The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-20

Professor Martin II. r. Walker. whose
principal stock In trade Is palmlstry.
met with very bad luck yesterday.
The professor u a hypnotist, but was
unable 10 successfully do business with
the strong arm Of the law. and his
complete un1oing resulted.
During the past few days Astorians
have had occasion TO gaze with admir-
alton on the professors long black
mustache. An attractive cap. Of the
style usually worn in Turkey. added %
his appearance. The professor gave il
out tha. he was a whirlwind when It
came 70 reading palms. AMI. knowing
Astoria by reputation. doubtless expecy-
ed 10 greatly improve his financial con-
dltion 10 this city. But his hypnotic
accomplishments spoiled It all. and.
after a career of many years, Astoria
saw the professors finish.
The professor was accompanied BY a
woman reputed to b. his wife. and a
girl Of about IS. Toe arl Joined the
palmisiry combination in Portland.
from which city she was anxious TO
take her departure Her career. she
said yesterday. had been rather
an uncertain one. and she wanted TO
begin life over again.
On Friday the professor pitched his
palmistry tent in a vacant lot on Frank
lin avenue and the trouble commenced.
Wholly disregarding the feelings Of his
faithful and long-suffering spouse. he
hypnotized the girl and behaved him
self in a most shameful manner. Mrs.
Walker came down town at I o'clock
yesterday morning in search Of a pO-
hceman. but returned home some time
later without having found the officer.
What transplrei during the next four
or FIVE hours did not develop. but about
o'clock an express driver called at
the station and informed an officer that
two women. fearful Of their lives. were
in the Prael & Cook stable, where they
had sought refuge. The oficsr went TO
the place and found the women cover
ing in the rear OF the stable They
were the professors wife and the Port
lani girl. who said her name was Miss
Morton. They explained tina: the pro
fessor WIS mentally unbalanced and
tha; he had announced his intention OF
killing them, presumably on account Of
the unpleasantness which occurred
during the early morning They want
ed the officer 10 arrest the professor.
but were Informed tina. this would be
impossible without a warrant. After
much persuasion. he women. who were
fearful that they would be killed. We're
induced 20 acco npany the officer to the
police station. They deciled to charge
the professor with insanity and he was
arrested and taken before the sanity
commissioners.
To the com nissioners the professor
insisted that he wa no; insane, His
wife tcli some terrible stories about
him, saying among other things that
she had fourteen valuable lots when
she met him some years ago in Den
YER, and that the professor had TAX
en- them from her While she did not
admit tha; the hypnotic theory applied
in her case. she was satisfied that the
professor hypnot.zed the girl for whom
strangely enough, she had not the
slightest feeling Of antipathy, evidently
considering that they were companions
in misery, The sanity board discharged
the professor, and later the officers ar
ranged for a general separation Of the
Interested parties. Mrs Walker said
she was thoroughly tired Of the pro-
fessor, and would leave him forever.
Accordingly it was arranged that she
should leave the city by train. the
professor taking the night boat, while
the faxen-haired maiden from Portland
was turned over to the care Of an aid
society. During the afternoon the pro-