The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-18
WAS SHE HYPNOTIzED.
A Sensational Trial About to Begin at
Eau Claire.
Mabel Briggs, School Girl, Accuses a
Physician and His Son of accomplish
ing her Ruin by Means of Hypnotism.
Her Story Circumstantial and Corrob-
GRATED in Part-The Accused Deny Her
NboroaS
Charges
From the New York Sun.

From the New Ork Sun.
Eau Claire is one of the most substan-
tial towns in Northwest Wisconsin. Most
of it's 10000 inhabitants are concerned
in one way or another in the great lumber
ing interests, the foundries, factories,
or mills which make it a hummng bust
ness place. The men are of the hard
headed, practical common sense sort,
who make such enterprises successful.
They have little time to give to the con-
sideration of the mysteries of occultism
and less inclination to believe in such
things But for weeks Eau Claire has
been stirred by a criminal charge pre-
ferred against two of it's citizens by a
young woman, who bases her accusation
on the allegation that these men accom-
plished her ruin solely by means of the
hypnotic influence over her which they
possessed and exercised.
Edna Mabel Briggs is the daughter of
Joseph Briggs, an Englishman, who had
lived in Eau Claire for years. He is an
engineer at the city water works, frugal
and thrifty, and has accumulated a COM
Portable property. His daughter is not
yet II years of age. She is a bright, pretty
girl with black hair and eyes, and the
glow Of healthy blood in her cheeks. Her
manner is vivacious and attractive. She
has attended the public schools of Eau
Claire, and was to have entered the high
school in September This is he story
which she told to District Attorney Fraw-
lew, which led to the arrest of DR.. J. w.
Pickin and his son Asigal.
one afternoon in June of this year,
while Miss Briggs was out for a ride on
her bicycle, she passed the "Vitapathic
Institute" as DR.. Pickin called his Office.
Dr. Pickin was sitting in front of the Vita
pathic Institute, and green parrot was
swinging on a perch in cage by the door.
Hello" shouted the parrot as she
passed. She turned to reply, and her eyes
met those of the doctor. Neither spoke,
and she rode on. 1t had been her inten-
ton to ride on down the street, but at the
first side street she felt an irresistible i'm
pulse to turn off. Following this impulse
she was soon in front of the Vitapathetic
Institute again. She called to the parrot
and the bird answered her. DR.. Pickin
looked on but did not speak, nor did she
speak to him. She rode by the place sew
eral times, all the while wanting to go
somewhere else, but unable to do SO. 1t
was only by supreme effort of will that
she was able at last TO keep on down the
street She had never spoken to DR..
B1Ckln, altnOuSn ne ndu lANbu III Eau NAdAI z
for years, and she knew well who he was.
That night she could not sleep, and it
was almost impossible for her to remain
in bed. She felt all the time a strange
inclination to get up and go to DR.. Pickin's
house. Immediately after eating her
breakfast in the morning she did 60 She
chatted with the doctor for few minutes
and then went home After that she went
frequently to his house She met Asigal
Pickin there, and he. in turn, began to
visit her at her own home, under the pre-
text of taking music lessons. Miss Briggs
plays several stringed instruments and
Young Pickin is something Of singer. He