New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
WOMAN GUILTY Of THEFT;
HYPNOT|zED, SHE SAYS
Tells on Stand She and Youth
Committed Many Robberles
in Greater New York.
CLAIMS DOCTOR AS HUSBAND
Alleged Confederate OF Mrs
Mann, in Queens Jail, Denies
He Ever Exerted Undue
influence Over Her.

Edna Henry Mann. thirty-seven years
old. giving her residence as No. l3' East
oIst street Manhattan and saying she
is the wife OF Or. Louis Mann, sur
geon aboard the steamship Caracas, OF
the Red ID" Line, was convicted OF
horse stealing by a jury before Judge
Humphrey, in the Queens County Court
Long Island City. yesterday.
During the trial she took the witness
stand and testified in her own defence'
She told a remarkable story Of series
of burelaries and robberies which sne
alleged she committed while unoer the
hypnotic influence Of Sidney Denhihs'
twenty-five years old.
Young Denning is locked up IN the
Queens County Jail, awaiting trlai OH
three indictments, while several war
rants from Staten Island, Brooklyn ana
Manhattan. based on the confession
made by Mrs Mann TO District Attorney
Dewitt of Queens County, are a"al'ihs
service.
Mrs Mann hac glossy black hair gray
eves and is slender Of figure. She haS
the appearance OF refinement, ana gave
her testimony in well chosen lahsnaeo
and in a smooth, low tone OF voice. Ai.ot
tho verdict OF guilty was returned the
prisoner was led back to her CELL weep
ing Historically.
The charge against Mrs. Mann was
that on December - OF last year. III
company with Denning. she stole Noise
owned bv Herman Faber and wagon
ou,red nv William Ludwig, both OF Mas
moth and drove to Coney Island "here
they were arrested while trying to make
a sale.
Although no marriage ceremony mad
over been performed. she testified that
from her associations with Dr. Mann she
vas known as Mrs. Mann, and that she
and the doctor lived together as man ana
wife when he was ashore. Her trouDies
hegan about two years ago, when, she
saws. she met young Denning. VINO later
ON threatened to expose her conduct TO
the doctor OH his return TO New York
unless she consented to continue her re-
lations with him while the doctor was
away.
She said Denning came from Norfolk,
Va and that when money ran snort ne
resorted to thieving. and she aided III
the robberies She said she was unable
IN resist Dcnning, and several times
when she sought 10 break away ne
threatened to kill her
Among the robberies she recounted
was the breaking into the office or Jo-
semi Bermel. former Borough President
of Oueens County. who has stone ana
monument yard in Middle Village. on
another occasion they broke into "A car
nenter's shop in Middle Village and stole
an the tools they could find. Running
sbort of change on trip through Long
Island CITY they broke open a slot ma
chine. on Staten Island they got into
real estate office and carried of a
typewriting machine and bicycle, while
the booty taken from storage ware
house In Manhattan netted valuable
rug. a handsome chair. a mirror and an
overcoat. They also stole a horse and
wagon at Coney Island which has since
been recovered by the police.
She couldn't tell how much money was
realized altogether from their various
raids, as she declared young Denning took
charge Of the cash.
When seen in Jail Denning denied that
he had hypnotized the woman. He de-
cIared that she was the leading spirit In
their depreda tions End she had threat
ened to kin him If he ever tried to leave
her