Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-01
BIG STIR At DUBUQUE
Physicians School Of Hypnotism
Accused Of Inhuman Prac.
tees on Children.
Young Boys and Girl. Enticed
Into Meetings and Made
Subjects.
Weak Minded Girl One Of Their
victims..Damas Suits
Threatened.
Special to Times-Republlean.

AMA OoSSAASOe
Special to Times Republican.
Dubuque, May IA sensation has
been stirred up in this city by the local.
papers claiming to have discovered q
school of hypnotism conducted mostly
by few practicing physicians and spe-
scialists in this city. II all the accusa-
tions made are true, these doctors are
guilty Of inhuman practices against
weak and defcEseless children. One of
the city papers has been devoting col
.umns of space to the doings at this
school" The subject is more talked
about than the Heron case here and
the general opinion, II the papers tell
the truth, Is that these Svengalis are
even worse than the erstwhile professor
of applied Christianity So many stories
have been told about the dolngs az this
school that chNdren who don't always
act just right are supposed to be under
their influence. The Herald, which has
been giving the matter considerable
epace. says:
More is coming to light regarding the
unholy practices the neutrality-suspicious.
are inhumanly practicing on defense
less and thoughtless children. 1t is
learned that these medico-h ypnotists
included in their list of victims IA
year-old girl. The girl is not overly
bright and comes OF an alien family
She Is employed as nurse girl in a
family with several children. What
deviltry her hypnotic experiences may
prompt her to- what depravity her limo
cent charges may be made the victims
of. can not we'll be contemplated with
8eauanimity by fathers and mothers
This girl and companion We're en-
ticed up where the sessions are held 1t
happened her companion is 80 fortunate
az not to be a good subject. She is ro-
bust and strong and could not be sub
jected to the hypnotic influences and
she. therefore, escaped. The little nurse
girl. tho, is frail and delicate. Her
weak Will was easily overcome. She
proved to be good subject to work on
and was a frequent subject.
Some people are inclined to regard
the stories published as exaggerated,
because the practices charged seem 80
unholy, unnatural and inhuman. The
truth is that half has not been told.
Those who exercise the hypnotic infiu-
ence over these victims have influence
to heal their mouths and it Is difficult
to obtain particulars.
From wha. can be learned a school In
l,ypnotism has been in progress three
weeks. About month ago person
styling himself an instructor in hypno-
tism came here and organized a class.
1t Is stated that his class numbered
about thirty and includes doctors, drug
gists and eccentric individuals who
have penchant for things uncanny.
The profes sor started his class three
weeks ago Monday night. Thecourse was
to be four weeks, go that this is the last
week. From all that can be learned this
instructor is IN no way Implicated NTH,
unholy indisnities that have been Wis
tied on children. The professor carries
his subjects with him, having two. d
man ard a woman. The professors aim
isto teach the members of his class how
to acquire and exercise the power OF
hypnotism. The inducement he holds
out liz that patients to be operated on
-sAAA
anasthetics will be avoided.
Those who have been guilty of the
unholy practices with the children are
those who have been taking the les
sons In hypnotism.
The professor could only tell them
how to acquire and exercise the sinfiu-
ence and they had to practice to ac-
quire the power They therefore. en-
ticed the children in to practic on them.
1t Is not understood that all those taxi
ing lessons We're enga ged in the seances,
but IL is known that at least dozen
We're. All that was stated last night
as to what transpiredI is more than con-
firmed by reports from other sources.
For the most part the children prac-
ticed on were weak and sickly. The
medico-hypnotists had not acquired.
sufficient power to exercise on strong
healthy subjects, and, therefore, took
those most susceptible.
One of those who attended the school
OF instruction tried to laugh the matter
off as a joke this morning. He told
the Herald reported that the article in
. last evenings paper was the cause of
much merriment in the school. He adj
mitted thaIat first those implicated
were quite alarmed, but the instructor
dropped hypnotism awhile and gave his
class lecture on law. He explained
that most states in the union sa..e laws
making 1t penitentiary offense to
practice hypnotism on minors. even
with their consent and on any persons
against their will. Among the few
states that have NOT .nus protected
children are Iowa and Wisconsin. Be-
cause there is no law, the victims of the
medico-hypnotists have no recourse. ex-
cept suits for damages. For the reason
that most of the parents of the chill
dren are not financially well enough of
to undertake expensive litigation.
oRAToRIcAL CONTEST.
Annual contest of tho Northern