BERNHARDT HYPNOTISED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8538, 11 April 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

BERNHARDT HYPNOTISED.

THE DIVINE SARAH HOUNDED BY A FRENCH ACTOR. When Inspector Byrnes called on Sarah Bernhardt at bhe Hoffman House a short time ago there was a good deal of speculation as to tho subject of tho consultations. Hare wore the French actress and the chief of New York's detective force talking earnestly about something or other and conducting the conference in the parlours of the actress' apartments, and nobody knew what in the world that something or other was. '

During this call the actress acquainted the Inspector with tho fact that she desired the protection of the New York police. ' She told him that she expected that Philip Gamier, it prominent French actor, would arrive by the next steamer from Havre, and ho was coming over for the express purpose of killing her. He had sworn in Paris that he would kill her, and Bernhardt believed that ho would keep his word if he wore given half a chance. Gamier is an actor of tho first rank in Paris. He is a very handsome fellow and withal an artist. Ho played in Bernhardt's supporting company several years before her recent trip to this pountry. He played Antony in tho "Cleopatra" production and did the leading parts in "Theodora" and " La Tosca" with satisfaction to everybody. According to tho story, Gamier has for a long time exercised a peculiar and mysterious power over the French actress. In part it is said that in his hands alio becomes hypnotised and that she is unable to resist the domination of his will. There are further sensational stories to the offect that he has used this power over her brutally, and has at times within the last year struck and otherwise maltreated her. Inquiry disclosed the fact that ho had sailed for New York by the Normandio, February 7, and that before going he had said that he would kill Bernhardt, presumably because she had left him out of her company and had gotten out of the reach of his hypnotic influence.

'Inspector Byrnes kept his word, and whon the Normandie arrived in New York, February 14, there were four Central Office detectives on the deck ready to receive the representative of French histrionic art. There was no tugboat or brass band and no champagne. But M. Gamier made no remark over this neglect. The detectives sought an immediate interview with him, and after some difficulty persuaded him to remain on board the boat that night. Their idea was to have him remain on board altogether and go back to La Belle Franco on the same boat. This scheme did not meob with Gander's entire approval, bub after ho had considered matters for a time he seemed to acquiesce in it. In consequonce the detectives relaxed their surveillance. Bernhardt began to tremble whon she learned thab Gamier was hero, and declared that she would continue trembling until he sailed away again. She listened, however, to the assurances of the detectives and stilled her beating heart. In fact, she was beginning to forget that Gamier was at thi-i side of the Atlantic and not on the other, when on Tuesday night, February 17, as she was hurrying from her carriage into the stage door of the Garden Theatre alio felt her right arm clutched as though in a vice, and a voice hissed in her oar, "Me voice Gamier !" She ; wrenched herself free and almost frightenod to death (led bo the stage door and made her way inside. Inspector Byrnes was sont for, the facts communicated to him, and ho promised that the supervision of Gander's movements should be resumed, and that ho would be gently persuaded to go back to France. But Bernhardb's confidonco was shaken, and she gave immediate instructions at the hotel that no strangers should bo allowed to go up bo her rooms without first being announced. And she carried thereafter her big dog and a man attendant on her drives to and from the theatre. This continued throughout the week and in the meantime bho detectives did their work so well that Gamier decided to give up any present idea of resuming his placo in Bernhardb's company or of killing her or hypnotising her. and he sailed away on the Normandie, afte* a single week's stay in the country. Six detectives saw him sail away, waved him a fond adieu and reported the fact to the actress, who thereupon consented tu breathe again. This last week she was sufficiently recovered to attend the dog show. ;