The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-26
HYPNOTISM AND CRIME.
BY REV. GEO. A. sAHLIN.

Since scientists first took up the
study of hypnotism and the hypno-
tic influence, so called, this peculiar
power or condition has never SO gen
orally exercised the public mind as at
present. With self confessed mur-
derer discharged from custody and his
alleged hypnotizer sentenced to hang
in the South and the now celebrated
Wisconsin case, it is little wonder
that the public is interested or that
there should be suspicion of Grim
inals giving this as an excuse where
no such cause or influence exists.
There is a strong desire for more
light, and deeper insight into the
mysterious things which seem to sur
round us. The problem of the infu-
ence of mind over mind is an inter
sBtins and puzzling one and may
always remain so. Under the name
of hypnotic suggestion science stud
les it today and now it has been
brought into the courts as an excuse
for causing crime; the whole public
is aroused, daily papers are eagerly
read for accounts of the unusual cases
and no person who thinks at all, but
is deeply concerned about the out
come of this phase of the discussion.
In the seventeenth century they
burned witches in Salem and Cotton
Mather even went to the extent of
writing book to prove that witches
really existed and could influence
persons and things in manner con-
trary to good. Nineteen persons were
burned before the stern protest of
thinking persons was heard and the
inhuman, ignorant practice was put
aside. To day we seem to have the
same problem in new phase.
Much of the crime and misery of
today are the result of unscrupulous
ignorance. People may be easily
persuaded to commit crimes and may
plead hypnotism in extenuation, but
hypnotism cannot influence anyone
to do contrary to his natural impulse.
The young woman over in Wisconsin
gave hypnotism as an excuse for de-
parture from the path of virtue and
the hired hand down South, having
deliberately shot a neighbor, pleaded
his employers powerful influence,
which he could not resist, as the sole
excuse for his cowardly act, and was
discharged by twelve men supposed
to have sense and some small knowl-
edge of justice. There is one case
cited where man hypnotized him
self auto-hypnotism = and offered
this as an excuse for his wrong doing,
In short, he suggested wrong to his
inner self; then hypnotized himself
and afterward excused himself on the
ground that he "could not help it,"
The excuse is not new one. Adam
gave it for the first offense of record
saying "the woman whom thou gavest
to be with me gave of the fruit and l /
did eat" The wiles of Eve were too |
strong for Adam. He was hypnotized.
A moral responsibility underlies all |
this talk about hypnotic influence and |
suggestion. A person may not be
if he wills against it and |
no one in control of a person under
hypnotic influence can control him to
do wrong contrary to his natural inn
pulse. There is a great deal of bun
comb about this hypnotism.
1t seems strange that any twelve
men could be found in all thecountry
so ignorant as to convict an alleged
on the simple evidence of a
self confessed criminal, yet such
seems to have actually happened.
The man who commits a crime is