The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-13
HYPNOTIST HELD
FOR MANS DEATH
Put Simpson to Sleep But
Couldn't Awaken Him.
CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE

Persists That Man Is still In a Gaia
leptc State, But Efforts Of Physi'
clans and Hypnotlst to Rouse Him
Fails.
Somerville. n j., Nov. 10.-In a lit
tie rough finished room in the base
ment of the Somerset county hospital
an attempt was made by the methods
of the hypnotist to resuscitate the
hypnotic subject. Simpson. who had
apparently died while under hypnotic
influence. On some rough planks. rails
ed TO a tables height. lay the body
living or dead-of the man Simpson,
whose means OF livelihood had been as
subject for the showman-hypnotist.
Arthur Everton.
Everton is in jail. charged with
homicide. and persisted in his declara'
ton that Simpson was not dead. but
was yet In a cataleptic condition. In
which the hypnotizer had placed him
for exhibition purposes Everton had
begged the authorities that his friend
and some time instructor, w. e. Dav'
export. of Newark be sent for and be
allowed to attempt to revive Simp-
son. This earnest request of the hyp.
notist the authorities after consulta-
ton decided to grant
Mr.. Davenport first applied his ear
to the body as If listening for heart
beats. Then he slightly opened the
eyes OF the man and. bringing his own
eyes close to them, looked into them
intently. Davenport was manifestly
sincere in what he was doing. His
manner affected all those who silently
watched him. The little room was In
absolute silence as Davenport again
applied first his ear then the tips Of
his fingers over the motionless heart
Next he bent his head down low over
the head above the black cloth. placed
his lips close to an ear of the body he
sought TO revive. and said. sharply and
eagerly: Bob"
II was a trained voice. the voice Of
man drilled to shock or. command
the senses, and 1t startled without
moving the intent group of watchers,
Bob, Your heart"
There was another silence as tense
ly dramatic as the mind can imagine.
Then followed the words: Bob. Your
heart, Your heart is beating"
II after the sound of the operators
voice the subjects eyelids had moved.
1t seemed as If none there would have
been greatly surprised. But there was
no motion.
But the operator eagerly felt again
over the heart and again listened. and
then again spoke into the unhearing
ear:
Bob. Listen Hear what say.
our heart, Your heart is beating"
There was no response. no move
ment of the eyellds. no futtering OF
the heart. and Davenport motioned TO
the manager under whom Everton had
exhibited last week. He stepped TO the
side Of the body and repeated the
phrases Davenport had used. After
that Davenport pressed upon the
breast as II artifically to start a move
ment of the heart and then spoke into
the other ear.
Bob" Now there was an accent OF
pleading. Bob, You hear me. Your
heart is moving"
DR. Long. the county physician. then
spoke to him. do you think that man
is dead?" he asked.
Il think he is dead" Davenport re-
piled.
The autopsy was performed by
County Physician William II. Long.
assisted by DR.. A. l.. Stillwell and the
result showed that death had been
caused by rupture Of the aorta. the
main artery of the heart.
The physicians declared that the
rupture could have been brought
about by a serious strain. but they
gave no definite opinion on the nature
of the strain.