“The policemen were wondering if hypnotism had anything to do with successful checker playing.”

An amateur hypnotist who was very good at checkers had quite an interesting day, according to an article in the November 15, 1904 New York Times. The story:

“David Hermann, a clothing cutter, of 76 Seventh Street, who believes he is a hypnotist, early yesterday morning aroused his father, two brothers, and sister before daylight, and sought to put them to sleep again. They had endured a pet notion of Hermann’s that he could hypnotize prize fighters and thus make a lot of money by placing bets the right way, but they balked at being robbed of their sleep, as a consequence he was put in charge of the police of the Fifth Street Station.

All day yesterday Hermann had the freedom the station’s lounging room. He began to ingratiate himself by beating Quinn, the doorman, three games of checkers. Quinn being the second-best player attached to the station, it was thought best to give the hypnotist prisoner a thorough tryout, and word was sent to Policeman Snyder, who lives a few doors away, to come and try an opponent worthy of the effort.

Snyder responded and was beaten two games. The policemen then telephoned for John Russell, a Bellevue ambulance driver, who was off duty. Russell sat down full of confidence, being the one man admitted by the station force to show to be Snyder’s master. Russell was beaten three successive games.

The policemen were talking about it and wondering if hypnotism had anything to do with successful checker playing when the ambulance arrived to take Hermann to Bellevue Hospital.

On the way there Dr. Parsons had the ambulance stop at 366 East Sixteenth Street, for another patient, Charles Dressler. When the vehicle resumed its trip Dressler became violent. Dr. Parsons was unable to control him, and the driver had to assist.

Their combined efforts were of little avail, and Dr. Parsons was about to call for police aid when when Hermann got busy with a variety of strange movements of his arms and hands over Dressler’s head. Dressler became quiet, and the trip was resumed without trouble. Hermann making his over the latter sought to make trouble.

At the hospital Dressler was removed from the ambulance without difficulty, but Hermann refused to budge until a checker board and a set of checkers were used as a lure. Hermann then followed the man who carried the bait into the psychopathic ward.”