The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-03-18
crime BY SUGGESTION.
Some Interesting Experiments
In Criminal Hypnotism.

Some Interesting Experiments
In Criminal Hypnotisrn.
WHERE HONESTY is INGRAINED.
No Enticements Can Prevail-The Case Of
Anderson Gray-Murder With . Paper
Dagger-A Man Who Could Not Be
Forced to Steal,
When Governor Morrill, of Kansas re-
GENTLY signed the pardon of Anderson Gray,
condemned murderer, he reopened the old
discussion as - the possibility of crime be-
ing committed under the influence Of hyp-
notism. By his action he added another to
the numerous cases where the plea Of hyp-
motto control set up as a defense for a
criminal act has proved to be a falsity and
q subterfuge- the last desperate resort Of q
guilty man. Gray was convicted by jury
Of inducing one of his farmhands, by means
Of hypnotism, to kill neighbor and was
sentenced to death. After the real culprit
was acquitted the released man made q
only no truth in the story, but that he did
not even know what hypnotism was. The
discharge of Gray from prison has kept the
matter before the public eye and has given
the scientists q chance to bring forward
again all the arguments pro and con re-
garding the uses and abuses of the new
healing system.
There is no subject of recent times which
ho, III tot
class of scientific men than this question of
possible criminal influence through hyp-
notism, and not one which has received an
people totally unqualified to judge.
A party of medical men connected with
the Chicago School of Psychology recently
determined to solve once for all to its own
satisfaction the question of the relation of
hypnotism and crime. When the party of
investigators broke up, after series of
tests which lasted several hours, the unan-
imous verdict was given that, under ordi-
nary circumstances, crime is no more pos
sible under the influence of hypnotism than
in the waking state, perhaps even less so.
To degree sufficient to satisfy the 80 or
more people present the tests were made
fair and scientifically correct.
When the audience had gathered and ev-
erything was ready to begin, the medical
superintendent of the school, Dr.. Herbert
A. Parkyn, made short speech, in which
he stated the objects of the gathering and
the course Of experiments to be pursued.
He had previously sent the persons to be
experimental upon into another room some
distance away, so that they would not
know what was going to take place, and
hence would not be Influenced by any pre-
conceived ideas as to their own conduct.
When the audience understood the pro
gramme, the first unwilling criminal was
introduced, and the tests were began.
The operating chair belonging to the
school, which has been dubbed the sleepy
chair, - was wheeled into the middle of the
circle of observers, and the potential wrong
doer took his place in it. He was middle
aged man and was fairly good hypnotic
subject. He was put to sleep in a few mo-
ments by gazing into the hypnotist's eyes
"You will sleep soundly for couple Of
minutes" said the operator, land wher
awaken you you are going to obey every
thing that I tell you to do. My will will
be your will. You will have to act on ev
cry suggestion give you.
"When count three, you will wake
up" continued DR.. Parkyn after shor,
period of waiting. "You will see no one il
this room except man over in the far cor
ner who is asleep. He has valuable
watch, one worth at least $500. You e
and get that watch and bring it to me, anG
will dispose of it for you and give yor
half of the proceeds" These suggestions
were elaborated and repeated, and the mar
was awakened by the count of three.
But the man did not appear fully
aroused. He was in a state almost exactly
similar to sleepwalking which is called
by the scientists ''active somnambulism. ,
He gazed around the room in an unseeins
way and replied to the Doctors question:
that he saw no one there except mar
doing over in the corner. Hewas theI
urged to go and get the watch, as directed
but he hung back with drunkenlfke per
sistency, using all his strength to retreat
when pushed toward the victim of the pro
posed robbery. Finally he threw himself
back in the chair in determined manner
declaring, "You are trying to play hoa1
on me-" and would have walked up thu
next minute if the suggestion had beer
persisted in. He was given up as hope
less case.
If there is anything that should move 6
Woman's cupldlty at this season of thu
year, it is hat A creation of wonderful
beauty in flowers, ribbons and feathers wa,
shown the young woman who was mex,
put to sleep. When she had gone int
ecstasies over that beautiful bit of millinery
| on the head of the only woman she coult
see in the room, she was told that love O
bonnet belonged to herself. Then sh,
was urged to go and get it, since it wa.
| really her own. She made no move, how
| ever, to do as bid, and when commanded
imperatively she woke up laughing at tn,
joke and was also dismissed as hopelessl,
honest. This girl had been hypnotized ev
cry day for six months, but the dreaded
weakening Affects on the VIII popuIar1y
supposed to take place could not be made
to show themselves.
A woman of mature age who has recent
~ been treated for her eyes by hypnotic
suggestion gave an exhibition of dramatic
honesty which caused prolonged applause
from the audience. She had only been hyp.
Noticed few times in her life, but proved
a most obedient and imaginative subject
within certain limits. Seven fingers she
had on her hand-she counted them over