CRIMES CONFESSED IN SLEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 59

CRIMES CONFESSED IN SLEEP.

FeAv folk are aAvare that one of the reasons Avhy Avarders Avatch condemned criminals in their cells all night is because it is known by the authorities that many crmes have been confessed to 'by criminal's during their dreams.

An ex-prison warder once assured the writer that, in the case of a sensational murder seme yeais ago, a public petition Tor a reprieve Aias refused because, in addition to considerable circumstantial eA~idence adduced against, the prisoner, he aa as heard .by a night warder 'to make, during his sleap, a hill avowal of his guilt in regard to the crime. That unconscious confession practically fixed his fate. In Spanish prisons it Avas formerly the rule to place a Bible upon the breast, of a sleeping prisoner suspected of murder, as it AA'as believed that, in the eA'ent of personal guilt, it Avould compel a confession. The test was usually applied by a priest, Avho wrote down Avhatevei the man said and handed the .statement to the authorities. Many murdsrs, Are are informed, were brought to light by this method. About 20 years ago a prisoner in a Yorkshire gaol Lad been committed to the condemned cell, after Arhat many deemed a just and impartial trial. But a number of people believed in his innocence, and these did all in their power to obtain a reprieve. So potent were ihe arguments adduced on his 'behalf, that the Home Secietary Avas about to sanction a pardon, Avhen a Avire from the governor of the gaol reached him, aying : "X has confessed to the murdei during his. sleep." That settled the matter.

The reason of a certain divorce, though the fact AA-as not made public, was that a Avife heard her husband soimenly aroAV during his sleep that he had committed a murder. This happened on three occasions, until the ivoman taxed her pfrtner AA'ith the crime he had confessed. He protested that ue Avas absolutely innocent of such a thing, but something nbout the manner or matter of his protest only strengthened the Avife's susuicions, and she sued for a divorce, Avhich was giaui/cd, but on other grounds than that referred to. A month later the man committed suicide.

It is not generally known that a case of forgery and embezzlement on an extensive scale, committed by the former cashier of a famous bank, Avas revealed by the man talking in his sleep. The guilty person, who had not even been suspected by his employers, shared chambers Avith a chum AA'hile on a holiday, and one night, during a disturbing dream, the thief avowed his guilt in a manner that was unmistakable.

A very reinnrkable case occurred some year." ago in Paris, which led to the discovery of a murder a:vl the solving of a, mjstei^;. A wealthy old gentfeman sud-

denly vanished, and his sole companion in the ancient mansion Adhere lie hpcl resided AA'as an old family retainer, who protested, Avith great grief, that he knew nothing as to the cause of his master's disappearance. One night, however, the butler, who slept AA'ith a friend, rose in his deep and walked out to an old Avell in the garden, where he paired, and exclaimed, sorrowfully: " He's cloAA m there, and I did it ; ail for gold, all for gold ! "

His companion, aa'lio had folloAred him, and Avho was a secret agent of the Paris police, heard the grave confession, and reported it to the authorities. The well Avas then searched, and theiein AA-as found the 'body of the murdered master.

An American criminal, who Avas executed ■by electrocution some time ago, avowed his innocence with such vehemence and plausibility tbat public opinion ran high in his favour, and considerable influence was exercised to secure his release. He would probably have been pardoned but for the fact thai a vigilant warder, during the early hours of the morning, heard the slumbering prisoner groan, and say — "It ds just. I am guilty. I did the deed, sure enough. lam guilty ! " Those Avords removed his last chance of a reprieve.