Democratic messenger., 1909-11-13
HYPNOTIST HELD
FOR MANS DEATH
Put Simpson TO Sleep But
Couldn't Awaken Him
CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE
Persists That Man 10 still In . cata.
Ieptie state, But Efforts Of Physi.
clans and HypnotIst to Rouse Him
Fails.

teptic state, BUT EHoFts OF rHysr
clans and HypnotIst to Rouse Him
Falls.
In little rough finished room in the
basement Of the Somerset. N. j..
county hospital an attempt was made
by the methods of the hypnotist to re-
suscitate the hypnotic subject. Simp-
son, who had apparently died while
under hypnotic influence. On some
rough planks. raised to tables
height. lay the body-living or dead
of the man Simpson. whose means OF
livelihood had been as a subject for
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Arthur Ever
ton.
Everton is in jail. charged with
homicide. and persisted in his declara
tion that Simpson was not dead but
was yet in 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. r. 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.
tion decided to grant.
Mr.. Davenport first applied his ear
to the body as II listening for heart
beats. Then he slightly opened the
eyes OF the man and. bringing his own
eyes close to them. locked 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 trained voice. the voice OF
the senses, and II 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,"
There was no response. no move
ment of the eyelids. no fiuttering 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 If arihcally to start 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"
II 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 serious strain. but they
gave no definite opinion on the nature
Of the strain.
Professor Everton opened a week
engagement in the Somerville theater
He brought Simpson and a sixteen
year-old boy here from Newark as his
subjects. Everton put Simpson In a
rigid state and. placing his feet on one
chair and his head on another. stood
on his bod:- without causing him to
relax. After going through this per.
formance. Everton clapped his hand
IN an effort to restore Simpson
Simpsons eyes rolled up in his head
his jaw dropped and he collapsed be
tween the chairs and rolled over on
the floor He was carried to the
wings. and Everton worked over him
until he became greatly excited and
finally lost his nerve
Left 5000, 900 to Charity.
John Stewart Kennedy's will. which