Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-07-23
DR.. Boyd's
Experiment
It Prevented a Rupture Be-
tween Man and Wife
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

GSS~SyS~<S<~|SS5SSSS<<
Doctor. wish to coanult you about
my wife. She has acted strangely
ever since our child was born"
The words were spoken by Stephen
Hapgood. and be was addressing Dr..
Howard Boyd
BE seated, Mr.. Hapgood, and give
your wifes symptoms We have u
great many cases Of women acting
! strangely after child birth. What
form does 1t take tn Mrs. Hapgood's
case?'
An antagOnism to me. Il was q
love match between US, and we have
been devoted to each other ever since
our marriage until this strange freak
| came upon her. She has taken tt into
her head that am III treating her. l
am fearful lest at any day she may
| appty for a divorce"
"Um!- said the doctor thoughtfulN.
viii you VISIT herr" asked Mr..
! Hapgood.
Does she consider herself ilff'
MOT in the least. She sup1n,ss her,
set to be In tbs best OF hsahh.''
I'm that case What season shall
give fnr my v1Stt?
| Mr.. Hapgood was unable 10 suggest
q reason and Dr.. Boyd continued:
II would like to try in this case
what admit IS TN experiment. Sup
pose We give your wife shockT
What kind Of shockT'
1T might be reported to her that you
had net With IN occhent. had desert
ed her for another woman OF had been
! killed"
x sea" epsted Afr. Happu1 NUS
ing. Then be replied: '"To impose on
| her by pretending to be injured would
not WORK. II should pretand to de-
sert her she would surely get a d.
vorce. The only one Of the ways you
! have mentioned Of shocking her th;st
| Seems to me to be practicable IS for
me to pretend to be dead And even
that would be difficult"
| Try it."
But suppose the shock should fnr
ture my wife physically still further?''
III she is not In her right mind tbs
announcement will not affect her un-
less to restore her reason. If It has
! this effect we can d1sabus her at
once:'
Very we'll. doctor; on your pspon-
sibility will make the trial. and Mr..
! Hapgood left the doctors office.
! While this dialogue was going on
another was taking place between Mrs.
Hapgood and an attorney.
; MIR. Stanley" she said Il desire
that you procure a divorce for me
| FROM my husband"
| On what grounds, MADAME
, Cruelty"
! pounded series OF questions as to Nh
! Hapgootl's cruel acts. When the cata-
logue w:as finished. be drew up legal
| document which he presented to her
tor signature. She put her name 10 II
without CULVER and returning to her
home. net her husband the same even
! ing at dinner with q cold stare.
Fortune favored the plan for shock
ing Mrs. Hapgood Not hong after her
! application for divorce while sitting
; in his Office be heard newsboy crying
Extra! Big railroad accidentr' and
buying the paper he discovered that the
trouble had occurred Oh the road by
which he was accustomed to go to his
| suburban home. Stepping to u tele-
phone he called up Dr.. Boyd, and the
result Of the interview was that the
doctor went to the Hapgood home and
announced to Mrs. Hapgood that her
husband had been reported badly in
tured on his way home from the city.
The doctors eyes while tmpart1ng
the news were on Mrs. HapKood's. He
saw a slight culver pass over her. but
not being satisfied with it in medical
point OF view pushed ON, saying that
he had not told her the worst Mr.
Hapgood hard been killed. The lady
looked at him as though she did not
quite understand him.
Your husband is dead, Mrs. Hap
good" the doctor added: "he has been
killed on bis way home on the train
from the city,
My husband dead?'
Eyes, madam-kiIled In railroad &C.
ctdent."
The lady seemed to be struggling
with her feelings for awhile, then re-
marked:
Pm sorry. but he deserved it; he
treated mo shamefuly."
The doctor. disappointed, turned away
and. on returning to his home, called
up Mr.. Hapgood and reported that the
experiment had hiled However, be
suggested that Hapgood keep dark for
awhile. Il was possible that the desired
effect might como later Hapgood
promised to abide by the suggestion
and remained IN hiding In the city.
A couple Of days after Mr. Hapends
supposed death hts wine called again on
Mr.. Stanley, her attorney. She was
dressed In mourning and wore q widr
ow's cap Of exubesaut proportions
Mr.. Stanley" she said, "haVe ym
filed the papers In my case?"