The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-14
UNDER HYPNOTIC SPELL
QUEER PLEA OF GEORGE FEIFER-
LICH, OF ST. LOUIS
Condemned to Death for the Murder
of His Brother, He VIII Plead
That He Was Still Under the In
fuence of a Hypnotist Who, q
Year Before, Babe Him Kill.
Correspondence New York Herald.


ST. LOUIS, Feb. 10-Here is the sto-
ry of man, who, in a spirit of brava-
90 and fun. subjected himself to a hyp-
motto influence from which he was not
released until he had killed his brother.
For year he struggled against a ter
rible hypnotic suggestion, everywhere
seeking relief from the strange inf1u-
ence which clouded all his faculties.
He is George Feiferlch, who will be
placed on trial here for fratricide
His lawyer will make the defense that
the man, on account of the spell thrown
about him by an itinerant hypnotist a
year before the murder, was rot re-
sponsible for his act Eminent experts
in hypnotism and criminology will be
| summoned to give their opinions on
Feiferlich's responsibility for his act.
Hypnotism has figured largely in
murder trials of recent years. yet in
none Of the cases was the hypnotic
suggestion so remote as in that of Fell
ferlich. The dangers of hypnotism
have been pointed out. If the defense
of this mans lawyers holds good.
new field of investigation may be open
! ed to the psychologist. The case of
young Kansas farmer who was put
! upder hypnotic spell with criminal
intent, is still fresh in the public mind
The young man killed a neighbor. He
! was placed in an asylum and the hyp-
notist was convicted of murder
Felterllch is an orphan. He was born
III this city. He was a good natured
! fellow, of average intelligence. He
seems to have been free from any NOR
bid tendencies. He worked hard, and
! was generally regarded as a man Of
| sober and industrious habits.
| He went to California three years ago
| and secured employment in the little
town of Montalvo. He had always
! been fond of the theater when he lived
| IN st. Louis. The opportunities for see
ing stageland are limited in Montalvo.
yet there was not a variety show or
minstrel entertainment which Feifer-
llch missed attending. His fondness
Tor the theater was subject for COM
ment in the town. He was considered
an authority on antediuvian jokes and
/ topical songs. His good natured face
was always seen in the front row
When the end man told his newest
! New York joke and the soubrette sang
the latest risque, the laugh of Feifer-
! Itch was heard above the laughter of
| all the rest.
Merely for Curiosity.
! There was not so much of the 81 dent
| IN Felferlich He went to see the hyp-
notist who came to town back in Nav.
! 1896, simply because he desired to see
! something new. He took his accustom-
ed seat in the front row-the seat
which was always regarded as his own.
/ He smiled he saw the committee Of
i citizens" ascerd the platform. He knew
! them all He joined in the testing re-
marks which were flung at them.
Now, then the professor said will
| not some of you gentlemen participate
in these experiments by acting as sub
! jectS? >"
WHY don't you go up" said a man
| preceding Feiferlich in the shoulder.
Go ahead" cried helf dozen voices
Have some sand about you"
Feiferlich had heard that sometimes
| the hypnotists Of the stage employed
! men who pretended to be in trance
/ AS be told some of his friends before
he ascended the platform, he thought
! that here would be an opportunity to
! make an investigation on his own &C
count. He was ore of hat a dozen.
He resisted the efforts Ct the hypnot-
ist at first. The professor told him
that he could not hope for any success
unless the subject placed himself COM
| Dletely in his power Feiferlich placed
his mind in a passive state He had
been placed under a hypnOt C spell. He
and the rest Of the half dozen sub
jects went through the absurd antics
which the stage hypnOtist provides for
| the amusement of the spectators. He
mounted chair and drove an imigin-
| Srv steed. IIe ate pie with knife,
| which was not in itself so remarkable
except for the fact that the pie was
| made of thin air He tried to ''shin"
| III one of the wings of the stage. He
| danced, capered and sang.
Jests and Tragedy.
Thee advertisements tegln to rail- upon the
| spectators. and the Professor" thought of
| something more sensa -ional. He took from a
table clumsy dagger of Iath and handed 1t
| 20 Feiferlich.
q shall now" said the hypnotist, give this
| man the suggestion that he is to kill man."
Hardly were the words spoken than Feifer-
l!ch's face took on the expression of fend
| His features seemed to writhe. He grasped
the dagger N his hand and crept across the
| stage. He seized one of his fellow subjects
by the throat and tried to stab him with the
| wooden dagger. The man who stabbed
| who had had the hypnotic suggestion that he
was being killed, fell groaning to the ground
| and seemed to be as one mortally wounded
His actions Were those of dying man.
Those who witnessed the performance
laughed at first and then grew apprehensive
and serious. There was horror about it all
that strangely affected them. Several women
left the house. The hypnotist laughed and
! announced that the performance was over
He snapped his fingers before the face of the
man who had been stabbed. The man arose
| to his feet. smiled sheepishly and went down
| the stairs Of the sage.
Now. >ien, my friend with the dagger -
| said the hypnotist.
Feiferlich came nearer and fourished his
| dagger of wood. The hypnotist evaded him,
| SWAPPING his fingers in a theatric way and
| chatting the subject. The specta ors began
to laugh, and then they grew serious when
they a look of DerDlexity and anxiety
| upon the showmans face
His Trance Permanent
In spite of all his efforts the hypnotist was
unable to get Feiferlich out of his trance
Several of the bystanders tried 10 take the
dagger from the mans hands. Feiferlich went
away from the hall that night in a daze
His lawyers say that the spell has neved left
the man.
Be this as il may, FeiferIch seemed from
that time 10 be the victim of strange delu-
siCns. The dagger was in them all He al
w2ys saw it with the hilt toward his hand
! 1t seemed to float in the air. There was al
ways in his ears, the lawyers say voice
that said Kill. kill" The mans halucina-
tons manifested themselves in strange ways
yet they always came back to the idea Of
taking human life.
His friends grew afraid OF him, and a.
| month after the visit of the hypnotst they
had Feiferlich sent to an asylum at San Ber-
nardino. Cal. His Authorizations seemed to
be mere pronounced He continually told of
! a strange man who was pursuing him and
seeking to take his life.
81 must kill him." he was always saving
Il must kill him.
Feiferlich would try to stab his imaginary
enemy with anything which came to his hand
Chairs, rugs and sticks became daggers and
poignards when Feiferlich was under the
spell OF his strange fancy. His keepers who