Killer Tells How Rasputin was Murdered

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

Killer Tells How Rasputin was Murdered

ASSASSIN’S PSYCHOLOGY

Great interest has been shown by German psychologists in the memoirs of Prince Jussupoff, now made available to the general reader in a German translation, says “The Observer.” These memoirs are considered a very valuable contribution to the literature of crime. Not only the psychology of an assassin before and after a deed, which still remains a cold-blooded murder however much the perpetrator believed the end justified by the means, but the mental state of a subject on the verge of being hypnotised are laid bare down to the veriest detail. “Rasputin’s End,” the title of the book in question, tells nothing that was not already known, apart from the intimate thoughts and feelings of Prince Jussupoff himself, but these are electrifying in their candour. For the average student of contemporary manners and morals the Prince is an infinitely more fascinating personality than his victim. The Prince does not hesitate to declare that the Tsar was given a certain subtle brew’, compounded of herbs, which acted potently on his cerebral system. This may or—as the writer is careful to add —may not’ have been really concocted from a famous Tibetan Lama’s recipe. Hypnotism in Practice The Prince wanted to verify for himself the reputed magnetic power of the monk. Begging a wonder cure for bis own ailments he got himself as nearly hypnotised for his pains as it is possible for a man to be. He lay dewn on a sofa, and Rasputin made the well-known passes over him, part of the time kneeling beside the sofa, ns if'in prayer, part of the time standing. The Prince writes: I felt the hypnosis enveloping my body in a pleasant feeling of warmth. At the same time 1 felt my limbs stiffening and my body slowly becoming numb. I tried to speak, but my tongue would not obey mo. 1 gradually sank into a deep sleep as though under the influence of some strong narcotic. Only Rasputin's eyes remained visible to mo. A strange phosphorescent light

Feelings Recorded in New Confession

seemed to emanate from them. They emitted rays which seemed to coalesce and form a great shining circle. This circle seemed to approach and recede, and when it approached close to me I believed I could distinguish the eyes of Rasputin behind. Then he moved back again, and the eyes were lost in the circle. I heard his voice murmuring something I could not distinguish. I remained some time in this position, unable either to move or cry out. Only my mind was awake, and I felt distinctly how I was falling deeper and deeper into the power of this mysterious and terrible man. And then I became conscious that a new strength was beginning to manifest itself in my mind. . . I tried to move my hand and it obeyed my Will. . . . A Terrible Record After gaining the confidence of Rasputin by carefully concealing his immunity to this hypnotic power, Prince Jussupoff laid the plans that are now known to the whole world. His descriptions of the way In which the plot to murder Rasputin was carried out are as clear and precise as a verbatim report of a police case. He is not cynical, merely convinced of having done a worthy deed. He sits opposite the monk in his own luxurious home, offering him poisoned wine, and when this takes no effect, feels his hate growing greater and greater. The Prince finds himself wondering why the man with the wonderful magnetic powers does not suspect the revolver he is holding clutched tightly behind his back. After the shot is fired the Priuce is truly horrified when Rasputin, who had been lying for some minutes, to all appearance dead, rises suddenly and. foaming at the mouth, with eyes staring out of his head, with fingers turned to claws, seizes his assassin. No more terrible confession has over been penned than some of the subequent details of the death and disposal of the body. For Germany the book has been provided with a prologue and epilogue by the playwright, Klahund, who is responsible for the “Rasputin" film Germany is bringing out.