Ghosts - By Hans Holzer Page 0,35

was in when Ben Franklin flew his kite,” Lt. Cronin said.

“But it does exist. It is a kind of sixth sense that primitive man possessed but has been lost through the ages. It’s not supernatural, mind you. And it will be the method of the future.

“Once it is gotten into scientific shape, it will help law enforcement agencies solve certain crimes that have been baffling them.”

Stressing that ESP will grow in police use, he said:

“In Europe some of the ESP people have been qualified to give testimony in court. It will come here, too.”

More specific and illustrative of the methods used by psychics in helping solve crimes is a column devoted to a case in Washington State, written by Michael MacDougall for the Long Island Press of May 3, 1964, in which he suggests that someone with ESP should be on the staff of every police department in order to help solve difficult crimes. MacDougall makes a very strong case for his conviction in his report on a case that took place a month earlier.

DeMille, the famous mentalist currently touring for the Associated Executives Clubs, checked into the Chinook Hotel in Yakima, Wash., at 2 P.M. on Friday, April 3. He was tired, and intended to shower and sleep before that evening’s lecture. But hardly had he turned the key in the lock when the phone rang.

It was a woman calling. “My friend has had her wallet stolen,” the feminine voice said. “It contained several articles of sentimental value which she would like to recover. Can you help her find it?”

“Perhaps,” said DeMille. “I’ll do my best. But you’ll have to wait until after my speech. Call me about ten-thirty.”

DeMille hung up, tumbled into bed. But he couldn’t sleep. The thought of that stolen wallet kept intruding. Then, just on the edge of unconsciousness, when one is neither asleep nor awake, he envisioned the crime.

Two teen-age boys, one wearing a red sweater, stole up behind a woman shopper. One stepped in front, diverting her attention, while his partner gently unfastened her handbag, removed the wallet, and scampered around the corner, to be joined later by his confederate.

DeMille saw more. The boys got into a beat-up Ford. They drove away, parked briefly in front of a used car lot. Opening the wallet, they took out a roll of bills, which were divided evenly. DeMille wasn’t sure of the count but thought it was $46. Then the boys examined a checkbook. DeMille saw the number 2798301, and the legend: First National Bank of Washington. He also received an impression that it was some kind of a meat-packing firm.

Now fully awake, DeMille phoned K. Gordon Smith, secretary of the Knife and Fork Club, the organization for which DeMille was speaking that night. The secretary came up to DeMille’s room, listened to the story, and advised calling the police.

Soon DeMille had callers. One introduced himself as Frank Gayman, a reporter for the Yakima Herald. The other was Sergeant Walt Dutcher, of the Yakima Police. Again DeMille told his story. Gayman was skeptical but willing to be convinced. The sergeant was totally disbelieving and openly hostile.

DeMille suggested they call the First National Bank and find out if a meat-packing company had a checking account numbered 2798301. Then it would be easy to call the company and discover whether or not any female employee had been robbed.

The report was negative. Account #2798301 was not a meat-picking company. In fact, the bank had no meat packers as customers. Fruit packers, yes; meat packers, no.

Sergeant Dutcher, after threatening DeMille with arrest for turning in a false crime report, stamped out of the room. Frank Gayman, still willing to be convinced, remained. The phone rang again. It was for Gayman; the bank was calling.

There was an account numbered 2798001 carried by Club Scout Pack #3. Could this be the one? Immediately, DeMille knew that it was.

The president of the Knife and Fork Club, one Karl Steinhilb, volunteered to drive DeMille about the city. Following the mentalist’s directions, Steinhilb drove to an outlying section, parked in front of a used car lot. And sure enough, in the bushes fronting a nearby house they found the discarded wallet.

The Yakima Police Department was not quite the same after that.

The cases of cooperation between psychics or psychic researchers and police departments are becoming more numerous as time goes on and less prejudice remains toward the use of such persons in law enforcement.

In July, 1965, the Austin, Texas, police used the services of a