Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-07
no wEAKEN rnn CASE.
Attempt to Hypnotizc witues=cs-Dr.
picLin,

Eau Claire, Wis, Dec. 6.--People on
the outside who are trying to under
stand the Briggs-Pickln case are more
mystifed than ever. 1t is claimed by
the prosecution that men hypnotized
by DR.. PiclSln are operating Ia various
directions and endeavoring to gain con-
troll of persons adverse to Plckin and
mus break down the prosecution. Dur
ing the investigation some time ago
and while Mabel Briggs was under the
care of DR. Parker, the girl is said to
have been for some time under hyp-
notlc suggestions from PiclSln. through
MS son, to hypnutize Dr. Parker. the
chief OF police and the district attor-
ney. The girl told Dr. Parker that II
she caught MIN on his guard she could
snap him under before he knew IT. She
has now been relieved OF these sugges-
tions and II Is claimed Dr. Picltin is
now trying to work through others.
young man named Thompson call
ed on Mr. Briggs father OF Mabel
Briggs, at the city waterworks station.
who're Briggs Ia engineer, yesterday.
and attempted to influence Briggs in
favor Of Piokln What means We're
used by Thompson is not known, but
1t is stated by men in position to form
an opinion that the influence sought to
be exercised over Briggs was in the ma
turc Of hypnousm. An alteration oc-
CURED and Briggs seized Thompson by
the throat and choked him II is said
when he was released from Briggs
hold Thompson was not "a free agent
in the course he had taken.
An attempt to interview Dr. Pickln
elclted nothing but the answer: II
nave no communication to make at
present. He remains most of the time
at his house. whore his Office is. and
ABOUT his only companion Is his wife,
a Iady whom lie married quite recently
Asigal Pickin, his son. who is still in
JAIL likewise positively refuses to talk.
ihe statement OF DIR. Parker which
II IL supposed will come out on the trial.
Is Kept secret 1t includes the girls
story which the district attorney de-
ciafes VIII reveal a most atrocious and
dlabolica state OF affairs. DR.. Parker
and Mr.. Frawley are regarded as emil
hently elear-headed and well-balanced
ana oil large experience in their respec-
i've professions, and they went to
, Mork on the case as nonbelievers IN
hypnousm. These two men are strong
mentally, as well as Mr.. Briggs, who
Is sober, everyday engineer and me-
Suahlc believe, as they believe In their
Swh existence, that Or. Pickin. the
hitheNo obscure practitioner. whose
Hl'apathic institute. as far as its size
Is concerned. would hardly attract at
tention In village of 500 Inhabitants,
mas Tor years exercised an occult mower
which enables him under certain COR
ullons~o CONTROL the imagfnatl lion. the
impulses and even the will OF others.
ana that he has used 1t as a means of
terrible evil. The trend OF public opin-
ION doubtful. A few scoff at the
occult side OF the story and recall the
salem wltehcraft as parallel. but
most OF the people believe the whole
story, and state of agitation exists
winch Is going TO ind an outlet some
where pretty soon.
Or fickin was arrested second
uine tonight and is now in the county
jan with his son. The arrest was
MADE by the chief and a sergeant OF
police who met the doctor half block
rom MS home. The doctor said: 81
suppose they have got up another lie
now and said nothing more except 10
Shd ms partner, DIR. Stanton. 10 see II
Dan could be procured. The warrant
on on Mhieh this arrest was made charges
her to Chippewa Fans. -'- ''s