The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-13
HYPNOTIzING THE HANsENs.
Prof. McIvOr-TyndnII's Version Of
What He Did,

Prof. Alexander J. McIvor-T yndall,
the hypnotist, who tried to solve the
Minneapolis murder mystery by hypno-
tic experiments on the Hansen woman,
is at the Ryan hotel Hansen refused
to be experimental upon, but the Wom-
an, according to reports simply de-
MED their connection with the killing
Of Benson. Prof. Tyndalls efforts were
regarded somewhat in the light of a
failure, but the professor doesn't look
at 1t that way. TO a reporter for the
q e he gave his version of the
case yesterday and his connection
Herewith
Il did not come to Minneapolis,
said Prof. Tyndall, for the purpose
of taking up the case, but was induced
to do so by some of the press represen-
tatives and others who knew Of my
success in similar cases. TO q news
paper representative L expressed my
self as willing to try the experiment,
but expressly stated that the remark
was not for publication. Well knowing
that numberless successes would be
forgotten or ignored in the blazing light
of one failure, l would much have pre-
ferred to conduct the experiment quiet
ly anc alone, as my only interest in the
case was from a psychological point
Of view
THAT the experiment was failure
l most fatty deny. The assertions
made in some cases, that the woman
might have been acting, are too utterly
absurd to notice. To credit this ignor-
ant woman with histrionic ability, in
comparison to which Bernhardt's genius
pales into insignifioance, is the very
acme Of absurdity. The fact u.s. the
woman was hypnotized, even to the
stage Of complete physical unconscious
ness, and that she told the absolute
truth, as far as she knew. I would
stake my reputation on it that as far
as the woman is concerned she told
the absolute truth, and furnished
valuable clue to the discovery Of the
murderer.
GAS hypnotism is yet in it's expert
mental stage. there can be no set rules
or perfect theory; the fact that a man
has written book on the subject does
not stamp him as an authority. l
have experimental on at least fifty diff
ferent criminals, and can furnish I'M
QiSputable proof that a man will, when
in the deepest stage of hypnotic sleep,
incriminate himself, If the suggestion
made by the hypnOtiSt is that he tell
the whole truth.
I'm the case of Dawson, the Los An
geles thief he had baff1ed the most ex-
pert crOss-questioning until put under
hypnotic control, when he told the story
of the postoffice robbery, and was SEN
fenced to seven years imprisonment.
I'm the usual hypnotic experiment,
the subject is never put into what l
designate the perfect hypnotic stage.
His consciousness, in the usual hyp-
motto of light stages, Is perfectly alive,
although his will is subject to the con-
troll of the hypnotist. In these expert
ments the most truthful person will
tell lie or commit an imaginary crime,
and yet remember the circumstances on
being brought from under the inf1u-
ence; but that proves nothing in this
case My only suggestion to the Wom-
an. after placing her in the perfect
hypnotic state was that she must tell
the truth, and she did so. Had she re-
Ceived a suggestion from my mind as to
what she was to say, she would have
said it. I left her will free in every re-
spect save the one restriction that she
tell the absolute truth in regard to the
/ affair; and would respectfully suggest
! to the police that they follow UP the
| clue given by her. The assertion that
these poor Wretcfles were terrified or
'bulldozed' into allowing the expert
ment is entirely false. I never attempt
a hynotic experiment without the con-
sent Of the subject My only object
was to help the prisoners, and. if posi-
BILE aid in unravelling the mystery sur
! rounding the affair.
'HThe woman heartily thanked me
| for the experiment. as I relieved her
| from an acute rain from which She
had been suffering. and also cured her
| Of the drinking habit, fact which
will be proved by her future conduct
"Hypnotism. if properly used can be
made reliable aid to the police and
| if. out Of nUnrberless failures, even one
successes can be chronicled.its use should
| not be abandoned. To any one interest,"
| ed in the subject. I can furnish irdis-
| putable evidence of numerous crinlir al
| cases where I have established the in
nocence of the accused, and proven the
| guilty guilty"