New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02
'Trilbv' i'm Reality =
Hypnotized Into
Forging of Checks
Alienists Believe They Have
Reincarnation of Du Maui
rier's Character i'm Actress.
and Police Seek 'Svengali'

In the case of Miss Norma Mcleod.
q young actress charged with passing
2 forged check lawyers, alienists and
probation officers connected with Judge
Grains part in General Sessions be-
lieve they haze an incarnation OF
George Du Maurier's "Trilby.' The
''Svengali' in the case is youn actor
with whom Miss Mcleod had played
in stock melodrama.
"When l passed that check Miss
Mcleod told the court, II honestly did
not know what I was doing. I had
fallen in with man who was hypni-
t.st and he and l doubled up in mes 4
meric~ vaudeville act. and while under
his spell did many criminal acts.
When arrested on the complaint OF
Louis Missi, rooming house keeper
at PA West Forty-eighth Street. on
whom she passed one bogus check,
Miss Mcleod was in dazed condition.
She had been living in Misi's house
with the hypnotist and he disappeared
after. her arrest. -
Suffers Mental Disorder
Dr.. Frank A. Mcclure. the Tombs
physician.- was much interested in her
case and became Convinced she was
suffering from mental disorder. She
displayed such Unusual signs OF de-
rangement that DR.. Mcclure called the
attention of Judge Grain and District
Attorney Swan to her case.
On recommendation of DR.. Mcclure
lunacy commission was appointed, al<
after considerable study of the unusual
case the commission recommended con-
tnued treatment. Her symptoms de
fed classification. They indicated that
she was in state bordering on aphasla.
Repeated attempts to awaken her in
terest in herself and her surroundings
past and present failed until few
days ago, when she suddenly showed
signs of recovery.
After that Miss Mcleod was able and
willing to tell the story Of her life.
She said she did not remember her-
parents, both of whom died when she
was an infant. She was reared by
couple in st. Paul.
Meets "Svengali'
Six years ago, at the age OF fifteen,
she ran away from home and joined
vaudeville company Since that time.
Miss Mcleod said. she mad experienced
much hardship, and last summer, while
out Of work, she met the "Svengah" in
the case His name has been given by
her TO the police. The. mesmerist was
engaged in preparing an act for a
vaudeville troupe, and ne asked Miss
Mcleod to act it with him, saying that
it would be headliner as we'll as q
mint" In this act, she says, he fire.
quently placed her in state OF hyp-
nosis, in which she remained for weeks
at time. 1t was while she was in one
of these frances, Miss Mcleod believes,
she was induced by the hypnotist to
pass the checks, forged by him, on sew
eral New York merchants.
Her story was thoroughly investi-
gated by her attorneys. former As
sistant District Attorney William Dean
Embrce and Louis Fabricant, and by
Or. Mcclure and Probation Officers
Daniei kimbal and Mrs. Kate Sprague
Her statements were confirmed Per
sons who knew her in the rooming
house testified that Miss Mcleod
seemed to be completely under the
spell OF the hypnotist most of the time
Judge Cram issued bench warrant for
the mans arrest, and, taking pity on
Miss Mcleod, the court suspended SEN
tenee on her after she had pleaded
guiIty, and she wss placed in the GUS
tody Of the probation officers, to whom
she viii report for several months.