“In a few seconds the subject was in a deep hypnotic sleep.”

A macabre and unpopular experiment in Upstate New York was the subject of an article in the May 24, 1897 New York Times. The story:

“Binghamton, N.Y.–A young girl, Annabelle Moray, was hypnotized last evening, placed in a coffin, and buried five feet under ground, to remain for forty-eight hours without food or drink. This is the first test of the kind ever attempted with a woman, and exhibition attracted a great crowd to Lestershire, a nearby suburb, where the burial took place. The village authorities threatened the hypnotist, Prof. Ceborne, with arrest, but allowed him to carry out the programme after he explained that no possible harm could result to the woman.

Late in the afternoon a dray with a broadcloth-covered coffin paraded through the principal streets of this city, bearing banners advertising the intended burial. The dray was closely followed by an open carriage containing Prof. Ceborne and his subject. Arriving at Lestershire, the procession was met by a large crowd of villagers, who loudly threatened the hypnotist, calling him a coward and a fakir. Trouble seemed imminent, and Miss Moray was hurried to her rudely improvised dressing room in a neighboring barn, to prepare for the burial.

Again the professor made a speech assuring those present that the subject was perfectly willing to be buried, and that no possible physical harm could come to her. When all was ready the professor asked for silence and said he would place the subject in a hypnotic state by a novel method. Retreating about twenty feet, the professor, first looking at the subject, whistled a weird Hindu chant, and in a few seconds the subject was in a deep hypnotic sleep.  Upon examination by Dr. C.P. Roberts it was found that the girl’s muscles were seemingly paralyzed. The pulse, respiration,  and temperature were normal. She did not respond to a touch or to any of the various tests made.

She was placed in the coffin and lowered into the grave. The ventilating shafts were carefully adjusted, and the Professor, with a parting word or warning that she must sleep without food or drink for for forty-eight hours, left her to her fate.”