Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-11-12
HYpN0TIST Fails
TO WHKEN VICTIM
STUDENT .VAINLY TRIES TO RE-
STORE LIFE TO SUBJECT" WHO
DIES DURING TEST.
PHYSICIANS SEE THE ATTEMPT.
Autopsy Performed After Weird Cere-
mony and Aorta Shown to Have
Been Ruptured.
DEATH DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES.

NEW YORK, Nov. 10.-In little
room in the basement of the Somerset
county hospital at Somerville, y. j.,
Monday evening an attempt was made
by the methods Of the hypnotist to resus-
citate the hypnotic subject, Robert Simp-
son, who had apparently died while I'M
der hypnotic influence the evening be-
fore On some rough planks raised to
tables height lay the body-liying or
dead-of Simpson, whose means of live
lihood had been as a subject for the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Arthur Everton.
Eyerton, in Jail, charged with homi-
eide, persisted in his declaration that
Simpson was not dead, but was yet in d
cataleptic condition in which the hyp-
notizer had placed him for exhibition
purposes.
Everton had begged the authorities
that his friend and former instructor.
w. Il. Davenport, secretary to the New
ark postmaster, be sent for and be al
lowed to attempt to revive Simpson.
This earnest request of the hypnotist the
authorities after consultation decided TO
grant.
Physicians Watch Attempt.
In the early evening Davenport ar
rived in Someryille. He was met at the
station by Mrs. Everton. They went TO
the hospital where they met w. II.
Long, county physician, and three mem
btrs of the hospital staff-Drs. Hecht,
Stilwell and Halstead.
Davenport explained to them that he
had long been a student of hypnotics,
that he had practiced it only as a stu
dent, and that he had come in response
to a pupils cry for help, and would, with
the Doctors permission, attempt to re
give the subject, Simpson.
DR.. Long, for himself and the members
of the staff, agreed. In their opinion
EvertOn's hypnotic subject was dead.
They proffessed no especial knowledge
of hypnotism and were willing to con-
cede that the man possibly might be
in a cataleptic state and possibly could
be revived.
Test of Suggestion Begun.
Mr.. Davenport, after laying aside his
hat and overcoat, pulled the covering
from Simpsons body and applied his
ear 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. He then 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 and placed his lips close to an ear
of a body he sought to revive.
Bob he said, Bob, your heart ac-
ton-your heart action-your heart ac
ton is beginning. 1t is beginning.
Slowly and dramatically Davenport re-
peated this in the ear, then changing his
tone of voice to an imperious command,
he cried sharply:
.'Bobi Bob. Can't you hear me?"
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 was absolutely no sign of ANNA
ton.
Tries to Coax Life Back.
Again Davenport changed his methods.
Leaning over Simpsons right ear, he
spoke conidentially:
"Oh, l say, Bob" he said in quiet,
conversational tone, "look, your heart is
beginning to beat"
He repeated this soothingly time after
time, but without effect
While this was going on a brilliant in
candescent lamp shed it's binding glow
in the dead mans face. but the eyelids
did not futter, and, as the physicians
commended, he was beyond aid.
Disheartened Davenport turned to go,
but DR.. Long called him back. what
is your opinion?' he asked.
I die not come to form an opinion
replied Davenport.
But we insist" said the county ply
stefan.
Well" replied Davenport, after q
pause, 'he's dead
Aorta Rupture Cause of Death
Then he went out, and the medical
men began preparations for the autopsy.
Eight physicians assisted in perform
ing the autopsy and they issued a signed
statement at its conclusion stating that
death was due to rupture of the aorta
the trunk line of the arterial system
This indicated, according to the coroner,
that death primarily was due to natural
causes and that the man probably had
been suffering for some time from an
aneuriSm.
Death was practically instantaneous
and evidently occurred just as Simpson
was coming out of the trance. Whether
the strain he was put under when Ever
ton stood on his body during its rightly
caused the rupture cannot be ascer-
tanned.
LONG SEARCH ENDS AT GRAVE.