The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-05
SPYING THROUGH
| A.bOY'S BRAIN
Lawyer Hypnotists Used
Ed Kline in Their
Business.
Occult Powers Employed to
Probe Into the Secrets
of Others.
TIPS IN Mining Stocks and Horse
races Sought b. Means of
Clairvoyant Visions.

The case of Edward Kline, the 1S-year-
old boy who was arrested for Vagrancy at
the instance of his parents, who want to
remove him from the influences OF the
Pacific Hypnotic Institute at "A Sixth
street. was called in Police Judge Camp
bell's court yesterday. The case was con-
tinued until to-day, but not before num-
Der of interesting features made their
appearance.
The boys family live at 511 Minna street.
The father is hard working man, and
he has raised family as industrious as
himself Up to few months ago Edward
held position in box factory on Market
street, but he threw up the situation and
ran away from home, after a brief ac-
uuaintance with ?. A Baker end II. Nj.
Thornton, who conduct the hypnotic in
stitute.
The lad went 10 live with these two
men who gave him s. per week and board
for his services as subject for the stu
dents OF hypnotism to practice upon.
The lads parents endeavored to get him
to return to his home, but to no purpose,
and they claimed that an unknown
power was being exercised upon their son
TO keep him away from them. Hence the
arrest on Monday night by Otti2er Nc
Murray. who is attached TO the Society
for the Prey n ton of Cruelty to Children,
as the parents want to break the spell
that holds the lad from them.
When Mrs. Kline swOre to the warrant
Yesterday Judge Campbell made some in
duiry as TO the facts. Although the war
rant was issued the Judge stated that
while it might be difficult to prove a case
OF vagrancy still the matter required
oh
the life the lad was leading was injuring
him he would put the boy out OF harms
way. The mother stated that her son is
much thinner than he was before he en-
tered the services OF the hypnotic prac-
tItiOners.
Perry a. Baker, who figures as the in
structor IN by notism of the institute,
made his appearance at court and inter-
ested himself greatly in the boy. He as
serted that the lad Is not injured but
rather benefited by being operated upon
by the amateurs IN hypnotlsm, and he
stated that when the case comes up for
trial he viii bring witnesses 10
prove what he said. Officer McMurrav
asked Perry why it was the young boy
tried to commit suicide few weeks ago by
taking large dose of carbolc acid if kyp-
motto influence was benefit instead OF an
INJURY to him.
Perry explained that the reason that
young Kline tried to end his life was be-
cause the younester was dee ply in love
With a young girl TO whom his parents
objected. This was news to Mrs. Kline,
who declared that she never knew of her
son having tender feelings for any young
maiden. Perry explained that young
Kline was saved from death by carbolic
acid poisoning by hypnotic powers that
were thrown upon him.
During the conversation young Kline
made q revelation that caused the Judge
TO comb his Yhskers vigorously with his
fingers. The boy, in telling OF his life as
"su beet" stated that lie was frequently
called to do duty in the Parrot building,
where a club of lawyers and business men
study the mysteries through his subjec-
tive or passive nervous organism.
The lawyers, so the lad stated, would
throw him into a trance TO make use of
his clairvoyant powers. They would send
his mind to read the minds OF their eli
ents in order TO secure more facts as to
cases in hand. They would also get him
TO go out on similar occult expeditions to
probe the minds of opposing counsel in
order to get tips" as to what their next
moves would be.
Others, the boy stated, were in search of
Information as to mining stocks and the
probability OF certain horses winning at
the races.
From what he could learn from these
seekers for inside facts the lad said he be-
iieved tbat he gave them pretty straight
pointers At any rate he was in great
demand, for these club meetings or hyp-
motto seances were held once a week on
the fifth floor of the Parrot building.
Monday evening was the usual time
fox these gatherings, which were always
attended by from a dozen to twenty men.
1t is proba BILE that in the investigst ton
to be made to-day in court the names of
vi ha
mony. In fact, the young fellow feels
sure that those for whom he has been q
subject will come to his rescue and try TO
prove that he is not vagrant and that
his mental submission to their wills is
not in any way an injury to him.