Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-03-06
A Strange Story.

without any knowledge OF the appear
ance of man or the animals or Of the
sky, has been engaging the attention
of scientists, educators and philsn-
thrOpists at St. Joseph, Mo-, says a
St. Joseph correspondent.
"a young man % years old, pre-
sumably the son Of Jacob DIETRICH,
was found immured in a stone cell,
where he had been kept ever since be
was born.
Both in mind and body he was
found to be far less developed than
any common domestic animal. He
had no idea that it was wrong to hurt
or kill any human being or animal.
He had no idea that it was wrong to
steal or to take anything that pleased
him. In short he had no moral sense.
Even his physical senses were
largely undeveloped. When lighted
candle was shown him he uttered a
childish cry of pleasure and seized the
fame with his hand. 1t was some
time before he realized that it panied
him.
He could hardly walk, and he
could not run at all. When he at
tempted to do the latter he fell down.
He had an unconquerable aversion to
sitting in a chair. He insisted on
sprawling on the floor.
The appearance, probably the very
existence, of animals was unknown to
him. When a pretty little kitten was
held up to him he jumped back in
fright. When the kitten lifted up a
paw playfully the man ran away and
fell down.
"He could speak only one phrase
distinctly, and that was oh, Joho !
Oh, john He is always repeating
this. It's supposed that he overheard
his father using these words. He
could repeat some of the sounds used
by the farmers in calling home their
cattle, these having been loud enough
to reach him in his cell. He could
also initiate some of the noises made
by animals, but he had no knowledge
of the animals themselves.
He was very much pleased with 3
child's rattle, drum and some other
things that were given him to play
with. Those that made noise pleased
him most.
Several clever men and women
are now trying to educate the poor
fellow. He makes remarkable pro-
gIess in some things and remarkably
little in others. 1t is not likely that
he will ever be a normal man.
"The striking similarity of this case
to the historic one Of Kaspsr Hauser
has impressed many people. KasPer
Hauser, it maybe recalled, was found
at Nuremberg, Bavaria, in 1928. de
had no speech, no knowledge OF the
outside world, no recollection Of his
previous life. Investigation showed
pretty clearly that he was the son OF
the Grand Duke Karl Of Baden, who
had been kidnapped by his uncle, the
Margrave Ludwig. and kept in an
underground cell all his life. The
kidnapper secured the throne.
"The exact reason why the Mis-
souria unfortunate was immured is
not vet known. 1t seems that his
father, Jacob DIETRICH, came from
Germany and married at st. Joseph.
After a time bis first wife followed
him from Germany and her child was
born in his house. She died, and
out Of resentment against the mother,
it is said, be shut the poor creature
up.
"On the high hills that overlook
the Missouri river, in district known
as Crackers Neck, stands the old
farmhouse in which DIETRICH lived for
more than 40 years. 1t san isolated
place and thsr. is no public road near
it. The heavy growth Of trees was
never cut from the hills surround
ing the DIETRICH home, and for months
at a time nobody went near the old
farmhouse. During his lifetime Del
trich had no close friends and few as.
sociates.
The old man died few weeks ago,
and n.ighbors went to his house to
attend the funeral. A dozen men
and a few women went there for the
purpose Of rendering any assistance
possible IN giving their eccentric
neighbor a decent burial. 1t was
then the discovery was made that Del
tricb had prisoner in stone room
that adjoined the old farm on the
rear.
THE prisoner was taken out. BE
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