-The Bells" and I cast the man on
whom my suspicious had conferred FOR
the principal role-that of the Jew,
Matthias. insisted on his coming to
my quarters to receive certain hints
and certain stage promptings. He
was quick enough at picking these up,
but try as might-in quiet away
I could discover no trace of guilt In
him.
Time drew on. and was still as much
at fault as ever. There is particular.
ly thrilling part In 1.-THE Bells" when
the Jew, Matthias, Is mesmerized, and,
while in q state of hypnotic uncon.
seriousness, relates the story of his crime
in every detail, thrilling the court with
the intensity and evident veracity OF
his statements. ] had cast myself foi
the role of the hypnotizer.
Never once did my Subject" and my.
self go through an entire rehearsal OF
our respective parts, and on the night
OF the actual representation, when
there was full-dress rehearsal, was,
unfortunately (but very OPPORTUNITY
for the success of my plot), taken i'll
suddenly and obliged to ask that my
part should be read.
The next night l was quite well
again, and the play proceeded smoothly
enough until the court scene was
reached
had keenly observed Macdougall
all along and imagined that the ex.
element and the surroundings gener.
ally appeared to have reused him, VET
not so much as to be noticed, except by
a close watcher.
His excitement seemed to Increase as
"the" scene drew nigh. l had spent 6
good deal of time and trouble over il
with him and thought he had grasped
it's perception. He certainly did JUS.
tice to my anticipations.
80 AiS @oio hio ShdStly oCOTy uuOot
the hypnotic influence he really worked
himself up uncommonly well; and as he
related the actual details of the muir.
der he seemed to put himself actually
in the murdercr's place.
He approached the end of his thrill.
ing confession. His eyes were fixed
firmly on my own and was returning
the steady stare as intently
noticed slight faltering in his
speech; and as the last word dropped
from his lips, bent forward, still hold
ing his gaze, and whispered sternly,
but in accents too low to be audible to
the audience
"Murderer!"
With q piercing shrek he threw up
his arms and fell to the floor as if
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