The San Francisco call., 1909-07-25
HYPNOTIC SPELL
SAPS GIRLS WILL
Young Woman Tells Police of
Being Held Prisoner Under
Mystic influence

Cast into a hypnotic spell by E. G.
Fisher, Holy Roller, kept a prisoner
by him for three days and under his
absolute dominance for a week longer
were the sensational features of a
strange tale of hypnotism told to the
police yesterday by Miss Bertha Thorn
son, "a Pope street near Onondaga ave-
nue.. Such was the mysticism sur
rounding the girls complaint that, while
Judge Conlan could not see what spe-
cific charge could be laid against
Fisher, he suggested the police would
do well to arrest the man and they
are now searching for him.
The peculiar part of the tale is that,
though the girl, according to her
story, was mentally incapable of as
serting her independence, Fisher made
no effort TO injure her.
When she finally succeeded in break
ing away from the power of his Will.
the girl fed to her parents, sobbing
out her experiences and begging their
protection. Fisher, she. said, followed
her and not only regained his infiu-
ence over her, but hypnotized the
parents, so that they made no objec
ton when, at his command, the girl
left her home and again followed him.
Miss Thomson called at the police
station with her father and mother.
She said that she first met Fisher at the
Holy Roller camp in Locust street, and
that within a few minutes he had OBJ
tained complete influence over her, and
when he suggested that she go to Niles,
where he had a position for her, she
readily consented.
GIRL LOCKED IN ROOM
Instead of going to Niles, she said.
he took her to house at Fifth and
Washing gton streets in Oakland, and
Immediately locked her up in a room.
While the girl was allowed the out
ward semblance of liberty, being al
lowed to leave the house for her meals.
she declared that such was Fishers
spell that, try as she would, she did not
have the strength to leave, but inva-
riably returned to her ROOM Upon
her entering it Fisher would lock her
in. TO add to the suspicious of the po-
lice the girl said that Fisher was man
of numerous disguises.
When she first went with him to
Oakland he appeared to be an aged
farmer. Once locked in the room the
man, she said, turned his back, and
she was hOrrlned the next instant to
confront black mustached, black
haired young man.
At the end of the third day Fisher
brought her to San Francisco and here
she secured work. 1t was her daily
intention on leaving her place of en-
ployment to go to her home, but Fisher
would be waiting for her and at his
nod, she would once more follow him.
GIRL MAKES ESCAPE
Yesterday Fisher went to Oakland
and Miss Thomson, free of his influ-s
ence for the time being, once again
ran home. BY this time the girl was
reduced to such nervous, hysterical
condition that it was decided to ask aid
of the police and to have Fisher ar
rested. BY this measuse, it was thought
lay the only hope for the girls free
dom.
Detective McHugh,. accompanied by
Miss Thomson, went to Fifth and
Washington streets, Oakland, to arrest
Fisher and was Joined by Detective
Green Of the Oakland force. Fisher
could not be found.
The police were at first inclined to
disbelieve the girls story, but the
severest of cross examinations failed
to shake it. The mystery is deepened
by the lack of purpose on Fishers
part in imprisoning her.