The evening world., 1911-02-02
PO|SONER UNDER
HYPNOTIC SPELL
AT MURDER TRIAL
Claim Made by the Lawyers of
DR.. Pantchenko Who Twice
Pleads Guilty to Charge.

ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 2.-Yleldlng
20 the plea of the lawyers OF DR.. Pant
ehenko. the ~self-confessed professional
~poisoner. that he was under the hyp-
notic spell OF Count o'Brlen de Lacy.
With whom he j. accused OF the murder
Of Count vassiiii Bouturlin in order
That the Countess de Lacy. Bouturlin's
sister. might get possession OF an In
heritance of Ss.5oo.oco. the Court took
arcial cognizance OF the supposed hyp-
motto state of DIR. Pantchonko and
adopted the extraordinary course OF
allowing him to plead for the second
time to his indictment for murder.
Although DIR. Pnntchenko repeated
hls former plea OF guilty. the unusual
procedure OF the court In recognizing
the possibility that his actions were
controlled by hypnotism has startled
Jargsts throughout Europe. There Is no
precedent ave In minor cases In the
French courts.
i,Pantchenko at the outset OF his trial
confessed his guilt, but set M the de-
tense that he committed the crime while
Under the hypnotic influence OF the
Count. As the trial progressed he
wayered In matters Of detail. and his
lawyers were quick TO strengthen his
-orisinal defolsc by declaring to the
Court that their client was stu under
the Influence OF the Count to such an ex-
tent that he "A little by little retract-
ing the vital points OF his confession.
Prosecutor Makes Test.
- ...a. .-.
nlzsncc OF the situation. and after refer
ring 10 the proximity Of the prisoners
IN the dock made n motion that the car
Janal question of his guilt or innocence
he proposed again 10 P~antchcnko. lie
said ihat the replies of the prisoner
had been unsatisfactory throughout his
examination.
Che court granted the motion and the
formal question OF the Indictment was
4 again read. Once more the aged ply
Stefan replied that he was guilty Of
Bsuturnn's death.
His examination was then continued.
.Asked whether he had administered poi
.son no his victim. Pantchenko demurred,
say1ns that he would answer that ques-
fida after the data OF the medical ex-
IWTtr VIII hau Aihht NV i'7l-hipAi NHi
. had been presented in court. He ex-
ssIia.ned that he aid not stcriiizc n hypo-
tcrmic syringe after he had sent some
one on the a 10 the grave because
the spermo preparation diminished In
Effectiveness when the syringe wis ster-
iiized. He Invariably used this syringe
( on his victims.
Il The whole. Empire IL Interested In the
ease because OF the Wholesale confession
made by Pantchenko. Every mysterious
death or recent years Is recalled. and
there are rumors hat the poisoner may
have been engaged TO cause the death
4 of members OF the royal family.
! He, admitted that he la a bushes
of killing for hire. heirs, rivals in love,
insistent creditors, and In fact any un-
desirable person whose enemy was pre-.
, epnfcd to pay literally for their sudden
taking of.
Admits Forty Murders.
The poison doctor. according TO th,
police, has admitted some forty dsaths
his fees running ~ high - s25o, 900 70,
- sfhS4s nss~assiuaton. His method wai
- inoculats the patient with cholsr,
baelli after he had been called to tn,
tsAsias In his professional capacity
Ordinarily Il was necessary that th,
"