The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-25
WAS IT HYPNOTISM?
"a Sensational Trial About to Be-
gin in Wisconsin.
Mabel Briggs accuses an Eau Claire Ply,
sioiAn ant His Son Of Accomplishing
Her Ruin by Means Of Oc-
cult IRflHoaces.


stantial towns in northwest Wisconi
sin. Most of its 20, 900 inhabitants are
concerned in one way or another in the
great numbering interests, the foun-
dries, factories or mills which make it
e hummirg business place. The men
are of the hard-headed, practical, COM
mon-sense sort, who make such enter
prises successful They have little
time to give to the consideration of the
mysteries Of occultism and less inclina-
tion to believe in such things. But for
weeks Eau Claire has been stirred by
criminal charge preferred against two
of its citizens by a young woman, who
bases her accusation on the allegation
that these men accomplished her ruin
lsolely by means of the hypnotic in
Auence over her which they possessed
Rnd.exercised.
Edna Mabel Briggs Is the daughter
of Joseph Briggs, an Englishman, who
has Lived ia Eau Claire for years. he
Is an engineer at the city water works,
frugal and thrifty, and has accumu-
lated a comfortable property. His
daughter is not yet II years Of age.
She is a bright, pretty girl, with black
hair and eyes and the glow of healthy
blood in her cheeks. Her manner is
vivacious and attractive. She has at
tended the public schools of Eau
Claire, and was to have entered the
high school in September. This is the
story which, according to New York
Sun correspondent, she told to Dis
.trict Attorney Frawley, which led to
the arrest of Dr.. ]. W. PiclSin and his
son Asigal.
One afternoon last June while Miss
Briggs was out for a ride on her BIZ
cycle she passed the "Vitapathic in
,stitute," as DR.. Pickin called his Office.
DR.. Pickin was sitting in front Of the
Vitapathic institute and green par
rot was swinging on perch in cage
by the door.
. ''Hello!'' shouted the parrot, as she
passed. She turned to reply, and her
eyes met those of the doctor. Neither
spoke, and shs rode on 1t had been
her intention TO ride on down the
street, but at the first side street she
felt an irresistible impulse 70 turn off.
Following this impulse, she was soon
in front of the Vitapathic institute
again. She called to the parrot, and
the bird answered her. DR.. Piclkin
looked on, but did not speak, nor did
she speak to him. She rode by the
place several times, all the while want
ing to go somewhere else, but unable
10 do 50.
That night she could not sleep, ana
1t was almost impossible for her to re-
man In bed. She felt all the time q
strange inclination to get up and go
TO Dr.. Pickin's house. Immediately
after eating her breakfast in the morn
ing she did go. She chatted with the
doctor for few minutes and then
went home. After that she went fire.
quently TO his house. She met Asigal
Pickin there, and he, in turn. began to
visit her at her own home under the
pretekt of taking music lessons. Miss
Briggs plays several stringed instru- |
ments and young Pickin is something |
u a singer. He went to Miss Briggs to |
Learn some accomplishments
Alma Leonard, q tall and slender girl /
IF fifteen, whose father is a wealthy |
of Eau Claire, is Miss |
Briggs most intimate girl friend. She
was frequently at Mabels house dur
Ing the time that yong Pickin was
visiting there. There these young peo-
pie practiced hypnotism. They de-
veloped considerable skill at it, and
could place one another under hypnotic
influence, even bringing on a cataleptie
condition. Pickin was the one who be-
gan this amusement, and he taught
both the girls.
One day In July when the two girls
were ont for q walk they met Dr..