Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-19
LOSS OF PERSONAL IDEN-
TITY.
Report of Curious and Inter
esting Case in Belmont COun-
~ Ohio

cStiiiS SdSc III Dclh'Ohs SO
~, Ohio.
Last winter there appeared at Bellaire
an aged gentleman OF evident respect
ability, who registered at the Belmont
House. He remained some davs with
out attracting particular attention; but
one morning he announced to the land
lord that his funds were becoming low,
and that he would eat but one meal,
thereafter, per day, that his money
might hold out longer. In vain the land
lord offered 10 board him more cheapiy.
Heinsisted that he should be allowed TO
adopt the plan named, and refused to
become in any degree an object OF charl-
".
On the Sabbath following he attend
ed divince services at the Presbyterian
Church, and at the conclusion OF the
exercises startled the congregation by
rising TO his feet, andin words so simple
and pathetic as 10 bring tears to the
eyes of his hearers, prOciaiming himself
"A stranger in strange land; without
means To procure the necessities oil lie,
and with no place to lay his head
Offers of pecuniarv assistance were
made by numerous gentlemen, but all
were repealed with scorn. Finally he
consented to accept an invitation TO
dinner, and the audience dispersed.
His intelligence and erudition were
really striking. He eyinced thorough
knowledge of craftsmanship, and an
acquaintance with public occurrences
for some years past which gave rise to
the belief that he had filled some posi-
ton in public life. The most curious
part of the story is that he protested to
be utterly ignorant OF his own identity
his name, his former calling, his home.
his manner of life and his pecuniary cir
cumstances he could only infer as a
stranger would, from peculiarlties OF his
manner or speech.
In a recent number of the Hospital
Gazette, published in New York City, we
see the following remarks concerning
this mysterious parsonage, from the pen
of DIR. A. ii. HewetsOn, OF II. Clalrsvllle,
physician of more than ordinary intel
ligence and professional skill:
81 have under my care, as physician
for our County Infirmary, a very inter
esting case. There is no discoverable
bodily disease, but very peculiar men
tai state. The patient has lost all knowl-
edge OF his personal identity; does not
know who he is, where he came from,
or whittier he was going. He became an
inmate of our intirmary about nine
months since. The following is his
history since taken in charge by our
county officials. All previous to that is
a blank to himself and entirely unknown
to u.s.
about the time referred to, nine
months since, he found himself stand
ing upon the depot platform III BeIlalre
City with little money in his pocket,
and a small travelling bag in his hand.
This bag contained a change OF linen,
pair of scissors, and some blank paper
like that used by editors. His clothes
were quite genteel, and the underwear
in his valse was neat and clean. His
entire appearance was that OF well
cared for gentleman ready Tor business.
There was no name on any property
about him indicating who he was, cX-
cept on some part OF his effects was the
name Ralph. This is what he is called
in the intirmary.
Alter thinking anu llllIhlllE W llilt az
the depot, he at last went 10 the nearest
hotel, and gave the landlord a candid
statement OF his very strange condition.
He asked for bed, said he had little
money, that he would be no trouble,
and that he felt sure this strange mental
sickness would soon pass off. The land
lord became interested in his case. The
same day gentleman came TO Bellare
10 lecture on temperance. Stopping at
the same hotel, he soon made the ac-
quaintance of Ralph, and invited him
TO attend the lecture. While attentively
listening, some impulse came over him
which he could not resist, ,and he found
himself out i'm the street smashing the
saloon windows with big club. The
roughs ran out, beat and abused him
badly, breaking the neck OF the hume
rus, and beating one side all black and
blue. This brought him into the hands
of the police. But the lecturer, the
doctor the landlord and Mayor all be-
came interested in finding out who he
was. They made every effort, but ut
terly futile.
Gle certainly is man of more than
the average ability; has had quite an eX-
tensive knowledge of business, and is
very expert with the pen. Same think
that he must have been connected with
the press. Others, 4 clerk in some call
ing in which the use OF the pen and fig
uring was the daily habit. In this way
alone can they explain his great expert
ness. His knowledge is entirely correct
upon all matters disconnected with the
question of identity. He has the use OF
his mental powers in all other directions.
| made him, after having the best evil
denCe of his fitness, my assistant He
has put up all the medicine, dc. pro-
cured him 'Parish's Pharmacy and in
a remarkably short time he was able TO
fill any prescription ! required, and in
many other ways 10 assist me.
$50 great is his general knowledge,
and so correct all his recollections of
general events, and all special duties
imposed upon him, that many were
skeptical and believed him to be feign-
ing. But, after nine months close OBJ
seryation. we are all forced 10 believe
what he says-a man with no knowledge
of his personal identity. He is about
fifty years of age; rather spare; has dark
hair, we'll sprinkled with gray, and is
quite gentleman in appearance, He
has made himself so useful, agreeable,
and so anxious to return all he cah for
the benefits he has received, that he was
presented with anew suit OF clothes, and
directed to eat at the superintendent
table. ! report the case both on account
OF its psychological interest and that
possibly it may lead TO the discovery OF
his identity"
The temperance lecturer referred 10
was Col. \. J. Bowen, well known here,
now editor of the NsW Era, at Columbus,
Ohio. He is man of acute perceptions
and good understanding, but was un-
able to make any more out OF the cause
than DR.. Hewetson. The writer visited
Ralph" while he was confined in the
city Jail at Bellaire, and a condensed
narrative OF his case was then published
in the REGISTER. The story is certain
" a peculiar one. 1t would have
been amusing, had it not been in
expressibly sad, to hear the
old man talk about himself. He seemed
10 have made somewhat OF study Of
psychological phenomena, and he anX-
iously inquired OF each new conner II he
had ever read of 4 parallel case The