The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-07
BIC AUTUMN TRADE.
This is the Outlook in the
Business World.
Gains in Trade Reported from
Different Centers.
IRON PRICES RISE
Confidence Replaces Anxiety in
Regard to Crops.

New YORK, Sept. THE third days
session of the Medico-Legal congress
began by the reading by Clark Bell of
a paper by Gustave BOehm on 1.-The
Brutality of Capital Punishment"
The author contended that the death
penalty had no deterrant effect; that
it was a relic of feuda1 barbarism, and
was merely an act of revenge on the
part of the state. The afternoon ses-
sion was opened with the reading of a
paper by Clark Bell on "Hypnotism in
the Courts of Law
Mr.. Bell sent a letter to several
prominent physicians, asking: ''Can
crime be committed by the hypnotic
power, the subject being the uncon-
sciOus and innocent agent and instru-
ment. If the subject is unconscious,
and even unwilling, has the hypnotizer
such power and domination over the
hYpnotized as could control action to
the extent of the commission ola crime?
Is it possible to remove by hypnotic
suggestion from the mind of the sub
ject all memory of acts or occurrences
which happened in the hypnotic state?
Would it be possible for hypnOtiLer
to SO control a hypnotized subject as
to, for example, make him sign will
in the presence of third persons, de-
clare it to be his will, and request
them to sign as attesting witnesses
and afterward be wholly uncon sciOus
of the occurrence? Or a note of hand
or a check?"
Reports in the affirmative were re-
ceived from several eminent profess
ors, while others, conceding that per-
sons in hypnotic state are constantly
amenable to control by suggestion, de-
MED that hypnOtism has any place in
criminal jurisprudence as a defense for
crime. Mr.. Bell pointed out that it
appeared the majority of medical men
in this country did not recognize hyp-
motto trance as an existing fact. The
lawyers and judges were on the same
grounds as the doctors. In the courts
of Europe the contrary was the fact
and men of the highest character and
professional attainments devoted their
best efforts to its study and elucida-
ton. As it was with professional men,
SO it is with the people.
Professor Carl Sextus of Chicago
wrote to say that natural criminal
could be made to do criminal acts
under hypnotic influence, but not a
person of real moral worth. DIR. W. L.
Howard of Baltimore said that hypno-
tiSm was a reality. He gave several
instances of hypnotized persons in
Baltimore, including his own servant,
whom he sent to neighboring physi-
clans laboratory to steal everything
the doctor had. He restored the fellow
while he had the articles still in his
possession. The doctor confessed that
it affected the mans brain somewhat
but he always took care, except on this
occasion, to get the subject back into
a good mental state before he com
Pletely restored him.
The doctor also hypnotized a bank
cashier and made him steal S45 900. He
performed an operation in the Johr
Hopkins university with the patient
under hypnotic influence. Hypnotism
was invaluable as a corrector O.
morals DR.. Grover of Massachusett:
told of a young woman in Boston who
had a tendency to tuberculosis being
cured by hypnotic influence.
The session then adjourned and the
congress ended with a banquet and re
ception.