The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-19
MRS. LzER INSANE
Has DeIuSion of Marvellous
Hypnotic Power.
PLACED IN COUNTY JAIL
Mad and Helpless Mother of
Four Children.
PLACED IN COUNTY JAIL

Edna Lizer is said to be insane ano is
now in the county jail. She has a delusion
that she can hypnotic whole communi-
y. She was at Alva and claims to have
hypnotized custom to the merchants till
there was left no merchandise in town TO
selI-the customers brought there by the
spell bought all there was 70 buy. Her
case Is a deplorabIe one. Ten years ago
she was married to James Pray Of Butler
county and on a farm in that county she
lived with him, where were born 70 them
four children, three boys and one girl.
ranging in age from 8 years down to 3
According to her story she was divorced
from her husband last month at FL Dora
do, Kansas. Her husband then went to
Driftw0od, Oklahoma, taking the children
with him. She was in the Wichita hos
pital during the early fan, but a month
or more ago she went 10 AIva. Oklahoma.
Here she displayed her great hypnotic in
hcence in bringing custom 10 the mer-
chants of, that town. This was finally
declared by the authorities Of Alva TO be
nuisance and she was sent back to
Wichita. When she reached the city she
Immediately decided 10 be a stenographer
and typewriter and with this view entered
the Wichita Commercial college one day
last week. Her actions were mysterious
and the teachers did not know what TO
make Of her. She paid a part OF her
tuition and said she would have to find
place 10 work for her board She put
5,,
Topeka avenue and about the same time
at the City hotel. Her wterd eyes startled
every one who knew her and at the same
time each hesitatd TO say she was IN
sane.
Yesterday morning the City hotel peo-
pie reported her to Sheriff Simmons. He
took her to jail and there she now is.
When an Eagle representative called TO
see her at her cell, she came out with the
tragic air Of an actress, whose special
part was TO play the role of the insane.
Much Of her conversation was perfectly
rational and yet there was lack Of SEN
timeut IN keeping with the occasion. She
expressed a desire 70 go 10 her children,
whom she has neither seen nor heard Of
IN four months; yet there was no emotion,
no anxiety. She has no idea of the
cause Of her confinement IN Jail, nor any
conception of the when or how she is to
get out She has no complaint of any
one and says the Jail IS not SO bad a
place Il only IL was provided with clean
beds.
Her parents went back 10 Kentucky
some time ago and probably have no
knowledge of her present condition. DR..
Hoffman was asked about her mental
condition. He treated her while at the
hospital He had no hesitation in saying
she was insane. He had no opinion to
offer as to the nature Of her mental
madness, nor whether durable or incur
able
Mrs. Lizer appears to be harmless.
There was no tendency 70 violent Ian
guage. No threats to iniure anyone
Thus harmless. helpless, maybe hopeless
this woman, this mother. 3 years Of age.
occupies a cell in the county jail designed
for felon5 and the shame Of It does not
reach her brain, her emotions. She is q
good looking woman. but nature has
written her malay in those strange eyes.
She is a good looking woman, but nature
has written in those sad and wierd fea-
lures a story that may not be rlisunder-
stood and whose awfulness startles and
horrf1es the behoIder.