Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-04
DUMB FOR SIX YEARS.
An Old Soldier Receivers His Speech
as Suddenly as He Lost It.
BE GETS DRUNK IMMEDIATELY,
In Order to Properly Celebrate the Strange
Event, is Arrested,
BUT is FREED IN A SHORT TIME

One Of the most remarkable cases. either
in the police or medical records of ALLIE
ghenv county, came up yesterday afternoon
in Central station. Inspector McAleese
was told that Mark Kinney had been ar
rested for being drunk and asked to see
him.
"Bosh, Z" replied the Inspector that man
has not spoken since he was struck by par
alysis six years ago. 1 have known him for
20 years and seen him every day since. 1t
must be an impostor"
But it was true, after all, and Kinney was
identified by other officers and spoke
fuently for the first time in six years, hav-
ing always in that time used slate to COM
municate with others, although he retained
his power Of hearing. He was so delighted
at his sudden good fortune that he got drunk
10 celebrate the event and was arrested.
Kinney Is 45 years of age, an old soldier,
having served in Company d, One Hundred
and Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun-
teers. His story is certainly a most remark
able one. One evening in July, 1888, Kin
ney, who had been for ten years employed as
a salesman in George Biggs' jewelry store,
went home to his supper feeling as well usu-
al. He threw himself into chair to wait
until the meal was ready. In few minutes his
vile came into the room to call him TO supper,
but was horritied TO find him lying back uncon-
scious in his chair. She reused him so that he
opened his eyes, but he could not move his
right side, and his speech was gone A physi-
clan was hastily summoned, who, after an ex-
animation, pronounced 1t case OF paralysis.
AN UNFORTUNATE CONDITION.
From that time the unfortunate man has been
a cripple, unable to earn his living. unable to
speak, his little home has been wrecked, he has
been charitable charge to his friends, and his
five children have been placed in the Jumon-
vile Soldiers Home at Uniontown. His
friends have exhausted the skill of the best sur
geons and physicians in the State from time to
time, in the hope of restoring him to health
and strength of his former manhood. He was
sent to Philadelphia once for SIX weeks. but re-
turned If anything worse than when he started.
The physicians, however insisted that the man
could be cured and the treatment was kept up
until about year ago, when he became dis
gusted and refused to bother any further with
medicines or doctors.
About three months ago Kinney who had
been walking about with the aid of a crutch
and cane for couple of years, began to feel
something like life in his paralyzed limbs, and
in short time threw away. first his crutch and
then. about three weeks ago, his cane, and
walked, though somewhat feebly, without aid
He became more hopeful then, of being able
once more to earn his living and get his family
circle around him again. but still despaired of
ever recovering his voice. But even this pleas
week be attended one of the theaters, and while
watching the play be became interested to such
an extent in one of the characters that he at
tempted to pronounce her name. To his sur
prise he was successful, and when he ex-
claimed Maggie! Maggier' he was SO pleased
that he got up and left the theater. SO that he
could practice speaking without attracting the
attention his first utterance had done. But
when he got OUTSIDE the power was gone and he
could not artculate syllable.
CAME FROM A COLD.
Last Sunday he caught severe cold which
settled in his throat, and on Monday his throat
sweled up so that he tied flannel around il.
On Thursday morning he felt much better
that he substituted silk handkerchief for the
flannel, and during the day he made an effort
to speak. The attempt was again a success,
and he began to talk to his wife in a blue
streak, fearful every moment that his precious
voice would leave him again. But 1t did not,
and yesterday he went around among his |
friends, surprising them by calling them by 1
name and conversing as If he had always been |
able to do so. Being satisfied that the recov-
cry of his voice was permanent. he yesterday |
afternoon threw away the little slate which has
been his constant companion for six years. and
in order to properly celebrate the occasion he
started down town and got drunk, with the re-
suit noted above
Inspector McAleese was SO much pleased
that his old friend had regained his speech
that he ordered him set at liberty at once, say
ing if there was any such thing as an excuse
for man getting drunk, Mark Kinney GER
tainly had one yesterday.