The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-08
Hypnotist Flint Thinks the Murderer
ofCatherine Cling Is Morally
Irresponsible.
HE WAS NOT HYPNoTIZED
sBut Was Controlled by the superior
Will of Harry nayWard---Hyp-
notism Explained.


the most noted hypnotist in the west,
If not in the United States, is of the
opinion that Claus A. Blixt was not
himself when he killed Catherine Cling;
that he was acting on suggestion and
at the instance Of Harry Hayward, and
!. was not responsible FOR what he did.
Blixt's attorney and DR. Flint had an
interview with the murderer Sunday,
and as . result of the interview and
some experiments he made he arrived
at the conclusion stated. And the de.
Tense will be on that line, so Mr.. Odell
said, and the doctor added that he
would stake his reputation on the fact
that Blixt was not free moral agent
when he fired that fatal shot into Miss
Ging's head
To reporter Dr.. Flint gave some in.
information as to the practice of hyp-
notism, and explained as far as il car
be explained what hypnotism is. He
said:
BIixt Was Not Hypnotlred.
1.-THE difference between hypnotism
and mesmerism lies principally in the
fact that the latter is practiced by
physical contact and can only be de-
monstrated by people born with a su.
perabundance Of magnetic energy.
Hypnotism is q mental phenomenon
only and physical contact is not neces-
sary The condition known as hypnotic
sleep is produced and the subject con-
trolled by post-hynotic ST ygestions.
''As to this man Blixt, don't think
that ever saw a more craven human
being, or one who could be more read
lily influenced by superior mind. He
is cringing, groveling wretch, with
scarcely a. particle of mental or moral
stamina, and would be q very easy sub
iect for criminal influence. have not
the least doubt that Blixt committed
the crime while his will power was
subjected to- that of Harry Hayward.
do not mean that he was under hyp-
motto influence at the time the crime
was committed, bat that he had been
so worked upon by the instigatof of
the crime, that he had no will of his
own and simply did what he was told"
No Crime Under Hypnoiic Influence.
t.But would he not then be in an
hypnotic condition." the reporter
asked.
mot ut ALL He would be acting
mechanically on certain line of action
pressed upon him by another, and the
mere subjugation of his will would by
+. no mean argue the hypnotic state.
\ state it Us an absolute TACT that per-
son i'm the hypnotic sleep cannot be
induced, by post-hypnotic suggestion.
to commit crime. How do / account
for it? Well, on the ground that there
is in every soul certain impalpable
restraining influence which makes
being revolt at crime, and there is also
the fear of punishment for the com.
m sion of crime that is inbred in every
properly organized person. The sug-
gestion of crime is so revolving to
human nature that the shock of rsvnl-
sion will bring the subject out of the
hypnotic state. state this as an abso-
lutte fact, because it was recently DEM
onstrated to me in the Briggs case at
Eau Claire IL would appear that the
girl in the case was hypnotized for
criminal purpose. but when, while still
In the hypnotic state, crime was at
tempted, though she was wholly inno-
cent OF any criminal completely, the
reyulsion of nature was SO great that
she Immediately awakened. and the
crime was committed by violence
Not a Good subject.
CAS- to Blixt. 1t would perhaps not
be right to assume that this man Hay
ward, whom j have never seen, knew
that he was practising hypnotism, but,
! according to the line of the defense, it
\ is evident that for a long time he had
= been at work on Blixt, with view OF
snbjugating his will power. lam not
inclined to think that there was at any
time an hypnotic condition produced
by Hayward. In fact, BlixE is diff
cult shbiect He has not the mentality
required in good hypnotic subject,
and, as said. he Ii lacking In positive
qualities
when I saw the man today was
disagreeably impressed with his per-
gonality. i tried the usual tests with
him and found him very nnresponsive
He ID altogether an animal and just
such a man as / should look for after
reading the defense He was easily
subjected by magnetism. but was not
open to hypnotic influence for the rea-a
son that he had no mind to fix when ]
attempted to fix 1t.
Mr.. Odell acquiesced in what the
doctor said. 81 am firmly convinced
that the man was not responsible.
When first saw him he was in q pitt.
able state Of naentalaand moral collapse.
from which he has in part recovered.