The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-09
SHE WAS HYPNOTIZED
Claim Ofthe Elkhart HeiresS Who
ElOped with an Adventurer.
Gov. Matthews Issues a RequisitiOn for
Return of III. Ackley Sackett
from Topeka, Kan.

AT Z o'clock last night Governor Matthews
issued a requisition on the Governor of the
State of Kansas. The document was placed
in the hands of Sheriff Crull. OF Elkhart
county, and will. if honored. entitle him TO
the possession of II. Ackley Sackett, adj
venturer and alleged hypnotist, who is I'M
der arrest at Topeka The papers were
made out at the Office OF the Secretary OF
State last night. The officer showed them
into his Satchel and snapped the lock.
81 am off on q race against time and those
Chicago detectives" he sang out, as he left
the Statehouse and fastened toward the
Union Station. The prisoner whom he ex-
poets TO take back to Elkhart In a few
days is one Of the shredwest adventures
In the country, and is wanted at Elkhart
for a particularly bright demonstration OF
his talent. r-a+
The specific charge against Sackett Is
fornication. although it is thought that he
can be held responsible for other acts of a
criminal nature. For two weeks the daily
papers have been full of accounts of the
sensational elopement of Sackett with Flor
ence Davenport, the Elkhart heiress, who,
it is now claimed. was under a hypnotic in
fuence during her travels with the man.
Sac.1ett left Elkhart during the early part
of last week and was Joined at LaPorte by
Miss Davenport two days later. They We're
located at Topeka, Kan, the first of this
week, where Sackett was arrested on the
charge of adultery. The operations OF the
prisoner for two months previous to his
arrest were exceedingly rapid. He turned
up in Elkhart about two months ago in
| company with a young woman whom he in
49, - L. IL -ol..t mas IN o,ffrt
| He secured quarters in one of the leading
business houses of Elkhart, and created
something of a stir by making fine sill
houette pictures, which he fashioned with
perfect ease. He wore fashionable attire,
was good looking, and had a bold, faScinat-
ing manner that made him the talk of the
among those who grew Interested in
Sackett's dashing ways and his novel art
was Miss Frances Davenport, an orphan
three years. old, a plump, pretty little
blonde, and has in her own right a fortune
of $4,000. She was prominent in society
in the town. Her parents are both dead,
and the little lady ruled the household of
the pet and pride OF the home. Although
Miss Davenport spent o great deal OF her
displayed his art, her name was not
coupled with that of the artist by the gos-
sips, and her conduct was not called in
wife left Elkhart they went TO South Bend,
where they remained a few days. In the
Davenport home the name of Sackett was
not heard, and apparently he had passed
out of the mind of the youngest daughter.
ELOPED WITH SACKETT.
Last Thursday the young lady disap-
peared mysteriously, and Elkhart society
circles were stirred by a mighty sensation.
For twenty-four hours it was not known
where the girl had gone. Her uncle, who
is president Of the First National Bank Of
Elkhart, began at once TO seek for infor-
nation regarding her, and was not long in
learning that she had gone astray. Re-
ports from LaPorte, one of the neighboring
towns, revealed information of the missing
heiress. She had been seen there with
Sackett, who appeared a day or two before
her arrival. He had been heard to remark
dollar heiress." and this fact. c5upIed With
the absence Of Miss Davenport, convinced
the relatives of the Maynard girl that the
couple had fed together. The family were
in despair, and determined to pursue the
couple. Until the first of this week moth
Ing was heard or them.
On Monday a message came to the presi-
dent OF the Elkhart Bank. 1t was from
the cashier Of a Topeka, Kan. bank, and
asked as to the credit OF Frances Daven-
port. The Elkhart banker at once recog-
nized the significance of the message, and
wired the Topeka bank officials the story
of his niece'S fight Instructions were also
sent to arrest Hackett, and the following
day the sister and an aunt of the erring
4 XII nuETlCu Ou 10 lpDGhd- 1UGIe IDcN
were put into possession Of a strange
story.
SAID SHE WAS H~YPNOTIZED.
The young woman asserted that what she
had done was through no fault of her own.
She was powerless to help herself. She
charged that Sackett was the possessor of
a strange influence. which she described as
hypnotism, and which she said he had ex-
erted over her. She claimed that from the
moment she met Sackett he controlled all
of her actions. The aunt and sister re-
manned IN Topeka but u short time, and
then went back to Elkhart, arriving there
yesterday. They learned that when Sack
EFT and the girl reached Topeka they were
short of funds, and Miss Davenport sug-
gested that they 60 to one of the banks
and secure a draft. on the Elkhart bank.
The plan was adopted, and the cashier,
without a knowledge of the true facts.
wired the Elkhart bank simply as a matter
of precaution. 1t is understood that Sack
EFT left his alleged wife at South Bend
without money and with naught to console
her but a pet dog. The family OF Miss
Davenport have decided TO prosecute Sack
EFT on the fornication charge, the maxi
mum term of imprisonment for which in
this State is six months and a fine of $500.
The necessary steps for the prosecution
were made i'm the Circuit Court at Elkhart
yesterday. Sackett is also wanted in Chi
cago. 1t is alleged that he was formerly
employed by "A bicycle firm in that city
and embezzled an extensive sum OF money.
He has a wife and two children living in
Washington. d. G. He left his family alb
ney of Elkhart county is preparing to in
troduce the charge CT an undue influence
through the medium OF hypnotism. and it
is the belief of the family that Miss Da-
venport's statement in this particular is
true. Sackett is thirty-two years old, and
has travelled ali over the country making
silhOuettes and giving sleight-of-hand per
formances.