The San Francisco call., 1905-06-05
Arrested Youth
Follower Of
Bernard.
Intirnates Acts
Are Due to
''Spells. .

The arrest of Young Winfield j.
nichols on the complaint of merchants
from whom he had obtained goods for
which he had failed TO pay, as pub
ushed in The Cell yesterday morning,
has brought into public notice once
more DIR. Pierre A. Bernard. hypnotist,
whose name has been heard by the po-
lice before. Il has also brought about
a partial exposure of what looks like
m unsavory state of affairs revolving
around this sO-caIled mystic, In which
the names Of several young people.
looked on as hts followers are men
toned, one a young girl, who was led
astray by one of Bernard's disciples,
and whose trouble was reported in the
papers q short time ago. the disciple
most directly responsible being COM
PEELED 10 wed her.
Among those whose names are con-
-ected with Bernard is Professor Miles,
al cne tine an instructor in the high
school al Redwood City. but at present
secretary OF a local transfer company.
He says, however. that he merely did
some work with Bernard and that when
he learned some things about him that
be did not know al first, he refused 10
have anything further 10 DO with him
and that he has not seen him for two or
three months. How much Miles really
knows Of the inside arsirs of Bernard,
the police. who are making an investiga-
tiun OF the entire affair. do not yet know.
Miles is student of. the occult and the
mysticism Of India and the work" he
had 10 do with Bernard was in this line.
FOLLOWER OF BERS4HD.
Young Nichols Is a devoted follower Of
Bernard aud il is for this reason that
the charges made against him by the va
rious merchants from whom he obtained
goods without payment bring the alleged
hvpnorisr and mystic into the case. There
vii be many questions, not alone in ref
ereoce 70 Nichols acts, but those Of
others that the police viii ask Bernard
when he is located.
To his own father Nichols has not laid
fare the doings in the apartments that
have been occupied from time 10 time
by Bernard and in which he and his fol-
lowers carried on whatever practices may
have been their pleasure. These prac-
tices usually led. though. TO Bernard and
the rest Of the pack making themselves
very undesirable IN the houses where
apartments were obtained. and Bernard
has IN consequence resided. at many places
IN san Francisco during the last year or
tEgo. To keep track Of his movings is a
hard task Nichols has been under his
guidance for about year. Another star
pupil has been Florin F.. Jones, son of a
prominent real estate dealer OF this city
and who, by the way. is not so badly
spoken Of as Nichols, VINO while he tries
70 give the impression that he is under q
hypnotic spell. is believed by the officers
who are observing him 10 be good deal
more cunning than Re would wish them
70 know.
Jones wzs arrested with Nichols on
Friday, but as there was nothing 20 con-
meet lirn with any OF the adeged criminal
acts. ne was released yesterday morning
He was the owner. up 70 E few months
ago, Of q prosperous merchandising bust
ness on Fillmore street. near Turk. but
scld u out after coming under Bernard, s
influence, saving he was going TO India
% llreue the eIndy Of occn. ..srn