Hypnotism doubtless led to this; the verse thought out in some vulgar
Shaker's mind was transferred to Oliphant. Not only was Oliphant induced
to become a Shaker, but his wife became one also, and both sacrificed
much money to the society and agreed to live in celibacy. Let us continue
again from the known to the unknown. Mrs. Lawrence Oliphant's brother,
the late Captain Lestrange, R.N., left his ship without leave, to avoid
his wife. He had married an undesirable person, who has also been dead
some years.
He was a most intelligent officer, and commanded the despatch vessel of
the Admiral in command of the Mediterranean fleet. It is most probable
that he was weakened by hypnotism, otherwise he would not have entered
into this marriage, or allowed himself to be broken down by disgust at
its consequences. An exceedingly manly, robust character, and devoted to
his profession, he could not without being hypnotised have deserted his
ship. The only reason he had for leaving it was that his wife threatened
to come to the Mediterranean to Malta. There was a gang of criminal
hypnotists on the Mediterranean coast then. Captain Lestrange fled to
Copenhagen, a place connected with most of the attacks of criminal
hypnotists, mentioned before and hereafter. He had visited it on duty two
or three times, and been in contact with others who suffered. He died two
or three years afterwards, probably of a broken heart. Here, for the
second time, a connection between two victims is traceable.
In the former case, the two were simply neighbours; the probability that
in each pair of cases one gang was concerned is very great. One gang, if
not both, were connected with Copenhagen; indeed, they may have been the
same gang.
If striking haunted house stories are rare, the reason is that, on
obvious grounds, gangs of hypnotists are rare also.
The writer believes that Lord Howe's and his sister's courage prompted
the attack on them by a gang of hypnotists 120 years ago.[6] Poltergeist
disturbances are caused by a single person generally; it is not
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