River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-05-27

LII. L uluIVdII D, pdSSSu LuIOuSu IS-
| markable variety of expressions. In
the beginning he showed embarrass-
ment mingled with fear which ran
rapidly into perplexity, into surprise,
peacefulness, and finally, as he asked
the question, into deep and absorbed
introspection. His mind now was plain
ly bent in upon itself, occupied with
one idea, and that was to answer the
query put to him. And almost at
once, before the doctor could have re
peated his words, had he intended do
ing so, the young man said in a mat
ter-of-fact tone:
II remember-it was about the MUIR
der. Yes, / committed it. If you wish
to know why
At this startling statement the law
yer screamed out: Courtney" and
started forward as If violently to re-
strain him from proceeding. DR.. Fur
nivall waved him back.
"Be quiet" he said. Lets have the
story Mr.. Banning, who was your
victim?"
John P. Parmenter," he answered.
what, the druggist?"
eyes"
"Why did you do it?"
"He was working so much harm in
the world"
What harm? Begin at the begin
ming and tell me all about it,
His colorless eyes in Dr. Furnivalls
his brow wrinkled in thought, young
Banning proceeded in mechanical
voice:
Some months ago l began to at
tend Mrs. Van Tromp's lectures on
self-help and mental healing. There
/ learned many things not taught in
the schools, among them three of SUI
preme Importance, namely, that, first,
drugs are an invention of the devil;
second, that the true healing of dis
ease is through mental suggestion, or
telepatEy; and, third, that evil
thoughts can be communicated mental
ly as. well as good ones. AS soon as
had become aware of this latter fact
| began to notice that whenever
passed a drug store I felt a strange
sensations. My head swan, my limbs
trembled, my stomach turned sour,
and my mind became full of thoughts
of horror and dread. | could think Of
nothing but evil This was true of
all drug stores, but more particularly
of Parmenter's. And that is the one
nearest my home, the one must pass
every time I go into the street. / con-
stantly heard Parmenters voice
threatening me as l hurried by, men,
tally, you know, for he wouldn't dare
say such things aloud. I knew he was
jealous of my knowledge, afraid that
would hurt his devils trade, and
wished to silence me. Once he com
manded me mentally to throw myself
headlong into my area yard, and be-
fore could brace myself sufficiently
to resist him down l dove, head first,
upon the bricks, and nearly broke my
neck. He compelled me to do many
deridings to his malice, for now his
telepathic communications to me, all
of them commands to do something's
self-hurtful, were accompanied by
taunts that I couldn't help myself be-
cause he was stronger than l. TO es-
cape him l frequented societies where
I hoped in the midst of carousal, for
getfulness, stupidity and frivolity his
things of this nature, catching me I'M
prepared, until my detestation Of him
added to my knowledge OF the evil
character of his occupation, left only
one course open to me. But ] would
mt proceed to extreme measures until
/ had tried every mild means, such
as sending him, by telepathy, concilia-
tory messages, assuring him that if
he would reIinquish his drug deviltry
/ would put him on the right track and
set him up in business thai he could
follow with success and an easy con-
science. This seemed to make no i'm
preston on him. unless it was to add
suggestions could not penetrate. But
all in vain. | caught them there as
plainly as in my own room at home.