Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-09-07
HYPNOTIC MOTHER
HOLDS SONS FAST
IN BED FOR YEARS
Convinces Strong and Hearty
Young Men Against Their
Will That They Have
Heart Disease.
ALL ANXIOUS TO ESCAPE
Humane Society Will Try to
Rescue Them from the
Clutches of Parent
With Evil Eye.


Gloversville. N. y Sept. 7.--Steps to
nave the three sons of Sarah Bennett,
who have been confined to their beds IN
the family home at Hope, Hamilton
county. removed to an institution are
under way The Humane society
through its Gloversvlle representative
Mr. Schumann, has taken up the case
and is making an Investigation.
Apparently strong, healthy slx-foot-
ers these three. George. 35 years old:
Frank. 2S, and Ward, "a have been
confined to their beds in the lonely
farmhouse miles from amy other hab-
tation, for years. due, it is said. To hyp-
motto influence eXerted by their mother.
She. however, says they are suffering
from heart disease and would die II
disturbed
DR.. j. NJ Wright, IA prominent physi-
cian of Hamilton county, in an inter-
view, disproved the mothers story that
the sons are ill. He has at various
times examined them, and his diagnoses
have revealed nothing, save that the
boys are hypnotically affected He be-
lieves all are under the strange mes
meric force of the mother.
Watches Sons Constantly.
Sarah Bennett, enabled as she is 10
maintain q constant watch over her
sons, has managed to avoid publicity
because of the remoteness of the local.
fly in which she resides. In the larger
cities to the south the residents scout
ed the strange stories recounted by re-
turning road workers and woodsmen.
Only lately. when the new road was
cut through to Lake Pleasant. We're the
storeis of the returning Woodsmer
given credcnce.
Accompanied by the Humane so
ciety's agent. n reporter visited tlle
Bennett home, and after considerable
difficulty. was permitted to enter tht
room where the three men are confined
The trio seemed to marvel at Tho
sight OF a new face. AS the eldest at
tempted to launch into a statement o
the impression made by the strange
on him, his mother threw her sharI
gaze upon him and he Immediately fel
back, muttcring incOherenly after tn
manner of an idiot.
Mother in Rage.
The mother cniaged ut tine son:
action. attempted to force the CORES
pondcnt from the room. Encouraged
by the presence rf the two strangers
the youngest of the trio suddenly raise,
himself on his arm managed to avoi.
the glare of the woman and the way
ing of her hands. and charged her witt
exertng q malign influence over hin
and his brothers.
At this juncture Frank interposc
mother, charging her with witchcraft
In the nliIs, OF the Sudden revol
AGAINST the mental domination OF tn
mother the father. John Bennett en-
tered the room. He. too. was uncertai
In his speech. AS he was about t
the affected trio. his wife CAV
him a piercing glance The fathe
rushed from the room.
One Son Not Slave.
The story of the hypnotized sons ha
no equal In it's line In this state 1t
best related by another son of the WON
an hypnotiSt Fayette Bennett VIII
Years ago proved unsusceptibe to hs
Tnesmeric force. He was interviewe
while steering a plough i'm the field
n neisfboring farmer. His first II
sponse to a question revealed that i
had not been near his mothers hous
fu Years. He expressed a mortal fear
the Influence OF. his mother, saving:
..Twelve years ago, when was but
youngstcr, I was startled at the strans
action of my brothers. when in III
presence of mother. remember dis
einctly how all three Mere constant
kept in the house and while they to
mo they would like To go GU, tho
seemed unable to do so under ii
strange power of mother Whenev
they asked to go out like l did.
glance from mother quieted them.
Il was never affected by the powe
she exerted. but thought it best to g
away from her At that time my faith
was strong man. as he seemed ab
to dominate her He confided i'm II
lately, however, that he could no long
resist the power she had to make b
mind Crazy It's all strange TO me- a;
can only assign the strange condit:,
to her strong will and her power to ii
fiuence weaker minds"
Confined Girl Died.