BY HYPNOTISM

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20280, 14 April 1934, Page 22 (Supplement)

BY HYPNOTISM

RASPUTIN’S POWER. RUSSIAN PRINCE’S STORY. MURDER OF “THE MAD MONK." The mesmeric powers of Rasputin, the mad monk of Russia, Were described in court by Prince Felix Y'oussoupoff in a dramatic declaration that the monk once put hint in his power by hypnotism. Weird rites that took place in Raaputip’s study in St. Petersburg, involving a mesmeric process that partially hypnotised the narrator, were described. Y’oussoupoff’s testimony was designed to confirm historical assertions that tlie unholy, sexmad priest had exerted a sinister power over the court of Czar Nicholas 11., and had the Czarina under his mental control . The prince, labouring under great strain, was being cross-examined in his wife’s 'libel suit in Londofi against tlie Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Company, charging that she was libelled in a film “Rasputin and the Empress.” Under questioning bv Sir William Jowitt, counsel for tlie film company, the prince said: “Rasputin promised to try to cure me of a complaint. I was told to lie .on a coudh in his study.” Created Powerful Mesmeric Influence. The mystic monk stroked liis chest and made passes over liis face, Which created a powerful mesmeric influence. Soon, the prince continued, he was practically unable to move or speak. Sir William Jowitt, continuing crossexamination of tlie Russian, drew from the witness an account pf a number of visits lie paid Rasputin to cure a complaint from which he was suffering. “After that hypnotic seance, you repeatedly went to him and the treatment continued?” “Yes.” “And it is a fact, isn’t it, that the treatment did you some good?” “No, it did not.” “Would you say Rasputin was a shrewd judge of character?” “Sometimes.” “He said to you, ‘What is it all about? You are afraid of me. Y’ou have stopped coming to see me. I have lots of interesting things to tell you, but I won’t, because you are afraid of me. You are afraid of everything. Do you remember him saying,.that?” “Yes, I remember.” It is noteworthy that in the film. Rac-r putin says of tlie character Chegodieff (supposed to represent Youssoupoff) that he is afraid of nothing. Prince Nervous At Murder. “I’m not a professional murderer—naturally' - I was nervous,” shouted Youssoupoff, as lie was taken through a severe cross-examination on the way in which he killed Rasputin. It was Sir William Jowitt’s case that the film company did not follow historic events. John Barrymore (as Chegodieff), who killed the fictional Rasputin, as usual was “fearless,” and counsel sought to show that Felix was fearful. Sir William Jowitt took Felix through the details of the killing as described iu a book he wrote—first poisoned cakes at a party in Rasputin’s “honour,” then several shots, a beating with a loaded cane, and finally submergence in a river through a hole in the winter ice. “Were y'ou not so nervous that you hardly knew what you did, when you •first offered Rasputin unpoisoned biscuits instead of the poisoned cakes?” asked counsel. Youssoupoff. trembled with emotion as he shouted his answer that as he was not a professional murderer lie was nervous.

Sir William explained to the judge that he was seeking to show the difference between the killing, as told in Youssopotf’s book, which he held iu his hand, and the movie film. Youssoupoff denied he and liis wife had been persuaded by outsiders to bring the suit. He admitted that in parts the Barrymore version of Rasputin’s killing resembled Grand Duke Dmitri of Russia rather than himself. “But public opinion is that Youssoupoff killed Rasputin, not Dmitri,” added the prince. Hollywood Woman Lawyer Blamed. Sir William Jowitt addressed the jury in a masterly denial that the honour of the princess had been impugned. Referring to the Youssoupoifs as perhaps once the richest couple in Europe, but now penniless, lie said: “There are many worse things than that . . . money lost is little lost. Honour lost is much lost. Heart lost is all lost. Nothing 1 can say, and nothing shown in the film, caused the princess to lose her honour.” He declared that the prince and his wife had been persuaded to bring the suit by' Miss Fanny Holtzman, Hollywood lawyer. “My only regret,” he said, “is that I have not had the opportunity' of seeing Miss Fanny Holtzman in tlie box. I would have liked to have asked her a few questions." He suggested that Miss Holtzman said to herself: *T will persuade these people to bring Jiction, and it may add to my reputation.” “The result has been litigation all over the world,” he said. “She stated that money would settle the matter ... I do not say a word against the princess, but what I say is against a woman who, we assert, persuaded her to bring this action, which the princess would have been better advised not to have brought.”