JUDGE ON THE VALUE OF DREAMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 117, 4 February 1918, Page 3

JUDGE ON THE VALUE OF DREAMS

'• -9 DECISION IN CURIOUS WILL CLAIM. An interesting pronouncement on the scientific value of dreams was made by Lord Andarson at Edinburgh recently, in giving judgment in what is referred to as the "Wick Dream Will Case." The plaintiff in the action, Thomas Dunnett, was the eldest son .and heir of the late Thomas Dunnett, and the defendants were the widow and other children. After Mr. Dmmett's death no will could be found, but a younger son, Daniel Dunnett,. claimed that as tho result of a, dream he found his father's will in the pocket of a coat.

Lord Anderson held that the will found in the coat was not the deed of the late Thomas Dunnett, and granted a, decree in favour of the eldest son. His Lordship said that the story of a dream set up as a defence was unique in the annals of legal pleading. There was a considerable quantity of literature on the subject of dreams, and on the cognate topic of somnambulism, reverie, telepathy, and thp latest doctrine relating to communication between the living and the dead, of which Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were the best-known protagonists. "In my opinion," said the Judge, "there is no science of dreams. The speculations of philosophers on this subject have not succeeded in any respectin placing it on a basisof scientific knowledge. I have reached the conclusion that the story of the dream is a pure invention, designed to lead up to find account for the discovery of the will." There were certain considerations, concluded the Judge, which pointed to Daniel having fabricated the deed, or procured its fabrication.