The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-07
SMOOTH WORK.
A "HypnOtist" Secures Savings
of a Sick Widow.
Mrs. Phillips of independence
Robbed of Over $500.
OILY TONGUED OUTFIT
The Specialist Claimed to Be
Sent by Fortune Teller.
Took Money From the Front OF
the Victims Dress.

lola, Kan, Feb. THE Register
says:
Last Sunday evening about o'clock
very handsome man wearing dark
clothes, and with a smooth address,
raped at the home of Mrs. Phillips,
Z East Douglas street, and inquired for
Mrs. Phillips. The lady who answered
the call told the inquiring stranger
that Mrs. Phillips was Ill and was not
able to see him. But upon his insist
ing Mrs. Phillips came to the door and
asked him to come in.
After seating himself comfortably
the handsome gentleman began by say
ing: 'I believe you are a good friend
of Madam True, the fortune teller who
visited here several days ago."
Mrs. Phillips assured the man that
Madam True had appeared to be her
friend but if the stories which were
told about her were true she was not
to be trusted
Madam True told me that you were
i'll and asked me to come here and stay
with you until you get well. I am a
specialist continued the man who
claimed to have been sent by Madam
True.
After talking a short time longer the
stranger-specialist arose from his seat
saying that he would be back at 1870
o'clock and give her the first treat
ment.
Promptly at the hour stated he call
ed for the second time at the Phillips
residence. This time Mrs. Phillips did
not leave her bed. The specialist was
ushered beside her bed.
After a short conversation the spe-
cialist managed to get Mrs. Phillips
upon chair where after rubbing his
hands over her forehead a few times
as she thought, he left saying that he
would be back the next morning at 8
o'clock.
Waiting until O'Clock Monday
morning and no specialist appearing
Mrs. Phillips thought of her money
which she carried in a small sack in
the front of her dress. She had no
misgivings at first when she reached
in and found the sack there all right
and apparently filled with the money.
However, she took the sack out and
opened it to find that the SIPS which
she had there had been stolen and in
it's place substituted a bunch Of news
paper clippings. A duplicate deposit
slip for $500 which she had in the AL
len County State bank had also disap-
peared.
The supposition is that the smooth
talking, we'll dressed man who claimed
to be a specialist is a hypnotist and
succeeded in making the exchange
while he had Mrs. Phillips under his
hypnotic power.
The strangest circumstance about
the ho1dup is how this specialist knew
where Mrs. Phillips kept her money.
Mrs. Phillips says that she believes
that through superior power Madam
True discovered that she had this
this money and where she kept it and
devised this scheme of getting it.
Mrs. Phillips says that she went to
Madam True while she was here to
have her tell her some things relative
to some business matters which were
worrying her a great deal and in this
way grew quite intimate with the for
tune teller Madam True, Mrs. Phillips
says, visited her home several times.
1t is believed by those who are ac-
quainted with the circumstances sur
rounding the stealing of Mrs. Phillips
money that the specialist and Madam
True are working together or are two
of gang which is working in this
part of the state.
Mrs. Phillips is widow lady who up
to short time ago worked for the
city.
Madam True left lola a week ago
Friday. Mrs. Phillips has turned the
| matter over to the police.