The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-07-28
A HYPNOTIC CRIME.

A HYPNOTIC CRIME.
It happened in this way. We, Of the
CAPITAL Comedy company, having n
summer a months vacation, decided to
fill it in with a stock season." worked
on the joint-stock system, at Bleaching
ton. We extended the commonwealth
principle from the stage to the home,
aud took a furnished house, wherein We
resided with more comfort and at less
expense than is possible In seaside
lodgings. We fellows had a smoking
b".lliord-roLm for u amusement, the
girls had a boudoir for their gossip, and
the married ladies kindly looked after
the cOnsumable properties and the pro-
prieties. And very good company we
voted ourselves.
My sister We're and her husband Ed
mond Hatherleigh were in the crowd"
and their special favoritc was 4 young
bOards-the Senorita Alcida VelasQuez.
She was my special favorite, too; but l
must not anticipate.
ASAAe "OoA IA AVN WALL AAS 81
Spaniard (who was dark, by-the-by),
my jealous eyes noted all things affect
ing her in any way, and it seemed to
me that my brother-in-laW admired her
just a little too much. He was most
polite and attentive to his wife, but
every now and again I caught him
looking ut Alcida with more admira-
ton in his impressive eyes than was
good for him, or for the object of 1t,
either.
One evening, after the performance
at the theater, the ladies having re-
tired for the night, we gentlemen ad-
jOurned to the smoking room for weeds
and whisky. There the deslltory talk
somewhat veered round TO hypnOtism
and such phenomena, Whereon most of
us, being ignorant Of the subject, eXpi-
ated with force and ~vOlubillty.
Hatherleigh, however, who had been
a medicO before he became a hummer,
spoke about 1t as one having authority;
ard we were all astonished-though 1
was by nc means convince;l-by the ar
gulnents he advanced and the evidence
be adduced in support of the theory Of
hypnotic suggestion, especially in its
relation to crime.
But do you mean to say" said l, in
credulously, that II you suggest a
crime to a hypnotized subject he will
commit it?'
Certainly" Hatherleigh replied.
"When in practice l hypnotized several
patients, and by suggestion relieved
many Of them Of diseases which had
hitherto been considered incurable."
$50 you have frequently said," I re-
turned; but for my part I doubt If
there is any such thing as hypnotism
at all. You may possibly obtain in
fluencc over weak-midned persons, and,
by working on their credulous magma.
t::CDs, effect cures of nervous disorders;
but-well, I should like to see the man
who could hypuotize me-"
would you" Hatherleigh inquired,
with q smile :ilat was half q sneer.
"What do you say to allowing me to
make the experiment"
"Oh, I'm game, If you're willing!' 1
retorted, rather warmly.
Every we'll" said my relative, coolly.
when shall we begin"'
"Now," 1 answered boldly.
Thanks" said .Hatherleigh, with an
other sarcastic smile. Now, gentle
men," turning to the others, may I ask
you to leave us alone for a few min.
utes"
For answer the fellows went solemn.
ly out Of the room, adjuring me to bear
up, and promising me a really hand
some funeral should the experiment
prove fatal. AS for ME, I now felt
pretty much as a man feels when he's
going to have a tooth out.
"Now, Sir Doubtful" said my broth
e%r-inlaw, lust throw away your CT
gar and look NE full in the face"
I did so. Looking up into the mans
face, I began to realize that it was q
serious matter for him, and that it
might be serious for me, also. For a
moment I felt inclined to withdraw,
for Hatherleigh looked as though he
really did possess the power he claimed,
but Obstinacy and pride overcame fear,
and I said, carelessly:-
"Go on with your hypnotizing."
Il have already commenced" he re-
piled, fixing his eyes on mine.
l had expected him to make passes
with his hands and perform all that
sort of mummery, but he sat quite still,
looking me quietly in the face. For a
time I fearlessly returned his gaze, but
suddenly all my surroundings seemed
to fade away, and I saw nothing but q
pair Of fiery eyes, which seemed to
burn into my soul. I tried to shut my
own eyes to the sight, but in vain.
| Those terrible eyes grew larger and
larger, until they seemed to fill the lim-
it's of space and then I awoke to find
Hatherleigh regarding me with IN anx
ious, but satisfied look. The other fel-
lows had returned, and they began ask
| ing me all sorts of questions.
But 1 had nothing to tell. I had no
unpleasant feeling-I seemed to have
been doing, that was all. The clock,
too, showed that the experiment had
lasted but a few minutes.
"We]l," I asked Hatherleigh, "hOW
have you ~succeeded?"
Beyond my most sanguine expecta-
tions," he replied, with deep meaning
in his tone. 'How do you feel?"
"Oh, pretty WE'LL" 1 answered. II
don't want to hurt your feelings, Ed
mond, but I don't feel h%ypnotized a
bit!"
mo? Well, we shall see," he said,
quietly, struggling his shoulders and
swallowing a glass of neat brandy. He
looked fatigued, and staggered as he
crossed the room.
aren't you well?" I asked.
"Quite well, thanks" he replied; but
these experiments weaken me for a
time-it Is nothing. Goodnight"
So saying, he sank into q chair, and
we left him to finish his cigar by the
| ireside while we wended our ways to
| bed, all wondering how he would con
| vince me that I as h~ypnotized.