The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-17
UNIQUE PLEA MAY
SAVE WOMAN FROM
GALLOWs
Arrested on Charge Of Being I'm
plioated in Her Husbands Muir
der, She Says Police Third
Degree" Hypnotized Her.
Jury In First Trial Disagreed and
She Wi1 Be Tried Again--Destk
Sentence for Paramour.

TACOMA. Wash, Dec l7-"You
told Newcomb to Kill your husband
"I-told-Newcomb- 49, my
husband
You nred two of the shots your
self"
"I-fired-two-of-t shots"
You fred them with the pistol"
'Fired-them'
A dialogue like the above. between
herself and the police officers during
"A pitiless application Of the third de-
gree" pretty Mrs. Martina Kvalshaugh
declares marked her confession Of
completely In "A cold-blooded murder.
Her contention that she was In a
hypnotic state when she made her
damning replies. contention upheld
by one of the leading psychologists Of
the West, saved her from the gallows
once and may save her again.
A little before midnight. on the IA
OF last May, while walking home with
his wife after a dance. Martin Kvals-
haugh pronounced Uualshaw) was
murdered. He was shot Ave times
with A revolver Charles I,evcomb.
who had also been at the dance. was
arrested. He confessed the shooting.
declaring also, that Mrs. kyalshaugh
helped him. and even fred two OF the
shots.
Mrs. Kvalshaugh was Immediately
arrested at her home. Under a grill
ling sweat box examination whlch
lasted an entire day. the police secur
ed a confession that she WAS not only
untrue as a wife. but that she was
An accomplice In the murder.
Newcomb was tried, convicted on
his own confession. and sentenced 10
death.
When Mrs. Kvalshaugh was brought
IN trial. she admitted her faithless'
ness. but declared that she had no
recollection OF having confessed 10
completely in the crime.
That she was hypnotized by the
third degree" was her defense.
When the police presented her con
fession, she took the stand and related
the incidents after her arrest. She
declared that. after sleepiess night
following the murder. she was IN
hysterical state when her examlha-
ton by the police was commenced.
She remembered telling them oil her
faithlessness. When she was nearly
exhausted from the pitiless question
ing. she declared. a shining revolver
the one with which the murder was
committed. was flashed before heF
ewes. and everything became a blank
he testified that she could recall no
Incident of the two days following
Pure hypnotism. induced by sug-
cestion from the police. was the ek'
rlanation given by the woman at'
,orneys. who pointed out the similar
itv in subject and form between 'he
confessions OF Mrs. Kyalshaugh ana
Newcomb
To support their theory. the LAWYERS
called their chief witness, Prof. III. |.
stevens. head OF the department OF
nhychology OF the University OF Wash
ipgton and recognized "a the aolest ex-
pert in the Northwest.
lie related having hypnotized the
woman and declared his beliet that
her confession was untrue, the MR.
echo of suggestions presented 10 nei
while in state of hypnosis. he calIeu
attention TO the demonstration Oy III.
Baird OF England that hypnosis may
he induced by causing the subject 10
gaze at a bright object.
The prosecuting attorneys Oranueu
the entire scheme Of the deiehse "a
bold trame-up."
However that may be. six Jurors
we're thoroughly enough convinced
hat hypnotism had been practlced IN
securing the confession, 20 vote lof
acquittal. =.
The jury after several hours de
liberation. was evenly split Now
new trial has been ordered Tor next
month. Mrs Kvalshangh's beauty
and the third degree hypnotism theory
vtl be her only weapons in her nght
- save herself from the galio"s