The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-04
ERASED HIS MIND
STRANGE CASE OF HERBERT sPEN-
GER OF LAWRENCE, KAN.
After Having Been a Bright Student In the
Kansas University he Disappears,
Afteward Turning Up a Stranger to
Himself in Philadelphia Where a Medi-
to Study His Case-He Is All Right Now
But Has No Recollection of His Former
Life

D
to Study His Case-He Is All Right Now
But Has No Recollection of His Former
Life.
Lawrence, Kan, Oct 3.-The strange
case of Herbert Spencer is being stud
led with great interest by medical men
OF this and other states. Two years
ago young Spencer was a pharmaceuti-
cal student at the university here. He
was a bright student and expected
upon graduation to assist his brother
who owns large drug store in this
city. In August, 1894, he disappeared
In August Of this year he returned re-
entered college and took up his studies
with apparent ease at the point where
he had left off, but he recognized nei-
Their members of his family nor his old
professors at the university. 1t was as
If he had been asleep for two years
and in that sleep had forgotten faces
and forms. yet had retained the book
lore of youth.
The two years are partial blank to
him, partial because he recalls his
whereabouts during the last five
months and at times flashes come to
him of other periods. 1t is evident
that during his wanderings he visited
Europe. This came to the knowledge
Of those who are observing him only
few days ago. Somebody spoke of
q certain location in Paris, and the boy
began speaking with rapidity and ear
nesness of spots only familiar to one
who has visited the gay metropolis.
Asked how he happened to visit Paris,
he replied that he had no knowledge
of having been there other than that
the city seemed familiar to him
At another time he spoke of London,
crd again Antwerp, and m the mention
ing OF the latter city he described the
loading of steamships of the Red Star
line As tne9 lay at their piers in the
kiver Sc eldt. From this 1t is sup
posed that he went to Europe on one of
These boasts, but that is only a
supposftfon. He recalls something about
New Orleans, but it is only in a vague
way, and he shows the same misty rec
oiQection OF other cities. But there is
one place he entertains vivid recollec-
tf0n of-Philadelphia. From March
sest his memory is perfect, and he re-
call everything since that date 1t is
as ar he was born anew in the metropo-
lis of Pennsylvania early this spring.
And, therefore the tangible chapter of
the mysterious case of Herbert Spen-
Ger opens in the City of Brotherly Love
On the night of March 6, 1896, a police
man noticed young man standing on
corner and looking vacantly I'D and
uoWn the street. He approached the
.ioiVluual and was astonished to hear
the question. Where am ~"
n
toxicatad and his air was too earnest I
TO admit OF a possibility that he was |
toking. The policeman questioned him.
asking his name
don't know" ne replied. 'T can |
recall nothing. What city am I in 9''
saying this the young man passed his
nedVliy across his forehead, and in re-
counting the action later the officer said
ne appeared as a person awakins from
deep sleep.
Nhen the policeman answered the
question as to the locality, he in turn
theindividual of such
strange actions, but could gain no in
formation. AS the stranger was well
dressed the mystified officer began to
suspect that he had been drugged and
was temporarily unconscious as a re-
suit. He took him 10 the police sta
ton and turned him over TO mis- superi
prs FOR further investigation into the
case.
mere the stranger was thoroughly
cross examined, but not one word OF
explanation could the young man offer
IF his strange plight. His answers
showed that he neither knew who he
was, where he had come from, nor how
be had reached philadelphia. A phy-
Stefan was summoned Al axa,o;.o
ton revealed nothing wrong with the
young man physically: the doctors ,
lue-stlons were Of no more avail than .
were those of the police officials. Raf
led by the case the doctors natural
was that the young man
Ma shamming. So the unfortunate / ,
nan was locked up in cell over night. ,
The next day he was Drought before
police judge and that official tried to
aid the young man to collect his wits !
1y series Of questions and suggestions. :
rhe only progress he made with the ;
;ase was 30 discover that the young !
mans memory was perfectly clear as :
o the events Of the night before from ,
he time ne was accosted by the police ,
nan until his arraignmeut in court. =
3eyond that his memory was an abso- 7
ute blank. Then il dawned upon the =
'olice judge that he had before him a
TRANCE and unusual case and he turned T
he young man over TO the authorities
f the Philadelphia City hospital. send @
ng ia DR.. Daniel Hughes, superin- =
endent of the institution. a written &C .
cunt OF all the details of the case as a
ar as they had been learned by him 2
DR.. Hughes immediately took q deep n
interest in the case and for a month y
e devoted his atten ton to the matter q
4 an effort to solve the mystery. Not =
he least puzzling of the many strange n
aatureS of the case was the fact thai q
gorge, as he was renamed, had not I,
his use OF language, nor what q
e had evidently acquired at school. N
lie appeared we'll educated, was an ex- q
client penman. and so DR.. Hughes -
appointed him as his private secre- r,
ary, both because his services were n
aluable and because the doctor de o
red 10 keep him under constant OBJ o,
arvation. 81
George" appeared to enjoy life at +,
he hospital immensely and evinced a
reat fonfness for DIR. Hughes He @,
$50 showed marvellous interest in his \.
WI case. about which he would talk y
" hours with the physician and other :,
,edical men who called TO Sc him. 81
e expressed a willingness TO undergo -
~ operation which might be necessary D.
restore his memory. and when tr'a- :,
Inning Of the skull was suggested he O,
piled that he was ready TO take the
rgeon's table s.,
Bit careful examination failed 10 i;
veal any evidence that a blood clot, ~
le solution which suggested itself TO l.
.e doctors. had formed In any part OF Y,
e brain. and the puzzled surgeons. | sj
i knowing where to apply the knife. n
scalpel. decided not 20 risk SO dam n,