The herald., 1898-12-06

Masons he attributes the spell. The man is
evidently well read on the subject of the
Masonic belief, as well as hypnotism, but
the belief he assumes is jumble OF rdicu-
lous vagaries.
"Why did l stab the old man? Well,
now" replied the prisoner, with a smile,
II do not know anything about that. He
says L did SO, so go and ask him. You see
| have been under hypnotic suggestion for
the past four years, and while man is
under such influence he may be led into do
ing anything. 1t was back in Cincinnati,
Ohio, that | first felt that influence. 1t is
from the Masons that have been put under
it, and they have bounded me out of thst
place and have bounded me every place
have since been. The Masons may get
their heaven ON this earth, but they will
get hell after they leave it. They concen-
trate their bad thoughts and passions into
one person and they singled me out as such a
man. They now have nothing but good
thoughts on this earth, but after they die
they will have bad feelings. They will not
allow me to have good thoughts, but all
their bad feelings are concentrated in me"
lie repeated, "they have an eye that can see
around the world and can reach every
body"
''Well, did they put murderous feelings
into you and cause you to try to kill that
old man." was asked.
''They put murderous thoughts into me"
he replied, but on the question regarding
bis attack upon Mr.. Earl the prisoner
would say nothing. He was asked why he
had attacked Mr.. Earl. "Well, you see,
hat 10 Lok, a.
and God" Continuing with the details of
his belief whether real or assumed, the
prisoner said: II am like that man in
Sodom and Gomorrah. The people con-
centrated their bad feelings and their good
feelings, too, into him, and while some
looked to him for good d'sentiments, others
did so for bad. l have been pursued by
hypnotic circle"
Curran then limited that he had had to
make the attack upon Earl because the lat
ter was responsible in some mysterious way
for the condition in which the prisoner had
been for the past few years. Curran did
not elucidate that point when questioned,
and when pressed regarding the details of
the attack would refuse to talk, saying that
IL could be explained at the proper time.
The talk of the man about hypnotic circles
and influence is sufficient to convince any
body that the prisoner is insane, but he
displays so much cunningness touching the
details of the assault, refusing to commit
himself on that point and is SO rational on
all other topics but religion, that the men
who have interviewed him are inclined to
regard him as perfectly sane.
The prisoner said he was born at Chapel
Hill, Mary county, Ohio, and had taught
school in that state. The officers are in
clined to think that he is an ex.convict,
for an observation he made when taken into
the office of the detectives naturally
aroused their suspicious. As he was brought
into the office to be measured by the Ber-
tilion system he turned and looking at the
appliances, though there was no sign to
Indicate what system they were, remarked:
"Oh, the Bertilion system, see"
When questioned about his acquaintance
with this system, Curran denied that he
had ever been in a penitentiary, but had
merely read up on the system. That he was
well posted on it was evident, for he re-
marked that the local department does not
use as many measurements as the system
provides. Chief of Police Glass interrogated
The prisoner, but was unable to learn much
from him.