514 The American Naturalist. [Juner 



Early in 1890, Professor James, of Harvard, hearing of the case, 

 conceived the idea that if Mr. Bourne could be hypnotized, a complete 

 history of the whole incident might be obtained from him whilst in the 

 hypnotic trance. The circumstances had naturally left a painful and 

 perplexed impression on Mr. Bourne ; he was anxious to have any 

 light possible thrown on his strange experience, and he readily acquie- 

 sced in the proposals made for hypnotism. 



Here, it must be noted, that no amount of sugg,estion, however strongly 

 urged or frequently repeated, ever succeeded in merging the consciousness 

 of "Albert Br own " in that of "Ansel Bourne;" the one personality was 

 absolutely separated from the other. 



Ansel Bourne came to Boston on five consecutive days, May 27-31, 

 and during that time Professor James and Mr. Hodgson obtained from 

 him, in the " deep " hypnotic state, the following detailed account of 

 his doings during the eight weeks from January 17 to March 13, 1887. 2 



He said that his name was Albert John Brown, that on January 17, 

 1887, he went from Providence to Pawtucket in a horse-car, thence bv 

 train to Boston, and thence to New York, where he arrived at 9 P. M. 

 and went to the Grand Union Hotel, registering as A. J. Brown. He 

 left New York on the following morning and went to Newark, N. J., 

 thence to Philadelphia, where he arrived in the evening, and stayed 

 for three or four days in a hotel near the depot. He then spent a week 

 or so in a boarding house in Filbert Street, about No. 1115, near the 

 depot. It was kept by two ladies, but he could not remember their 

 names. He thought of taking a store in a small town, and after look- 

 ing round at several places, among them Germantown, chose Norris- 

 town, about twenty miles from Philadelphia, where he started a little 

 business in five cent _■ ■• — 'nery, etc. 



He stated that he was born in Newton, New Hampshire, July 8, 

 1826 [he was born in New York City, July 8, 1826], had passed 

 through a great deal of trouble, losses of friends and property ; loss of 

 his wife was one trouble, she died in 1881 ; three children living, but 

 everything was confused prior to his finding himself in the horse-car 

 on his way to Pawtucket; he wanted to get away somewhere, he did'nt 

 know where, and have rest. He had six or seven hundred dollars with 

 him when he went into the store. He lived very closely, boarded by 

 himself, and did his own cooking. He went to church and also to one 

 prayer-meeting. At one of these meetings he spoke about a boy who 



2 Professor Janet, of Havre, disco 



