at may be compelled
during hypnotic sleep is that of Dr. Luys, whom we have already seen as
being himself deceived by professional hypnotic subjects. Says he: "You
cannot only oblige this defenseless being, who is incapable of opposing
the slightest resistance, to give from hand to hand anything you may
choose, but you can also make him sign a promise, draw up a bill of
exchange, or any other kind of agreement. You may make him write an
holographic will (which according to French law would be valid), which
he will hand over to you, and of which he will never know the existence.
He is ready to fulfill the minutest legal formalities, and will do so
with a calm, serene and natural manner calculated to deceive the most
expert law officers. These somnambulists will not hesitate either, you
may be sure, to make a denunciation, or to bear false witness; they are,
I repeat, the passive instruments of your will. For instance, take E.
She will at my bidding write out and sign a donation of forty pounds in
my favor. In a criminal point of view the subject under certain
suggestions will make false denunciations, accuse this or that person,
and maintain with the greatest assurance that he has assisted at an
imaginary crime. I will recall to your mind those scenes of fictitious
assassination, which have exhibited before you. I was careful to place
in the subject's hands a piece of paper instead of a dagger or a
revolver; but it is evident, that if they had held veritable murderous
instruments, the scene might have had a tragic ending."

Many experiments along this line have been tried, such as suggesting the
theft of a watch or a spoon, which afterward was actually carried out.

It may be said at once that "these laboratory crimes" are in most cases
successful: A person who has nothing will give away any amount if told
to do so; but quite different is the case of a wealthy merchant who
really has money to sign away.

Dr. Cocke describes one or two experiments of his own which have an
important bearing on the question of criminal suggestion. Says he: "A
girl who was hypnotized deeply was given a glass of water and was told
that it was a lighted lamp. A broomstick was placed across the room and
she was told that it was a man who intended to injure her. I suggested
to her that she throw the glass of water (she supposing it was a lighted
lamp) at the broomstick, her enemy, and she immediately threw it with
much violence. Then a man was