Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-13
Hypnotism as a Plea ii Several Re-
markable Oases. ii
SWEDISH idea Of MARRIAGE
Bad Effect of the Campaign on
the Book Trade.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, October II, 1900.
Hypnotism Is beginning to figure pretty
extensively in the criminal annals of New
York and it's neghborhood. An aged multi
millionaire dies suddenly under peculiar
circumstances. His valet Is arrested and
charged with conspiring to obtain posses
sion Of the recluse multi-millionaire's
wealth through the medium of hypnotism.
Many witnesses give testimony to the eff
feet that the youthful valet had the wealthy
old man under complete mental subjuga-
ton. and a professional Instructor Of hyp-
notsm now comes forward and announces
that he instructed the Imprisoned valet in
the science of hypnotism for stable con-
sideration.
defaulter for large sum, skillfuIly alb
stracted from the strong box Of the bank
Ing Arm Of which he was cashier and clev-
erly accounted for on the firms books for
a long period, acts like dazed Individual
when apprehended, and after rest and treat
ment in confinement comes to and claims
that for several years past he has been
under hypnotic spell woven about him
by one Of his friends.
The family of a wealthy widow of a
neighboring Jersey town, in seeking to have
her committed to an insane asylum, swear
that to the best of their information and
belief the woman has been transformed into
a physical and mental wreck by the hyp-
motto incantations of a male schemer, who
mad as primal purpose the plundering Of
her considerable estate.
A prosperous and highly esteemed physi-
clan Of Mt. Vernon comes back from Lon
don town, repentant and moaningful after
having deserted his wife and children for a
very lovely seventeen ear-old school girl.
The poor man gives out a statement to the
effect that the seventeen-year-old school
girl had hypnotized him.
A young woman Is apprehended for hav-
ing unrighteously possessed herself Of sew
eral thousands Of dollars worth of the
jewelry of bosom female friend The
young woman tearfully relates in court how
Tor many moons she has been under the
hypnotic influence of the ingenious youth
to whom she is engaged to be ma FRIED.
This Time 1T Didn't Work,
And thus on. Barely day slips by that
these hypnotized persons do not And them
selves tangled up with the authorities for
one reason or another. A very ordinary
and very palpable drunk ana disorderly of
the male persuasion was arraigned before
this town the other day.
Il wasn't drunk. your honor" the pris-
oner whined. "A fellow he comes along and
hypnotizes me-" IL.
trate. amiably. And how. pray, did he
accomplish that peculiar purpose?'
IVY" replied the chap. encouraged by
the magistrates tone, he holds up piece
O. shiny metal and makes me- look at it
until don't know nothin',H"
rs that really so?" inquired The mag1s-
trate, with a cheerful smile spreading over
his features. We'll, III give yeu chance
to study hypnotism yourself, so that when
you are turned loose you may hunt up this
person and turn the tables on him. You
ought to master the art OF hypnotfzing your
self in the course Of the three months on
the island that I'm giringsCyou sfby intently
gazing, at the bright .dippen in your cell for
extended periods Of time, when You haven't
got anything more useful to do. You may
even attain such proficiency IN the science
of hypnotism that the next time you are
hauled before me you will be able to hypno-
tize the court. But doubt that q whole
lot Take him away. Next!" -
Starting q Reform.
Washington must really be wicked,
wicked place. That, at any rate is now the
firmly grounded belief of the members of a
Congregational church over on Long Island.
The young clergyman who held the pulpit
in this church began. last summer a STIR
ring campaign against those members of his
congregation who attended church on Sun
day mornings and played golf and rode
bicycles and read the Sunday newspapers
and did other worldly and demoralizing
things on Sunday afternoons. He was par
ttcularly hard in his references to the Sum
day afternoon bicycle riders. His eloquence
was so convincing that hess succeeded in
WORKING revolution among the members
of his flock who had been lax In the matter
Of Sunday observance. They held a meet
Ing, upheld the young clergyman's crusade,
bound themselves to give up the reading of
Sunday newspapers, Sunday golf and Sun
day bicycle riding, and then they went to
the minister and thanked him for bringing
them to realization OF their sinfulness.
One Sunday, about month ago, the con-
Drc lad for In hut he
minister didn't make his appearance. After
waiting for him for a couple Of hours the
congregation dispersed. He didn't make
his appearance at the rectory during the
week. and when the congregation assem-
bled In the church the following Sunday he
was again absent.
The DOminie's Downfall.
Then the leaders Of the church decided to
send out general alarm for the missing
preacher. They had description Of him
all framed up on Monday ready to be
passed on by the authorities when a party
Of breathless Long Island school teachers,
members of the congrega ton, reached the
church leaders and sprung their tremen-
dous sensation. The party Of school teach
ers had just returned from excursion to
Washington. and on the day before. Sun
day, they had seen their recreant minister
riding about the smooth pavements Of the
capital city on a bike!
The general alarm was not sent out. In
stead, the minister who has not yet made
his appearance among his flock. has been
summoned to answer the charge of being
absent without leave. When he confronts
his accusers-if he decides to do so-he will
bs asked about that bicycle ride Of his on
Sunday on the streets Of Washington. Mean
while. the members Of this Long Island
congregation are not to be convinced that
Washington is not frighrully demoraliz-
ing community
A Swedish We Hing.
very cautious couple (ppeared before
one Of the magistrates the otheEf afternoon
to be married. They were Of Swedish ma
tivity, and both just bit uQder hiddle age.
Neither of them. however, hasbeen pre-
vicusly married The magistrate asked
them to step into his private rodpi. and was
ready to tie the knot. However, there was
a certain obvious air Of hesitancy about
the couple. Each tried to push the other
forward to say something
whats the matter?" iuSuireH the mag
istrate noticing the couples hdftancy and