An Hypnotic Subject's Pay.

Hastings Standard, Issue 369, 10 July 1897, Page 4

An Hypnotic Subject's Pay.

SOME INTERESTING REVELATIONS. London, May 14. Some of us have belief in the platform displays of the power of hypnotism which are made by professors with a view of raking in the almighty dollar. And some of us again are inclined to be sceptical as to the genuineness of the feats performed. An extraordinary action, of interest alike to the believer and unbeliever, came up before Judge Emden at the Lambeth County Court this week, when a young man man named Frederick Charles Howard sued a gentleman styling himself Professor Fricker for £8 7s Bd, unpaid wages. Plaintiff, in his evidence, stated that as a result of replying to an advertisment he became engaged to the professor as a subject for his hypnotic experiences, and on the understanding that he would act as if in a trance. His salary was fixed at £2 per week. As experiments in the hypnotic trance business have recently been performed in Australia and New Zealand, the account of the court proceedings given in the Daily News should be of interest. The plaintiff went at considerable length into his experiences, says that paper. His first job was to be subject to the professor's " influences " at a demonstration to a doctor. He was instructed how to act and how to remain absolutely passive. (Laughter.) It was supposed that he was hypnotised, but he wasn't. (Laughter.) At any rate he kept perfectly passive until the doctor left. (Laughter.) After that they went on tour. Luton was the first town visited, and the show had been well advertised there. He (plaintiff) was placed in a coffin at Euston station, presumably in a trance, and was thus conveyed to Luton station, whence he was removed, coffin and all, to the town hall. This was done to the accompauiment of the music of a brass band. (Laughter.) That took place on a Monday. At 7 o'clock the same evening be "awoke," and later in the evening was put to sleep for the remainder of the week. The public were told that he had been sleeping forty days and forty nights at the Royal Aquarium, and that he was going around England like this. Judge Emben: What! in the coffin ? Plaintiff: Yes, in the coffin. Unforfortunately (proceeded plaintiffjbusiness was bad at Luton, some recent disclosures at Leicester having, so the professor declared, had their effoct upon the public mind. The bad business was "quite a downfall for the show." The professor, however, had been preaching about his powers to cure the toothache, while he (the plaintiff), through having caught a chill in the coffin, suffered considerably from that complaint. Indeed, his face became very swollen. In the meantime business clid not improve, and it was arranged, between the professor and the manager, that the former should disappear and the announcement be made that he (plaintiff) was dead. Judge Emden: You were still in the coffin'? Plaintiff: Yes, your Honor. This idea was carried out then and there. The police and the doctor were sent for, the professor in the meantime keeping himself within doors. (Laughter.) It was about ten o'clock in the morning when the doctor came, accompanied by the police inspector. He felt the doctor feel his pulse and lift him up (laughter) and he heard the police inspector say to the doctor : " What shall we do with him ? Shall we take him to the hospital or the mortuary? (Laughter). The doctor replied that it was " no good taking him to the hospital, for if he was in a trance they could not do anything with him there." (Laughter.) To this the police inspector remarked : " If he is dead we shall have to get the profeesor's body." (Laughter.)

Judge E melon : Yon heard all this '? Plaintiff : I was as much awake th?n as lam now. Things, added the plaintiff, became " very warm " for him (plaintiff), as it was just as he was about to bo taken to the mortuary that the professor arrived. He said he would put everything light.. He (plaintiff) only had the toothache. (Laughter). It was then arranged that he should lie on until the following Saturday, when the professor should tap him three times on the head and he would awake. This plan was carried out, and when Saturday arrived the show was well patronised by the public. At the moment of his waking up, the brass band, according to previous arrangements, placed up, " See the conquering hero comes." (Roars of laughter, in which plaintiff joined). All this was done to draw the public.—Dunedin Star correspondent.