The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-19
ORAZED BY TOBACCO.
A ~yirginian Who Ate Two or Three Pounds Of
the Weed Daily Placed in an Insane Asylum.

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 1s.-A dispatch 10 the
party which arrived in the city to-day from
Danville. Va, registering at the Hotel
Barthoidi. was composed of Albert Robert
son, a wealthy tobacco merchant, his wife
and son, his brother. Nathan (also his
partner in business) and his physician, Dr..
w. L. Robinson. Mr.. Robertson has been
for q long time under daily treatment for
troubles growing out of ove~r-indulgence in
tobacco, and it was decided recently to
place him in an asylum. In order to get
him away from home without exciting his
suspicious Mr.. Robertson's physician sug-
gested that the whole family should visit
this city and spend a few weeks in sight
seeing while enjoying a change of climate.
The invalid consented to this agreement,
and thus was brough0 without trouble
within a convenient distance from Bloom
ingdale.
At the hotel Mr.. Robertson was assigned
to room No. q. and a professional nurse en-
gagged for him. During the afternoon he
ofsthe invalid's brother DIR. Robinson vol
unteered to accompany him. the nurse be-
ing instructed to follow at a short distance.
Nathan Robertson returned TO the hotel a
lew mllultS ldteT, lUuuu TOOm NO. q Oe-
serted. and at once came to the conclusion
that his brother had escaped. When the
party returned. about 5 o'clock. Nathan APP
preached the doctor, exclaiming:
My God! l thought he had got away"
lyon mine your own business" retorted
the afflicted brother. who had overheard
the remark. Il know what | am doing"
INT without further ado he leaped upon
Nathan, much as a cat would upon q mouse,
and belabored and scratched him fearfully.
Albert is a tall. why and muscular man,
and at this instant he seemed possessed of
superhuman strength. The brother was
but as a child in his hands, and his cries
for help brought the doctor and the nurse.
Both these, however, were knocked to the
floor as quick ms thought. The maniac
fought like a tiger.
The clerk on duty in the hotel office rang
his bell violently, and q couple of porters
came to the rescue. but they, too. bit the
dust. 1t was not until five stalwart en-
pioyes of the house had united their
strength and weight that the Infatuated
man was subjected and held down. Mean
while a policeman had been called in and
an ambulance summoned. Fifteen min
utes later Robertson was securely strapped
in q straight jacket and removed to Belle
yue Hospital. He probably will be taken
to Blo0mingdale Tomorrow. Beyond
scratches and bruises none of the parties
assaulted by Robertson sustained any in
jury.
To show what an inveterate slave to to-
bScco Robertson is. the doctor said he con-
sumed no less thar a pound and a half on
the way from Washington to this city. The
tobacco he masticated as one might food,
and his daily consumption of the narcotic
at home was from two tn three pounds.
The party had been three days en- route
FROM Dauville. and at times the doctor and
the mans brother had oil they could do to
restrain the patient. DIR. Robinson having
forgotten 10 bring a supply of cocaine,
which generally had q quieting effect upon
his patient.