The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
NEW USE FOR HYPNOTISM
CRIMINALS THROWN INTO FRANCES
MAY REVEAL THEIR SECRETS.
Experiments Showing that the Sub
conscious Self Retains Former
Impressions and Memories.
Correspondence Of the Indlanapolls journal.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Oct. f6.-The threatened
visit of Gabrielle Bompard to this country
for the purpose of giving exhibitions under
the influence of hypnotism, illustrating the
murder of GOuffe, may serve useful end
If it can be demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton of American psychologists that the
Frenchwoman is giving a genuine hypnotic
presentation of the CHASTITY scenes enacted
in the Partisan studio criminologists
may learn something of practical value from
the seance.
According to the cabled report a mesmeric
operator Professor Legeois. of the faculty
of Nancy, easily secured control of the
murderess and caused her to commit again
the crime. with realism that made it aw-
full, holding the little audience breathless
and spellbound.'
While the young woman enacted in per-
feet continuity the various acts of the
drama for which Eyraud died under the
guillotine, and for which she spent many
years in prison. a biograph was operated,
recording the action and preserving the pic
lures on films for future exhibition. There
are number of hypnotic experts in New
York who would like TO witness this demon
stration. One of these men, who is an as
sociate at the Pathological Institute of the
New York State Hospitals. said: This al
legged experiment on Gabrielle Bompard may
be simply an advertising scheme. l do not
know of Professor Liegeois, but whether it
is or not. we have already reached the con-
clusion that most of the great criminal
mysteries of the day could be solved were
we allowed TO use hypnotism upon the ac-
cused persons.
a PATHOLOGIST'S IDEAS.
"a few years ago l was immensely inter-
ested in this really important problem and
lately the question has been, TO a certain ex-
tent, revived. One of my associates, DIR.
Boris Sdis. made a large number of expert
ments and l am convinced that the utility
| of hypnotism for the detection proof OF
| crime could be actually demonstrated. 1t is
| the belief OF DR.. Sidis that the hypnotic
| self is identical with the subconscious self
| of the normal man, that when the inhibi-
| tory and controlling self has been distracted.
| benumbed or put to sleep. the other self-as-
sumed control--if il can be called control.
which is absolutely ruled by suggestion
from the hypnotizer. The potency of sug-
| gestion varies. OF course, with the deepness
4
trely benumbed it will develop feeble and
still more feeble opposition. In light. hyp-
motto trance the subject remains in a pas
| sive condition IL his eyes closed he will
keep them closed. III he is sitting he will re-
main sitting. But he will resent any sugges-
ton that interfercs with what he considers
his voluntary life. When the subject sinks
into a still deeper hypnotic condition the
waking is entirely subdued and the sub
conscious self assumes full control.
a proof that under all conditions, even
| those affecting seriously the waking state
| the subconscious mind retains all that has
passed in the existence OF the self OF which
4 IL is the recording tablet, was given in a
case treated by Or. Sidis Although this
case does not show the action OF hypnosis
on criminal, or even upon a normal men
| tally. ii throws a valuable sidelight upon
the question at issue. 1t proves that wher
| the subconscious mind is reached the evil
| dence of what has occurred in the patients
experience will invariably be found there re-
corded. IL were. upon graphophon'
cylinder. ready for repetition again anc
| again, and unconsciously To furnish evi
dence, for or against itself, upon the most
elementary suggestion.
THE facts connected with this case wer,
recited by DR.. Sids. in the Pathological In
stitute of the New York State Hospitals
shortly after he had treated the case
AN INTERESTING CASE
1.-The patient Rev. Thomas c. Hanna o.
Plantsville, Conn.,. met with an accident h,
fell from carriage and was picked up un
conscious. When he came To himself he ha,
| lost all knowledge of his own personality
| all remembrance of his former life. He coul,
not speak, nor understand when spoken TO
| Words were meaningless sounds to him. Ii
knowledge he was like newborn babe. We
his intelligence had not gone with his mem
DRY. He learned quickly and readily. In
few weeks he rapidly passed I'm his develop
ment through all the steps an infant passe
in it's slow growth Of years. Ii soon becam
evident that the old personality was no
crushed to death, but was only dissociate
from the rest of conscious life, and tina
from the subconscious depth into which /
sank it still exerted a great influence upo
the newly-formed personality of the patient
1.-The subconscious memories of the patien
were then tested by different methods. espe
cially by the method known as hypnodiza
tion This consists in requesting the patien
to close his eyes and remain as quiet a
possible without. however, making any spe
cial effort to do so. He Is then asked to at
tend to some stimulus. such as reading O
| singing. When the reading is over, the pa
tient. whose eyes will have closed, may b
asked to recall something of what he Ia
heard. Then he is led on to relate wha
images came into his mind subsequent,
BY this means the mind is gradually led o
into deeper channels.