The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-05-15
YOUNG BOY AWARDED BIG
DAMAGES IN SUIT AGAINST
c. A. newman, HYPN0T|ST
OSCAR LARSON, AGED Is, WHO
APPEARED WITH NEWMAN IN
MINOT, is AWARDED $4,000
AGAINST HYPNOTIST BY MIN
NEAPOLIS JUDGE.

ANAlNSl II 1fNOllSl BY MIN
NEAPOLIS JUDGE.
Newman, the Great" the hypno-
tist who has appeared in the state fire.
qucntly during the past eleven years,
seems to have gotten into serious
trouble. The following dispatch from
Minneapolis will be interesting read
ing for many who have witnessed his
feats:
Made an invalid at Is by tortures
inflicted by fake hypnotist, Oscar
Larson, Is, was awarded $4,000 dam
ages by Judge w. E. Hale.
Twitching continually with neurosis,
his lips swollen and one ear drum
broken, the slender lad told the court
Of the beatings and tortures at the
hands of Chris Neseth, alias C. A.
George Newman.
Suit for $4,000 damages was
brought against Newman by Carl o.
Larson, 2031 22 1-2 ave s., the boys
father.
In September, 1911, according to the
complaint, the lad met Newman, who
was giving hypnotic exhibitions.
Oscar was much interested in hyp-
notism. He attended several per-
formances given by the alleged mag
ician, became acquainted with him
and received an offer to 20 with him
on trips through the Northwest.
The boy was eager to go. His par
ents consented on Newman's agree
mcnt that the boys only duties would
be to take tickets and distribute bills.
Kicked and Beaten"
No sooner had Newman taken the
lad out of Minneapolis than his atti-
tude changed, according to the boy.
Oscar declared he was ordered to
appear on the stage as subject and
was beaten unmercifully if he refused.
He told Of seven instances when he
was pounded and kicked because he
refused to appear on the stage, or did
not perform satisfactorily.
One act that the slender 14-year-old
lad was compelled to do every night
was called by Newman "The Catalep-
sy Act"
The lad, he alleged, was COM
PEELED to lie with the back of his
neck resting on one chair and his
heels on another, while three men
in the audience were selected for
this demonstration, according to
the boy. Sometimes their COM
bined weight would reach 500
pounds, it was said.
HypnOtism a Fake.
According to the boy, there was no
suggestion of hypnotism in the act.
He must hold his body rigid by main
strength, or be cruelty beaten. AS
result of the strain, it is said, acute
appendicitis developed. Once, at the
town of Straw, Mont, the three men
fell down and Oscar was badly bruis-
ed. /
In another act Newman would
thrust pins through the lads lips
until they were fastened together
Then he would send him among
the audience and have someone
pull out the pins. If the boy
WINGED or cried out a terrible
pounding would result when he
reached the dressing room, it was
set forth. The boys lips are still
out of shape.
Cruel Blood Test.
Still another act, the boy said, was
"the blood test," in which Newman
would pretend to show the audience
that he could control the circulation
by hypnotism.
A leather band was strapped tight
ly around Oscars forearm. In few
moments the blood would be complete
ly draw out of the fingers and hand.
Then Newman would pretend to send
the blood back by few passes of his
hand In reality he would release the
strap. According to young Larson,
his hand would pain for hours after
the blood had surged back.
Often he attempted to run
away from his tormenter, but
was always caught and beaten, he
said. Oscar declared he could not
write home Of the cruelties be-
cause Newman read all his letters
before he would allow them to be
mailed.
No Money to Go Home.
The lad had no money from Sep
temher, 1911, till June, 1912, while he
was with Newman, he said he was
given only little over $40. He never
had enough money at one time to
pay carfare to the next town.
In June, when the show season end
ed, Newman came as far as st. Paul
with the lad and then disappeared.
The boy does not know where the
"hypnotist" is now.
m AAA n N