The morning times., 1897-01-03

Galveston, Tex, Jan. 2.-William Ham
son, who was arrested on suspicion OF
having murdered Samuel Martin, a labor
leader, whose body was found in the bay
with 90 pounds of iron tied about the neck,
was hypnotized and questioned in detail
about the crime. While in the letharGic
state he confessed that Martin had reason
to be jealous OF him; that Mrs. Martin
intended to get divorce and become Mrs.
Hanson, but he denied all knO wledge OF
how the murder was committed, and re-
peated the story he told the police when
arrested.
Prof. Loska Did the WGrk.
Hanson was hypnotizcd hy Prof Laska,
a perpatetic lecturer, who came to Gal
weston a few days ago to give exhibitions
of his proficiency in hypnotism. Laska
was sent for by the chief Of police this
morning He had never seen Hanson.
He said he would be glad TO try his hand
on the suspected man. Then Hanson was
asked if her would agree to the arrange
ment. He expressed willingness to be
put to any test.
The professor and the prisoner were then
introduced. Laska said he would ike TO
see what sort of a subject Hanson was.
He began work On him, and in few min
utes Hanson seemed to be wholly under
the professors control. To prove the sus-
pected man was not shamming, woman's
hatpin was jablJed into Hanson's cheek
The subject did not finch, and when the
hatpin was pulled out of the flesh, no blood
flowed from the wound. Then the mans
arm was put in a cataleptic state, and the
most powerful detective on the force was
asked to bend il. He did not succeed
Then Laska awakened Ha nsUn, told him he
was a fine subject, and, after consulting
Chief Jones and learning that the police
wanted ne test made atnoonin in the presence
of more witnesses, the professor said
Mr.. Hanson, I'm going away; you Will
be asleep wheuI return at / = O'Clock"
Got Very Drowsy.
The chief of police and half a dozen
detectives and reporters remained in the
room with the prisoner after the hypnotist
departed. Shortly before noon Hanson
seemed To become drowsy. He lay down.
and apparently was in a deep slumber i'll
few moments. Laska returning, the
detectives We're told To awaken the pris-
oner. They tried to do SO by shaking
and slapping him and by shouting in his
ears, but without avail. The hypnotSt
rubbed the prisoners face many times
instructed him to sleep soundly, and then
said: When you open your eyes ynn
VIII see Sanl--the murdered man stand
ing before you. open your eyes"
Hanson's eyes opened. Chief OF Police
Jones was standing directly in front OF the
subject.
DO you remember the quarrel we had,
William" the chief asked.
I'VE had no quarrel, SAM Hanson re-
piled.
Yes, we did"
"No, Sam; we never had but one quarrel,
and thatdid not amount toanything."
Didn't tell you that if caught you
around my house would kill you?''
No. Sam; you never told me anything OF
the kind"
Did we not have quarrcl?'
| "YeS; but you said you did not mean me
when you said you would kill him.
| Who him" is could not be Scertained.
Hanson Was Unconcerned.
| Then the professor showed how he could
make the subject believe the Chief OF po-
lice was Mrs. Martin. The chief, posing
as Mrs. Martin, put newset OF questions
TO the recumbent man. Hanson addressed
| the chief familiarly as Clara and when
| asked To tell what he knew about the muir
der he repeated the story he had told the
| police when arrested.
For nearly an hour the prisoner was sub
jected to every sort Of question the spec
| tators suggested. To the question as to
| whether he thought Martin was murdered
he replied affirmatively, saying he believed
| the wound in Tia e head waSmade with an ak.
When released from the hypnotic state,
Hanson did not show any undue desire TO
| learn what he had said. The police said
| they Were fully satisfied with the test
| made, but later in the afternoon Hanson
was again hypnotized in order that some
further questions might be propounded to
him. spectator asked the privilege OF
interrogating the suspected man. Hanson
was told the spectator was Mrs. Martin
| Again he addressed the supposed Mrs. Mar
tin familiarly.
William" said the questioner. 1--WE
turned states evidence and confessed how
we murdered Sam"
If you say l murdered Sam you lie, !,
said Hanson.
Stopped the Seance.
At this juncture Chief of Police Jone
stopped the seance. He said he did no
consider it fair to the prisoner to subjec
him to any further interrogation, and tn