Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-01
WOMAN FOUND WANDERING IN
DAzED CONDITION
TIGHTLY CLASPS ALL HARE
EARNED SAVINGS
Husband Thinks Hypnotist Is Largely
Responsible for Peculiar Actions
of Wife-"Doctor" Denies
Any Connection

taking spookSters whose one thought was
to wiring from her the few dollars her
husband had saved after lifetime of toll
Mrs. w. ID. Barrett of 217 East Fifth
street was found by Police Surgeon Quint
wandering about the streets yesterday
and was taken to the receiving hospital
for examination.
There the woman was recognized as a
victim of grating spooksters.
Crying pitifully that her baby daugh-
ter, who died nearly five years ago, had
returned and was giving her instructions
that she did not dare disobey, and clasp
ing to her breast the picture of the child,
Mrs Barrett at first refused to allow the
physicians to attend her, and only gave
in when informed that she might return
home after resting.
Find Money on Woman
When searched by the matron the wo-
man was found to be carrying a purse
containing $367.9S.
When asked about the money Mrs. Bar
rett told the officers that she had drawn
it from the First National bank where
she had it deposited and on the instruc-
tions of her dead daughter meant to keep
it about her person in the future.
When still further questioned the
woman admitted that she had been given
readings and been hypnotized by DR."
Warner, said to be one of the so-caled
spiritualists who lives in an apartment
adjoining the one occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Barrett
Through him 1 received messages from
my darling child" she said. my baby
girl comes to me and tells me what to do.
Some time l will meet her in the land
where she is now, and together we will
be happy forever"
1t appeared impossible for the woman
to keep her mind on one subject for any
length of time, and frequently she would
break into snatches of song while her
eyes would roam to and fro about the
room.
Word was sent to her husband telling
him of his wlfes condition and asking
him to call at the receiving hospital.
Husband Is Shocked
Barrett appeared greatly shocked at
his wife's condition, and said the woman
had been acting strangely or several
weeks. He claimed that since coming to
Los Angeles from Arizona few months
ago the woman has frequently consulted
spiritualists and has allowed them to
govern all her actions.
my wife is of very nervous disposi-
tion,' he said, and her intercourse with
these mediums has evidently weakened
her mind. She talks incessantly OF our
ago, and believes the child is constantly
communicating with her.
"These ideas have been put in her head
by takers who evidently wished to turn
her into one of their victims, but I did
not believe it possible they would work
on her mind enough to cause her to act
so strangely
ION Tuesday night ] started to close
the windows in the different rooms as is
1Stn Whom leaving the
room my wife suddenly jumped to her
feet and in hysterical voice begged me
not to leave her alone.
''Placing her hands to her her head she
walked back and forth across the room,
mumbling to herself and begging me to
stay with her.
Feared Robbery
Early this morning she compliance
that she feared that she would be robbed,
and told me that our little girl had re-
turned during the night and told her to
guard our little money carefully.
"She had in her possession a check for
SIS and told me she thought she would
go to the bank and deposit 1t. She left
the house with the check and the next L
heard of her she was in the receiving
hospital.
~ have been told that she went to the
bank and insisted on drawing out all our
money. The cashier noticed her strange
actions and noufied the police.
when 1 arrived at the hospital my
wife told me that she had gone there to
show a picture of our little girl to pa
trolman, friend of the family. She ap-
peared quite her usual self.
"Dr Warner arrived in Los Angeles
from Goldfield about a week ago. Since
he came to the house my wife has been
acting strangely. He claims to be hyp-
notist and a few days ago hypnotized my
wife and a friend of hers, MRS. Holcombe.
"We were unable to do anything with
either of the women until we called
Warner and he then brought them out OF
the spell.
Thinks Hypnotlst Responsible
''Yes, 1 think 1t is probable that it is
DR.. Warmers influence that has caused
my wife to act strangely. She has been
constantly in his company and he ap-
pears to lead her easily.
Il do not know whether he hold her to
draw the money from the bank and my
wife has refused to tell me anything
about that part of the affair.
II do not know much about DR.. War
ner. except what he has told me-"
When seen by a reporter for The Her
aid Mrs. Barrett refused to give any in
formation about her interviews with DIR.
Warner. She began to sing several times
and once sprang from her chair and ap-
peared as If shocked.
The woman is insane" said Dr. War
ner when seen at his home last night.
she has been consulting spiritualists and
palmists and what they have told her has
affected her mind She is nervous and is
easily led
When questioned about his hypnotic
powers Warner refused to answer any
questions. He would not admit that he
had ever hypnotized the woman and
claimed to know nothing about her draw
ing the money from the bank.
According to physicians at the receiving
hospital the woman's mind is unhinged,
They say this has been caused by con-
stand worry over the tales she has been
told by fake mediums, and it is probable
one of them will swear to an insanity
complaint against her in order to get Mrs
Barrett to some hospital where she will
receive proper rest sand care.