The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-12-30
TO BE TRIED FOR MURDER.
Arthur EyertOn, Wizard of Mesmer-
ism, Will Face Trial.

new Ofk, DeC. A1.-CSl Cdlu vi
acquittal, Arthur Everton, the hypno
tist, who is charged with causing the
death of Robert Simpson, one OF his
subjects, during public exhibition
of his powers at Somersville, n. j..
will face trial at that place to-day
Everton declares that Simpson
death was due to heart disease, and
that Simpson had been drinking
heavily during the day, unknown tc
the hypnotist, and that this caused
heart failure.
Vain attempts were made by sew
eral physicians and hynotists to
arouse the dead man, and it was not
until many hours had passed that
Everton permitted himself to believe
that his subject was really deceased
Then he was led away to jail, where
he remained for ten days, when he
was released on $4,000 bond.
Since then the hynotist has been Civ
ing other exhibitions similar to that
which caused the death of Simpson,
''in order to get money" as he ex-
pressed it, ''to pay expenses of the
legal proceedings in which have
become involved"
At these later exhibitions Edward
Thompson, the boy who assisted
Everton at Somersville, has been
placed in a cataleptic state. He is
then stretched across the backs of
two chairs, while Everton stands
upon him with the full weight of
his body bearing down upon the
rigid form of the youth.
At one of these performances,
when time came for repetition of
the act which caused the death of
Simpson, the hypnotist said:
II have been charged with MUIR
der as the result of what l am now
about to do, yet am perfectly will
ing to do all that I did then, because
| am sure that the unfortunate Simp-
son did not die of hynotism in any
form. I knew that he was dead as
soon as he dropped upon the stage at
Somersville, and I merely used all
my hypnotic powers to convince the
physicians that hynotism had not
killed him and therefore it could not
restore him.
The Thomson boy then mounted a
chair, and after few passes by the
hypnotist he became perfectly rigid.
His head was then placed over the
other chair.
1T was stated" said Everton,
'that 1 stood upon the abdomen Of
Simpson. I understand anatomy far
too well to ever attempt such a
thing" Then, as shudder went
through the audience, he leaped upon
the boys thighs, tapping him lightly
with his hand.
"My hypnotism was merely coin
cidence with heart disease. The di-
sease may have made Simpson good
subject but he died of it. Hypnotism
cannot hurt a normal heart. Thomp-
sons heart is all right, as will show
you," said Everton.
Then he stepped down from the
body and in a few moments the boy
walked back to his seat in the circle
of his subjects.
The remainder of the act showed a
high order of hynotic ability, the
green" subjects going through
their work under the hand of Ever
ton with a quickness that was sur
prising. He did nearly all the usual
tricks of professional hypnotists and
closed by sending one of his untried
subjects through the audience with
a needle through his cheeks.
Since his arrest Everton has re-
ceived many letters from former sub
jects and medicine men expressing
their confidence in him and belief
that he is guiltless of any improper
work. Everton said he would call
some of the physicians as witnesses
at his trial.
The bail on which Everton was re-
leased was furnished by Nathan Cru
Der, Of Newark.
Three Lynchings this Year.