The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-12-13
THEY SA Y NOT GUILTY !
DR.. ~@KIN AND SON ARRAIGNED
AT EAU CLAIRE
They Deny the Charge That They
= Grim innlly Assaulted Miss Briggs
IS They Ask for a Continuance, Which
ls Granted. 81. II #

They Ask for a Continuance, Which
ls Granted. ii 5#
Eau Claire, Wis, Dec. 13.-Dr. G.
w. Pickin and his son Abigail We're
arraigned in a packed court room to-
day. DR.. Pickin, wrapped in a fur
coat, entered leaning heavily on the
arm of his partner, DR.. Stanton. Dr.
Pickin's face was pale and he seemed
very weak. He walked slowly to the
seat allotted to him inside the rail and
sat down. Shortly afterward Abigail
Pickin entered the room guarded by
a deputy sheriff. Bbigal was smiling,
but his counteEance and actions
showed great deal Of nervousness
District Attorney Frawley read the
information to the court, charging the
prisoners with the crime of criminal
assault. Upon the question guilty CT
not guilty, both pleaded "Not guilty"
simultaneously. On request OF the
defendants attorneys the case was ad-
journed to 9 o'clock tomorrow Sew
eral Of Piclin's friends shook hands
with him in the court room. Since
Saturday evening Mabel Briggs and
Alma I4eonar! have beer the objects
Of an assidious care or two phys clans
and u mesmerist operator, as well as
OF the parents of the two girls and
f.iends and relatives, who have crowd.
ed the Leonard residence, where the
two girls have been since the time
named. They have eateu Little and
slept little. Mabel was taken to the
Leonard residence at the request OF
A limo ~ t01 -,
night that she was giving way to
something she couldn't hold out
against. She wanted D. Ashum to
bring her out, and if she were not
brought out so that she could help
Mabel, that Mabel might die. Alma
said, CDR. Ashum can bring me out
and can bring Mabel out, and You
must bring her to me- ~.
No COllus1on.
Mabel Briggs, at her home mile
away, was at the same tine telling her
parents in writing substantially the
same things. These two girls had not
been together or communicated since
about the first of September last.
Mabel, who could not speak, wrote
from right to left in reversed letters
that Dr. Pickin had hypnotized her;
that he was controlling her; that no
one but Piclxin was causing her any
trouble; that nobody could help her
but Alma Leonard; that she (MabeD
| was suffering pain and would die ul.
less Alma helped her. Alma at the
same time was telling at her home
what Mabel was doing and writing at
her home. This is proved by unim,
peachable testimony. Mabel at this
time was so weak that Mr.. Leonard,
| who called for her, carried her to the
carriage in his arms. When she ar
rived at the Leonard residence Dr.
| Ashum and DR.. D. w. Day were there,
and the former remained all that
| night. Both the girls remained
dressed and sat or reclined in rocking
| chairs. DR.. Ashum employed on
Alma the mesmeric means of stroking
the forehead and also suggestions by
sharp EXPLANATIONS and commands
He had previously tried to arouse
| Mabel, but declared that Alma's sug-
gestion had best be followed, as Mabel
| was becoming dangerously weak
Alma partially recovered her self-con.
troll early Sunday morning and, de,
, claring that she was freed from the
F.; influence, and laughing, said, ttNow
| Mabel, I'll fix you all right, and VIC
| will be the happiest girls in the
world" She then proceeded to de:
hypnotic Mabel by the same pro.
cesses. It took about an hour for hel
to restore Mabel to such condition
that she was able to articulate. The
/ first words Mabel said were, eff il
: wasn't for you, Alma, I would have
died" She arose from the chair ana
kissed Alma. During the following
twenty -four hours both girls. had re
lapses, though going to bed and fall
ing into beautiful sleep for time
i Sunday night. Last night Mabel slept
! bealthufully, but Alma was in q seri
| GUS condition until o'clock this morn
| ing, when she went to sleep. Both
We're in nearly normal condition to-
/ day.