TRANCE AT A GLANCE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 24

TRANCE AT A GLANCE

Irishman’s Hypnotic Eye

A young Irish labourer has a powerful hypnotic gift which enables him to soothe nerves and relieve suffering—yet which is making life full of difficulty for him. He is Thomas Campbell, and so powerful is the influence which he exercises that people have fallen into a trance at a single unwitting glance from him.

Fellow workmen sooner or later fall under the same spell. Then they complain to their superiors—and Mr. Campbell is asked to leave the job. lie has held more than 30 jobs in various parts of Britain; but his uncanny gift has eventually been discovered, and he has bad to seek employment elsewhere Medical and scientific experts who have investigated his case Lave been astonished at the potency of the influence he exerts—and baffled in their attempts to provide an explanation. Recently, In-a small room overlooking a busy London street, Mr. Campbell gave a demonstration of his power. In full view of a number of independent witnesses he sent three’ people two men and a girl—into a deep trance; sewed the two arms of a hypnotised man together by plunging a heavy needle through the flesh ; caused bleeding to stop and be renewed at his command. J

In the first test the subject—a young man—sat down in a chair facing the hypnotist. Almost immediately the eyes of the young man commenced to roll, then lie slumped in his chair as though in a deep sleep. At once Mr. Campbell placed his arms together, and pinching the fleshy part of the forearm drove a needle and thread clean through. The operation was repeated until* the two arms were tightly sewn together. The hypnotised subject neither moved nor flinched. Yet the man who posseses this strange •power almost wishes he had not got it "When I lived in Belfast no one would work with me,’’ he said. “One day a man climbing a ladder was hypnotised because I thoughtlessly glanced into his eyes from above where I was working. “It took me ten minutes to get him out of the trance, and all the time he was in danger of falling. “Wherever I work it is only a question of lime before one of my mates goes into a trance and I am found out. Then they get frightened and that means the sack for me. “I have travelled all -over Britain and had more than 30 jobs."