Exposed by Nellie Bly

Sunday, November 11, 1888

A Swindling Magnetic “Doctor” Caught at His Tricks

Prof. Ernest De Blanc, of Brooklyn, Proves to be a Notorious Criminal

He Has Advertised to Give a Big Free Exhibition To-Night, but “The World’s” Active Reporter Discovered Him Just in Time — His Ingeniously Secreted Electric Wires by Which He Demonstrates His “Personal Magnetism” — A Long Criminal Career in Half a Dozen Big Cities — Convicted of Forgery at New Orleans — His Brilliant Advertising Schemes.

In a New York newspaper of last Thursday I read the following advertisement under the head of “Amusements:”

I made up my mind to call on this remarkable person, as the advertisement seemed to bear on its face the evidence of fraud. Friday was a bad day for thin boots and Friday night was worse. I had had a long and tiresome day, but I could not rest until I investigated the schemes of the magnetic doctor.

What will you charge to take me to №84 Ashland place?” I asked a cabby, who was leaning against his coupé as if asleep.

“Two dollars,” he said, straightening up.

The “Doctor” At Home.

We arrived at Ashland Place in a little more than ten minutes. The street, like the night, was dark and dreary. From what I could…