CRIMINAL HYPNOTISM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2152, 19 June 1889, Page 2

CRIMINAL HYPNOTISM

» Until tbe awful p. sslblKtles of mesmerism or hypnotism (as it is now called) ara brought borne to the British publio through Us being used for some appalling criminal purpose, we are not likely to hear of legislation on tbe subject In this hippy iand In France, however, where hypnotist ttfnoe's have recently become as T common es vplritoallst erf tuoas uaedat one time to be m England, steps are even now being taken to bring " professor*" of this dangerous art uader surveillance and control. Tbe Immediate osaffV of tho move was a disiareeable discovery at Marseilles to f a effect that between thirty • and forty youngeteis (clerks and offioe boys) were, aoting under bypnotlo suggestion, In tbe hahlt cf robbing theft masters of small aims and handing over the mine? to the mesmerist. The lads selected by this worthy " pro f eaaoe'' bora good characters, and the sums "sneaked" wero so small (tl oa>?h amounting to a nlea total In the Aggregate) that for a considerable time none of the thefts ware found oak, - When discovery did presently eventuate In ore oi two oases the boys weat.to prison unoomplalnlngly, and the menhir Ut must have, thought he was perfeotly safe. Dnfor unately tbe father of one of the lad* caught m the aot was sir ok by hie son's strange terror on coming out of gaol and took him to a dootcr. The medico, luokily, happened to be a shrewd, observant man, and almost at once hit upon the truth. He pretended to engage the lad to make up his books, and' theii left monty about, and had him watohed. It took sx weaka to unravel ths whole conspiracy, and even now the authorities* are uncertain whether they h»ve discovered all the mesmerist's victims. He seemed to possess many of the lads, body and soul, aud from these information oonld only be extracted with tbe greatest difficulty The Mayor of Marseilles has forbidden publio exhibition! of hypnotism henceforward, and it is probable other French municipalities will follow suit. In England, however,, hypnotists are likely to work their sweet wills for iome time to come.