The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-10
LETS HYPNOTIsT OUT.
Coroner Decides the subject Died
From Natural Causes.

Somerville, N. J.. Nov 1o.-while Ar
thur Everton, self styled professor
ana travelling hypnotist, sobbed in his
cen three calm medical men witnessed
a weird performance in the morgue OF
the Somerset hospital There William
E. Davenport, secretary to the mayor
OF Newark, and a student of hypnotism.
Valnly tried to bring back signs of life
IN the rigid body of Robert Simpson,
a former street car conductor of New
ARK, who apparently died after having
peen put into hypnotic trance by Ever
ton before large audience at the Som :
erVllle theater. Davenport failed, Simp-
son was declared officially dead and an
lnslstence of Everton, while in Jail af-
, ter his Intellectual attempts to revive
simpson, that Davenport, friend OF
Everton came into the case.
simpsons body, covered with black
cloth lay in the morgue at the hospi-
tai when Davenport arrived. He came
I in silently and in the presence of DR..
w. II. Long, county physician. DR.. G.
II. Halstead and DR.. Francis McCon-
aughty Immediately began his attempt
to revive the man. First he felt of the
body to detect any possible heart beat;
failing in this he placed his ear on the
victim chest. Then. invoking the pow
er of suggestion, he spoke slowly and
dramatically in the dead mans ear.
Bob" he said, bob your heart ac-
t1on-your heart action-your heart ac-
ton is beginning. It is beginning
Then changing his tone of voice to an
Bob, Bob, can't you hear me? Your
heart is beginning to beat. Your heart
is beginning to beat
Not a Muscle Stirred.
Again and again he repeated this as
surance to the inanimate form, while the
medical men looked grimly on. Not a
muscle of the body stirred and there
ahSnlnf0lN NO Gil OIL
Again Davenport changed his meth
ods, leaning over Simpsons right ear, he
spoke confidentiaHy:
"Oh. I say Bob. look. your heart Is
time after time. but without effect.
While this was going on, a brillian: in
candescent lamp shed its binding glow
in the dead mans face but the eyehds
cid not futter. and as the physicians
contended, he was beyond aid.
Simpson was 80 years old and was
accustomed. it is. said. to drinking
heavily. It is generally admitted that
he was Intoxicated during the hypnotic
test.
Eight physicians who assisted in per-
forming the autopsy issued a signed
statement stating that death was due to
rupture of the aorta. the trunk line or
the arterial system. This indicated, ac-
cording to the coroner. that death pr1-
m arily was due to natural causes and
fering for some time from an aneurism.
Death was practically instantaneous
and evidently occurred just as Simpson
as coming out of the trance. Whether
the strain he was put under when Ev
erton stood on his body during its rig
idity caused the rupture cannot be as
certained.
An interesting legal question is Sc
Quel of the autopsy.
Just what measure of responsibility,
if any, Eyerton will finally be held by
the law is a question which is puzzling
the legal experts. The prosecutor of
this district is credited with the inten-
ton of holding Eyerton on a technical
charge of mans1adghter until his case
can be passed upon by the grand jury
next month.
Hypnotist, VIII Be Held.
Somerville, Nd, Nov. 1S-Arthur
Everton. the hypnotist it is said by the
authorities here, will be held to await
action of the December grand jury
and would be admitted to bail.