Story of Mesmeric Influence.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 October 1874, Page 7

Story of Mesmeric Influence.

A Massachusets paper has the hardihood to publish as a matter of fact the following story of a Professor Crawford, a mesmeristHe selected two female subjects at his performance on Tuesday evening, whom he obtained permission to influence in any reasonable and proper manner, and to keep one of them, who worked in the mill, but half a day for a'mesmeric demonstration not specified then. While under his influence that evening he made them believe they were picking grapes, and after they had finished picking an imaginary large quantity, he handed each of them a slip of paper, one of which, he said, was a cheque for 30 dols., and the other for 25 dols. He told them to go to the First National Bank at half-past ten yesterday forenoon, and get the money on the cheques ; but that if the cashier refused to honour the cheques, to present them to Mayor Jewett, and he would pay the amount named on them. After these instructions were given them, their minds were immediately directed to another subject, and mesmeric influence was then thrown off. And now to the sequel of the affair. The two subjects, according to their husbands, were apparently as much uninfluenced as ever up to about ten o’clock yesterday forenoon, when a change was perceptible. One of them called at the residence of the other, and the two passed out. The husband of one followed them, and they went to the First National Bank. Mr Allen, the cashier, had previously been informed by Professor Caldwell of the prospective visit, and the former was prepared to receive them. They presented their bits of paper and demanded the money on them. Mr Allen said he had no money to answer the cheques, when they responded substantially that it must be a poor bank that couldn’t pay cheques to the amount of 55 dols. They then went out, and up to the Mayor’s office, going immediately in and presenting the cheques to the Mayor, who was not in the secret, and who at first was quite indignant at the imperative maimer in which they demanded

55 dola on the bits of paper in their hands. They were anything but complimentary to the Mayor in their remarks, when he said he could not see that the bits of paper were cheques, and one of them put her spectacles over his nose, then asking them if he could see. Professor Caldwell put his head in at the Mayor’s office door, as that official was ordering them out, to avoid an arrest, and the fact that the two women were under mesmeric influence was then made apparent to His Honor. By this time Dr J. C. Ayer and several city officials entered the room, and several experiments were made showing the subjects were completely under mesmeric influence. They could not see Professor Caldwell, or feel his pulling of their ears, but when Dr Ayer pulled these organs, they were immediately cognisant of the fact, and scolded him emphatically for the liberties taken. In a few minutes afterwards Professor Caldwell snapped his forefinger and thumb, at the same time saying—“all right,” and the influence passed off. They instantly sank down upon the sofa in the room, one of them crying bitterly at first, and both evidently being much ashamed.