Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-05-03

lieved to be a murder, and when awakened
and told OF his crime proceeded most in
geniously &c justify himself without ex-
pressing any remorse.
DR.. Montpallier of Paris, in trying
somewhat similar experiment, met with a
different result. His subject was woman
of gentle nature After she had been put
to sleep the doctor told her that there were
some people present who annoyed him.
"Oh, nonsense" was the reply. The doctor
insisted that they did, and pointing out a
Mr.. d. told the patient that she must poison
him. ~ will not" was the firm reply.
"But you must-I will it," said the doctor
Here is the glass with the poison. You
must make him take it."
The patient, after severe struggle with
herself, finally took the glass, and going up
to Mr.. ID. said, You must drink this" al
most forcing it down his throat. When
awakened and told what she had done, she
was overcome by the horror of her imagi-
nary crime, and rushing up to Mr.. D. ex-
claimed, with piteous sincerity: "Oh, sir,
quick, take an antidote. If you die, do for
give me before you die"
Here it Is demonstrated that, though un-
der strong pressure hypnotic subject may
awakening he will proclaim it and in every
way seek to undo the evil done. Liegeasis
of Nancy, touching the subject of criminal
suggestion, says it is not the question
whether hypnotic suggestion renders the
prosecution of crime more difficult, but
whether it really can be employed to COM
init crimes or cause them to be committed.
DR.. Ladame replies to this that the ques-
tion can only be solved in the affirmative
sense. "The proof has been experimentally
made, and If the experiments have not ac-
quired an absolue value it is because they
have not as yet been conducted by honest
men," This is a fair summary of the opin-
ion of those who believe that hypnotism
can be used as an agent of crime.
On the other hand, it would seem that the
majority of experts are of totally differ
ent opinion. Nobody stood higher in the
esteem of his profession than did the late
Professor Charcot. He was very emphatic
in his opinion that criminal suggestion was
nothing but "senseless bogy man, made
use of by perhaps well meaning but woe.
fully ignorant students of hypnotism."
DIR. Tourette SCOTS at the idea that any
one has been able to make criminal
Though he has made many experiments, he
fatty refuses to regard them of any practi
cal value and refers to them simply as
Laboratory crimes" "Let them produce
one authentic case, the proof of real as
sassination committed under suggestion ,
says DR.. Tourette, "and our opinion will be
shaken, although we should not even ther
be convinced"
Donate confesses to having induced sleeI
In some 10000 individuals, but not one oi
them could be Influenced against bis will
De Courmelles most emphatically rejects
the theory of criminal suggestion. He says
the suggestion may be repeated, but 1t IL
absolutely powerless to transform, as ha,
been asserted, a criminal into an honest
man, or vice versa.
The dominant will power Of man cannot
be directed into foreign channels except
with his sanction. The existence of dis
eliminating sense Of right and wrong, ever
in the most general acceptance Of the term
is a sufficient guarantee as to the RESPONSE
bility Of a crime committed. Our will fuc
tuates, so to speak, and we are all of ui
fully conscious of existing flaws in oul
makeup. Still we are cognizant that fol
the preservation Of law and order it is i'm
perative that we check any tendency t.
crime to which our dispositions might
lead. Nobody is irresponsible II it can b,
proved that crime has been committed
through direct or indirect criminal sugges
tion, the originator OF such must suffer Al
an accomplice. This does not in the leas
excuse the executor Of the act