The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-11
M()IREV|VE.
IN VICTIM
HYPN PN0T|ST
Sustained Efforts Fail Of
Results and Autopsy is
Held. Professor in Cell

SOMERVILLE, N. j., Nov. 10
While Arthur Everton, self-styled
professor" and travelling hypnotist,
sobbed in his cell, three calm medicaf
men witnessed weird performance
in the morgue of the Somerset hos
pital last night and this morning.
There William e. Davenport, secre-
tary to the mayor of Newark and
a student of hypnotism, vainly tried
to bring back signs of life in the
rigid body of Robert Simpson, for
mer street car conductor of New
ark, who apparently died last night
after having been put into a hyp-
motto trance by Everton.
Davenport failed, Simpson was de-
clared officially dead and an autopsy
was held this afternoon.
Meanwhile, charged with man
slaughter, unnerved and shaken,
Everton remains in prison, where he
must await the action of the grand
jury as sequel to stage trick.
1t was at the piteous insistence of
Everton, while in jail, after his in
effectual attempts to revive Simpson,
that Davenport, friend of Everton,
came into the case today. Notwith-
standing the declarations of physf-
clans that Simpson was dead, Ever
ton pleaded that Davenport be allow
ed to revive him. Accordingly, the
autopsy was postponed and the stu
dent of hypnotism was summoned.
Simpsons body, covered with a
black cloth, lay in the morgue at the
hospital when Davenport arrived. He
came in silently and in the presence
-of three physicians began his attempt
to revive the man. First he felt the
body to detect any possible heart
beat; failing in this, he placed his
hand on the victims chest. Then
using the power of suggestion, he
spoke in the dead mans ear. Bob" !"
he said; Bob, your heart action
your heart action-your heart action
is beginning. 1t is beginning"
Slowly and dramatically Daven-
port repeated this in the ear, then
changing his tone of voice to an i'm
perious command, he cried sharply,
Bob, Bob, can't you hear me? Your
heart is beginning to beat. Your
heart is beginning to beat"
Again and again he repeated this
assurance to the inanimate form, but
not a muscle of the body stirred.
Again Davenport changed his
methods. Leaning over Simpsons
right ear, he spoke confidently: 'Un,
I say Bob," he said in quiet CONVEX
sational tones, look, your heart is
beginning to beat" He repeated this
time after time, but without effect
While this was going on a bril-
liant incandescent lamp shed its
binding glow in the dead mans face,
but the eye lids did not flutter.
Disheartened, Davenport turned to
go, but DIR. Long called him back.
What is your opinion?" he asked.
81 did not come to form an opin-
ion," he said.
''But we insist said the county
physician.
"Well," replied Davenport, after a
pause, hes dead" sf-..5
Then he went out and the medical
men began preparations for the
autopsy.
Simpson, the victim, was 35 years
old and it is said he was a heavy
drinker. 1t is generally admitted that
he was intoxicated during the test
last night. No relatives have appear
ed to claim the body.
Eyerton has employed counsel and
will fight the case. 1t has been sug-
gested that he will make the novel
plea that the man was still alive
when the autopsy was performed.