Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-07-26
A HYPNOTIC CRIME.

A HYPNOTIC CRIME.
IL happened III this way. We, Of the
capital Comedy company, having one
summer months vacation, decided to
NIL 1t In with stock season." worked
on the joint-stock system, at Bleaching.
ton. We extended the commonwealth
principle from the stage to the home.
aud took furnished house, wherein we
resided with more comfort and at less
expense than is possible in seaside
lodgings. We fellows had a smoking
D.l!iard-roCm for our amusement. the
girls had boudoir for their gossip. and
tne married ladies kindly looked after
the consumable properties and the pro-
prletles. And very good company we
voted ourselves.
MY sister We're and her husband Ed
mond Hatherleigh were in The crowd"
and their special favor;te was a young
spanish girl who had taken to the
Doards-the Senolita Alcida Velasquez.
She was my special favorite, too; but
must not anticipate.
Being seriously in love with the fair
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 little too much. He was most
polite and attentive to his wife, but
every now and again I caught him
looking at Alcida with more admira-
ton In his impressive eyes than was
GOOD Tor him, or for the object of it,
either.
One evening, after the performance
a: the theater, the ladies having re-
tired for the night, we gentlemen ad-
journed to the smoking room for weeds
and whisky. There the desultory talk
somewhat veered round to hypnotism
and such phenomena, wherein most of
us, being ignorant Of the subject, expi-
ated with force and volubility.
Hatherleigh, however, who had been
q medico before he became hummer,
spoke about it as one having authority;
ard we were all astonished-thoughI
was by no means convincc:l-by the ar
guments he advanced and the evidence
be adduced in support of the theory of
hypnotic suggestion, especially in it's
relation to crime.
But do you mean to say" said I, in
credulously, that if you suggest a
crime to q hypnotized subject he will
commit it,"
Certainly" Hatherleigh replied.
when in practice hypnotized several
patients, and by suggestion relieved
many of them of diseases which had
hitherto been considered incurable."
$50 you have frequently said," re-
turned; "but for my part I doubt If
there is any such thing as hypnotism
at oil. You may possibly obtain in
fluence over weak-midned persons, and,
by working on their credulous imagina-
t.cDs, effect cures Of nervous disorders;
but-well, should like to see the man
who could hypuotize me-"
would you:" Hatherleigh inquired,
with smile tiiat was half sheer.
what do you say to allowing me to
make the experiments"
"Oh, I'm game, if you're willingw I
retorted, rather warmly.
Every WE'LL" said my relative, coolly.
when shall we begin?
"Now," answered boldly.
Thanks" said Hat!lerleigh, with an
other sarcastic smile. Now, gentle
men," turning to the others, may I ask
you to leave us alone for few min
utes?"
VI 0Ao"SA luC 4C11OWS WILL
ly out of the room, adjuring me to bear
up, and promising me really hand
some funeral should the experiment
prove fatal. AS for me, now felt
pretty much as a man feels when he's
going to have tooth out.
"Now, Sir Doubtful said nv broth
er-in-law, "just throw away your CT
gar and look me full in the face"
did so. Looking up into the mans
face, began to realize that it was q
serious matter for him, and that it
might be serious for me, also. For q
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 said, carelessly:-
go on with your hypnotizing."
II have already commenced" he re-
piled, fixing his eyes on nine
I 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
time fearlessly returned his gaze, but
suddenly all my surroundings seemed
to fade away, and saw nothing but
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 linn
it's of space and then awoke to find
Hatherleigh regarding me with an anx-
ious, but satisfied look. The other fell
lows had returned, and they began ask
ing me all sorts Of questions.
But / had nothing to tell. 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.
"Well," I asked Hatherleigh, chow
have you succeeded?'
MRauond nv most Sanguine eXnecta-