The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-05
HYPNOTISM IN COURT
COURSE OF DEFENSE IN
THE CASE OF MEYER.
Many Complex Questions to Be De-
cided. All of Which Are Dificuit 10
HandIe-Constanf Hypnosis.
New york Mail and Express.

what may be done by the person having
hypnotic power, it remains TO be SHOWN
whether the actions of Mrs. Meyer, as de-
scribed by Muller. were at all consistent
with what has been told.
Undoubtedly if Meyer did hypnotize her
it was not lone at intervals. Inat Is ne
did not place her under the spell at dlIeS-
ent periods to perform certain specific acts.
Had this been the case Muller would GER
tainly have noticed 1t. He would nave been
cognizant of her queer actions ana changed
demeanor. Excluding that theory, then'
there are only two left, namely, sustained
hypnotism, or else that the woman, from
years OF submission to his stronger VIII.
had reached a state of constant hypnosis.
In other words, Meyer, by frequently put
ting her in a cataleptic state, had gained
such a complete mastery over her mind
that she obeyed him unconsciously in her
every movement without any express COM
mand On his part. Both of these, accord
ing to the writer's on the subject, are pos
sibie, although there is some question ABOUT
sustained hypnosis as to Its duration.
Some Some i claim n sna6 1t w may DC Others hers say not.
The other is much easier, and, according 10
the information at hand. is the theory upon
which the defense will go. Those who are
at all acquainted with the subject know the
awful fascination that hypnotic sleep has
for a subject.
1t is as bad as the opium and liquor
habit. and many men and women nave be-
come mental wrecks through its influences.
Not many years ago, when Carpenter ana
city giving exhibitions, they were con-
stantly followed by a crowd OF SUBJECTS,
who had fallen victims to the mystic power
Carpenter, especially, had a hall at the cor
ner Of Tenth and Chestnut streets, Phila-
delphia, known as Carpenters Hall, where
he gave nightly seances. and night after
Dforf cnn- a nrnuyd N male nPrV0nS S-n-
jects anxious and eager TO be called.
So that the claim in Mrs. Meyers case
than that of her own and constantly SUBJ
~servient TO ii is not an absurd one. In fact,
il seems the only likely one that could be
put forth in her defense as far as hypno-
MULLER'S STORY.
Muller's story would show her TO be one
of the steadily submissive, impassive sub
jects. yet at times hysterical and nervous
The latter is shown in the early period OF
the plot, when Meyer threw up his hands
and declared that they must go on with
it up. According to Muller she threw her
self upon the bed in a fit of tears and rage
and declared that they must go on with
what they had begun. Did Meyer inspire
this fit. and was it his influence that caused
the doomed wretch TO say: "Oh, well, TO
please Mrs. Meyer / will be made sick"
and then. to show that he meant what he
said, grabbed the croton Oil and took a dose
far in excess of the prescribed one?
Then comes the other phase in her char
acter and bearing during those lays OF hor-
ror. Day by day she went steadily along
adm ADM ste; ehe p sn5 fSrnw; noses awa 40 the ~
medicine. No man in possession of one of
his senses can believe the woman capable
of anything half so horrible after seeing
the woman.
Then there is her bearing after the fu-
neral. when she visited the insurance COM
-a-.~~ x;%I ATax n-nrnn r-hn hnd
shown such nerve as was necessary to car
ry her through the fearful ordeal of those
weeks would not be likely to quail when
the thing was successfully accomplished,
and the collection of the money a mere
form. In fact, one company paid her
promptly and cheerfully and Without ques-
ton. Apparently it was all pain sailing.
Collect the rest of the money and away
we go, rich and prepared for another sue
cessful coup.
But such was not the case. Instead, we
find her at the office OF the Mutual Life
Insurance Company, Where. at the first
question, she becomes frightened and nerv-
Gus. She is so overcome and hesitating
that DR.. Meyer has to prompt her in some
foreign tongue. and with the aid of this
prompting she answers her questioners
boldly and without fear. All of which car
ries out the last proposition.
Now. take her bearing since her arrest.
Her seeming indifference to Meyeii, or
rather her contempt, disgust and apparent
~ i'll concealed hatred Of him. Also the
many rumors that she was about TO make
al lnll COLlcSSlOn diu DcCOIuc d WHITES
against him.
Removed from his influence, is it not
natural that she should resume her normal
state, and, the knowledge of what had been
her past becoming so horrible and repug-
nant. causes her to turn with loathing and
comes the e part played by o'suiiivan. he or
at least the part he has frequently been
credited with playing. 1t is well known
that there are few sciences OF which the
Doctor has not a very considerable knoigl-
edge, and hypnotism is not one of them.
/ There are those who can testify to this,
and there are those who say his power has
been felt by Mrs. Meyer, and did much 10
soothe and quiet her during the trying days
of the trial.
O'SULLIvAN KNOWS HER.
O'Sullivan laughs at all sucn sugges
tons, and he may be right, but neverthe.
less it is an uncontroverted fact that he
has a control over the woman possessed
by nobody else. To him she will talk fol-
hours, to others she is a mummy In hin
she confides absolutely. In nobody else
He knows her history almost from child.
hood, and with her discusses metaphysics
and such like. He criticises her poetry and
she writes for him in Arabic. Strange
sort of modern Lucretia Borgia. is she not
Inc story now comes to what will oil
rather can be done at the trial with al
these multitudinous contradictions. In the
first place. as has been previously stated
Messrs. Brooke and O'Sullivan deny tina
bTdHut - uedu or tnat any murder wa.
committed. This presents a serious diff
Guilty and a great obstacle in the way o
the hypnotic defense. Apparently Ii Nigh
not be SO difficult If the murder was admir-
ted, for then their defense OF hypnotisu
would be clearly outlined. Yes. thi,
woman did this. but she was compelled h,
this occult force by a viii stronger tina.
her own and by a force she could not com
bat" 1t would be much such a defense a
insanity. How they will dispose of thi
As TO a court room test am demonstra
ton would be subjected to the seyeres
criticism. Of course. and there would be "a
possibility of deceiving, as in ex-parf
theatrical exhibitions. such a trial woul,
attract scientists from an,
fco.hardy indeed would the man be VII
would dare attempt any trickery. In DR.
O'Sullivan's case he would be pretty sur
OF the ground upon which he stood. Nh
immense value OF such a proceeding in
case of this kind can scarcely be ar
preciated. 1t would open up such a field q
discussion that one is amazed at tn
thought Of II
Its practical value would be enorrno,,.
and undoubtedly many OF the mysteries :
our present life would be explained ,rh
relations people bear one to another tn
unexplained attraction which draws n
gether two people whose every thought An
taste is apparently in contradistinctio
would undoubtedly be exploited. One thin
il would do for those who are Ignorant =
this wonderful science would be TO rfv
them an insight into the source of othe
peoples influence over them.
IL would give them an idea of how the