The times., 1899-08-14
HIS IDENTITY DISCLOSED
The Would BE Suicide Calls Himself
Abraham Reinhart
The Georgetown Hospital Physicians
Clearing Mystery That Has
Puzzled Them for Three weeks
Family Troubles the Wounded
Mans Reasons for His Rash Deed.

Mans Reasons for His Rash Deed.
The identity Of the young Hebrew who
has been confined TO Georgetown Uni
versiiy Hospital since the day he WAS
found In lead Mans Hollow. at Roslyn,
Va. with a bullet wound in the back of
his head has been established. According
TO the physicians al the hospital the man
Is undoubtedly Abraham Reinhart, of New
York City. and the wound in his head is
due to an attempt on his part to end his
life. because of family troubles. These
facts were obtained from the man by
DR. Lawrence johnson Of the hospital
staff after a considerable difficulty.
An effort viii now be made to commune
cate with friends or relatives OF the IN
fortunate man, TO inform them Of his
condition The man claims to have
brother living in New York.
Reinbart was found in Dead Mans
hollow, July %, by two young men who
were picking blackberries. He was uneon-
cious and lying half immersed in small
stream of water located about 100 yeards
from the roadway. There was q bullet
wound in the top Of his head near the
crown, and about l00 feet from where he
was lying was found revolver contain
ing three loaded cartridges and one empty
she'll Another cartridge which fitted the
revolver was found in pocket of his coat.
The coat was lying several feet from the
body as were the hat, collar, and necktie.
A thorough search OF all the clothing fail
al n reveal nn1fhiDe which rnipbf h
lish his identity except a small piece of
paper on which was written Lawrence
Hotel. 4 Street. between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth Streets. II. R." Enquiry at
the Lawrence Hotel showed that no one
whose initials were M r" had been stop
ping at the hosiery, that there were 10
guests at the hotel who could not be ac-
counted for and that none Of the help was
missing.
An examination at the hospital showed
that the bullet wound was in such a posi-
Iion taat il was al first thought impossible
Tor II TO nave heen seif-in1iicted. Suisse
qslent investigation, however, showed that
by an effort the man could have placed the
pistol at the place where the bullet enter
ed and then fired probably with the idea of
creating the impression of murder and re-
moving the stigma of suicide The ex-
animation also showed that the condition
little chance for recovery. II was 70 INC
that the entire right side including the
arm and leg. was paralyZed. and that the
vocal chords were also affected. 1t was
decided that the condition Of the nan
would net warrant an operation. and he
was sent 10 a ward TO await developments.
Although Reinhert remained in an un-
conscious state all the next day and ex-
aibited scarcely any signs OF life, the third
gay brought an Improvement, and with it
came the hops that the patient would re-
cover. Nov the physicians have hope that
he viii get well. The case excited wide
spread attention. and though many per-
sons, mostly Hebrews, visited the hospital
II the hope of identifying the man none
was able TO do SO. Several persons at
tempted to get answers from the man to
questions put both verbally and IN writ
ing. but without success. Characters OF all
languages with which il was thought the
man might be familiar were shown him.
but he apparently did not understand them,
or if he did gave no indication of it,
IL The physicians then determined that the
vocal chords were paralyzed, although
the hearing was not al ali affected. When
the physicians or nurses al the hospital
saw that there was occasionally an indi-
cation that the man wanted something
they were compelled TO ask many Ques-
l4DAc LAlStluk1S Luc OF the want
until they finally hit upon II and were so
informed by the slightest sign Of recogni-
tion from the mute and mysterious pa
tient
The first intimation that the hospital
people had that their patient had shown
signs Of recovering the use of his vocal
chords was about a week ago. when he
uttered several words TO a man named
Shapeau. who occupied the cot adjoining
-
confined Shapeau is a Baltimorean. and
was under treatment for dropsy He was
Dteres1ed in the sufferer beside him and
often attempted to converse with him
Dne day Shapeau asked Reinhart why he
attempted 10 kill himself and was sur
prised 10 hear the man answer family
Groubles." Shapeau informed the physi-
clans OF what had happened, but as moth
tng more could be learned from the man
the story was not given credence. Finally
the Baltimorezn was pronounced well
leaving the ward where he had been con-
fined he said goodby 10 ReinharI and was
again surprised when the man answered
goocby- A nurse was present in the
ward when the man spoke and heard him.
When the physicians again heard that
their patient had spoken they renewed
their efforts with him. and Drs. Mccarthy.
A8EON. ana JOHNSON all were unsuccessful
until Dr.. johnson devised an ingenious
means Of couVersing with the man which
proved successful in ore way DR.. John
son, with a lead pencil carefully printed the
alphabet On a large piece OF paper, and
holding IL before the patient asked his
name. al the same time requesting the man
10 indicate the letters which formed il.
With great difhcelty the man began by in
dicating the A. then the B. and thus
on until the name Abraham had been com
pleted- he was much fatigued after CON-
ple;lng the name, but continued until the
name Reigold was made clear te the ply
sician. Their followed New York. The eg-
fort 10 ccarribufe that much Information Il
DR.. johnson was such that the man was
not requested TO 90 more.
The name was obtained Friday and on
the following day when 2 doctor had oc-
casion to visit the patient he addressed
him as Reigold with the result that III
patient appeared uneasy. Ii was thought
possibly the man wanted to say something
and the paper with the alphabet was again
procured and the former process gone
through with the result that the man in
dicated that his name was Abraham Rein
hart re indicated on the chart that he
has a brother living in NeE York. Tbs
physicians stated last n ght that hey hoFe
TO learn more from the man concerning
his family, when an effort would be made
10 communicate with them.
rn rnRpv orr VIC NTErE