r the prosecution, that "there exists no
instance of a crime, or attempted crime committed under the influence of
hypnotic suggestion." As to the influence of Eyraud over Bompard, M. de
Beaurepaire said: "The one outstanding fact that has been eternally true
for six thousand years is that the stronger will can possess the weaker:
that is no peculiar part of the history of hypnotism; it belongs to the
history of the world. Dr. Liegeois himself, in coming to this court
to-day, has fallen a victim to the suggestion of the young advocate who
has persuaded him to come here to air his theories." The Court wisely
declined to allow an attempt to be made to hypnotise the woman Bompard
in the presence of her judges, and M. Henri Robert, her advocate, in his
appeal to the jury, threw over altogether any idea of hypnotic
suggestion, resting his plea on the moral weakness and irresponsibility
of his client.

(18) Moll in his "Hypnotism" (London, 1909) states that, after Gabrielle
Bompard's release M. Liegeois succeeded in putting her into a hypnotic
state, in which she reacted the scene in which the crime was originally
suggested to her. The value of such experiments with a woman as
mischievous and untruthful as Gabrielle Bompard must be very doubtful.
No trustworthy instance seems to be recorded in which a crime has
been committed under, or brought about by, hypnotic or post-hypnotic
suggestion, though, according to Moll, "the possibility of such a crime
cannot be unconditionally denied."

In sheer wickedness there seems little enough to choose between Eyraud
and Bompard. But, in asking a verdict without extenuating circumstances
against the woman, the Procureur-General was by no means insistent. He
could not, he said, ask for less, his duty would not permit it: "But I
am ready to confess that my feelings as a man suffer by the duty imposed
on me as a magistrate. On one occasion, at the outset of my career, it
fell to my lot to ask from a jury the head of a woman. I felt then
the same kind of distress of mind I feel to-day. The jury rejected my
demand; they accorded extenuating circumstances; though defeated, I left
the court a happier man. What are you going to do to-day, gentlemen? It
rests with you. What I cannot ask of you, you have the right to accord.
But when the supreme moment comes to return your verdict, remember
that you have sworn to judge firmly and fearlessly." The jury accorded
extenuating circumstances to