The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-15
HIS MIND WAS WEAKENED,
slYs On RoBERTsOH or FREDERICK
LUTECRAFL

| win Co-ts.s thss ne Cs.siseres I.sve-
ersft Incapable 90 Trnnssstfrs Buss-
sess Rssuirtsg Asy eress Thousht.
The only witness called yesterday in the
contest before Surrogate Arnold over the will
| OF the late Frederick A. Lovecrsft vas Or.
Thomas g Robertson Of % East Twentieth
street Or. Robertson bad known Joveeraft
nine or ten years before his death. and attend
| cd MIN at different times during the sum mer
| and fall Of 1893. whom he was suffering from
| nervous depression or melancholia. He was
examined By eK-surrogsts Ransom. for the
| contestants, vhotrisd to show that Lovecrafts
mental and physical condition on Aug. rs
when thu will In favor OF Col KearneJ was
| made. vas such as to make him unit for the
| transaction OF business
| DR.. Robertson makes q speciality OF the treat
| ment Of nervous diseases. and IL well known
TO members Of the theatrical profession. He
| was the friend and confidential adviser OF May
Brooklyn. the actress. who committed suicide
| in January in San Francisco. The cause Of
her suicide was her continued Borrowing over
the death OF her lover. Mr.. Lovecraft Among
| Miss Brook yns letters the following was found
| from DR.. Robertson. referring to Col kesrnsy.
and written soon after Lovecrsfts suicide:
| Nsv.r mind; yea and can nI him He vas no
friend Of yours and eid fear AN n1nE thing,
that you " III not Be forgotten
DR.. Robertson afterward said that he in
tended no unkind references to Col Rearney.
Dr. Robertson was an unwilling witness In
the hearing yesterday. He fatty refused to
answer several questions. and testified with
reluctance on questions a. to the professional
relations between himself and Lovecraft. He
said that he treated LovecrSft four months
before his death. They had dealings concern
ing the business of one OF Or. Robertson's
patients Before July. 1893. Lovecraft seemed
In good health. lie was always gale.
quiet in manner. and was OF phleg-
matte temperament. He was distant and
dignined. and the Doctors acquaintance with
him was slight The Doctor said that he frst
prescribed for Lovscrsit In July. 1893 when
they met In q casual way while he was calling
on q PATIENT LovecTaft was then suffering
from mental dep essiUn and was exceedingly
nervous In manner. He would sit quietly
w;hou. looking up. and answered questions
only in monosyllAbIes- He complained OF in
somnia and nervousness On Aug. 10 Love-
craft came to the Doctors once and was thor
oughly examined. He was still suffering from
insomnia. and was hardly able to attend TO
his business He was worried over financial
matters. and feared that he would lose all OF
his money.
At this point e1- Surrogate Ransom and Law
yer John n Bowers argued for half an hour
over admitticR testimony as to the coniden-
tial Communications between DR.. Robertson
and Lovecraft at the consultations The Sur
rogate ruled that the statute cant that the
witness should state anything relating to the
mental or physical condition OF Lovecrsft eI- |
cept com munications which would tend to dis
viii any CONCENTRATIONS that Lovecratt
the su aGT gate Of Of the Witnsss ~ ''
NO. not one" answered Dr.. hoSertson;
He spoke about being left without any money
and becoming dependent upon charity. His
body was enaciAted. and he was suffering
from anRmia and physical debility. He was
hystericAl IN DR.. Robertson's oiice. and cried
how poor he was then. Or. Robertson was
asked to state other communications
- DO not care to say any more he An
We're there any ether communications con-
Must state thasT' asked the witness Of I,
Yes: i there wa. nothing said to disgrace
There was nothing that would disgrace his |
memory but do not care to answer any more
= The witness however. testified that he saw
L. viii va. and found him
BILE The Doctor recommended q rest, but |
Ton Sss +. adaa s.1 IN
hours
SRa yos s,.:s;,s. any .;;s,ps Rs,on: -
.nes q d. sot,.. ts,.s ssoud ..y hss he ds' no.
sssss.f.s o. h' eo..s s"
,srros.ts him because he vas In sash state Of H.r
Odd Lo,.cr.n m.asion Col Ks.rn,y's namst
A-Sot Until NET him on sspt3
What Is known a.. the collapse OF Loveeratt
occurred on SEPT 3. when Or. Robertson was
:ansd u . IL cof k.ar"sy or Rec S.e
ts:,iHsd f Tia, S 5. found povscist. si.ips IN
Col Ke.rnsy and NJ lice were with hin.
Loyecraft was yery hystsrIcal and his taIk
attentive TO him. Loveeraft appeared to have
IG% to d Se Sss
f@' % SS . i ses did shi, dsea.. h.v. upon
h.n ss. ss9SiSP q f Hanson. HS upon his
II decline to answer that. / am not here as
Would il tend to weaken his mindr"
can't answer that"
The Court told the witness to answer the
question. and the Doctor said:
49,, II weaf ened his physical and. apparently.
To What extent did # wsakennY-
refuse TO answer that"
You are Unable to state how It weakened
am unable"
Dc Jou think he was able to transact bust
He might attend 10 things involving no
great thought but should nor think that his
SiaHPGss tha! i WAS the negotiation of
should consider him incapable Of doing
business recurring any great thought"
after the visit to Palmers Theatre and found !
him improved. ON Sept IL Loyeoratrs eonii- !
the presence Of the witness was frisndiy 10 |
.oVeeTatt. and solicitous about his condition |
LAWYER bowsrs had lust started on the cross;
until ~ 80 this morning.