Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-24
ROYAL ROBINSON i'll
Reported to Be Victim of
Aphasia and Paralysis.
REGARDED AS CRITICAL
HEARING OF CHARGES AGAINST
MR.. STUTLER SUSPENDED,
Wife of the Stricken Man Summoned
to His Bedside-Particulars ~r-r
of Case. . u 4.a IA

upon the Stutler case IT was positively
learned by reporter for The Star today
that Mr.. Robinson is suffering from apha-
STA, producing lapse of memory. and it is
stated upon most reliable authority that he
mas also suffered a stroke of paralysis of
the right SIDE
DR.. Hobart s. Dye. who is attending Mr..
Robinson, courteously declined today to
make any statement to the reporter as. to
Mr.. Robfnsons illness, except to say that
ne is suffering from aphasia and other
complications. DR.. Dye Is personal friend
or Mr.. Robinson and without authority
from his patient he was unwilling to dis
cuss the Iatter's Illness. He stated, how
ever, that Mr. Robinson will not be able to
go on with the inquiry for a long time. and
he reluctantly admitted that Mr. Robinson
might be permanently disabled from fur
Their participation in the case. -.
Expresses Surprise and Regret.
Commissioner mcfarland was seen by a
Star reporter at the Church of the Cove
nant just after the close of the morning
service in that church. When the Com
missioner was informed of Mr.. Robinson's
critical illness he expressed great surprise
as well as regret. The Commissioners
were informed early yesterday morning
that Mr.. Robinson was afflicted with a
slight cold and that he was unable to at
tend the hearing set for 9:a0 o'clock yes
terday morning. His condition. however,
was not reported as at all serious, ana the
Commissioners decided to resume the in
quiry at $50 o'clock tomorrow morning.
In view of the developments of the past
twenty-four hours, the inquiry will be fur
Their postponed.
Commissioner mcfarland. as president OF
the board of Commissioners. at the re-
pOrter's request, made the following state
ment as to the hearing:
II am very sorry to hear of Mr.. Robin
sons illness. / suppose that we. of course,
will have to suspend the investigation until
we can ascertain whether Mr.. Robinson
can be able to attend further sessions. II
he is not able to do so within reason
able time we can probably determine the
case without hearing further witnesses.
since. apparently, there Is but compare
lively little to be learned from further ex-
animation of witnesses. TIE only. witness
whom we were to hear tomorrow was Mr..
Bayley -.
THE Commissioners can satisfy them
selves upon any point about which they
may be in doubt by some other means
than questioning witnesses"
In Nervous Condition.
The story of the circumstances leading
to Mr.. Robinson's being obliged to take to
his bed, so far as could be ascertained to-
day, is as follows:
Shortly before noon yesterday Mr. Robin
son went to drug store near his boarding
house. He was in a decidedly nervous con-
dtt1on, so 1t is stated. and called for bottle
of magnesia, which he took hoping to
steady his nerves. He went to the tele-
phone. it is alleged. and started to call I'D
a friend, presumably to ask him to tele-
graph for his wife. who Is In Indianapolis.
When central answered his ring. 1t is learn
ed. Mr. Robinson was unable to remember
the number of his friends phone and could
not recall his friends name. Neither could
he remember the address of his wife in In
dianapolis.
1t is stated that Mr.. Robinson placed the
receiver on the hook and returned to 1852
Yale street and went to bed. first asking
Mrs Rogers to send for Dr. Dye, at 14O6 L
street.
The Star reporter was also informed that
late last night Mr. Robinson became decid-
eddy worse and 1t was found necessary to
again call DR.. Dye. When the physician ar
rived he found Mr.. Robinson in a serious
condition and he was obliged to work with
him for about three hours. before he con-
sidered 1t safe to leave the bedside of his
patient
Slightly Better Today.
DR.. Dye saw Mr.. Robinson again this
morning, and he reported his condition as
slightly improved after his visit. The dis
ease. 1t is stated, has not run long enough
as yet for the physician to determine with
any degree of accuracy whether Mr. Rob-
inson's affection may be permanent or not.
At present, however, from intimations re-
considers Mr.. Robinson as dangerously Ill
and that his chances for permanently re-
covering his memory are doubtful.
DR.. Dye, as previously stated, was dis
inclined to discuss Mr.. Robinson's Illness
He said however. that aphasia was caused
from affection of the nervous system DR.
Dye declined to confirm or deny the report
that Mr.. Robinson also suffered a stroke Of
paralysis of the right side.
question, considered as of great i'm
portance In connection with past develop
ments in the Stutler hearing, is raised by
reason of Mr.. Robinson's present mental
affection. This question is: What effect
will Mr.. Robinson's present lapse of MEM
DRY and mental trouble have upon the
charges he made before the Commission
ers?' The question is asked whether or not
Mr.. Robinson's mind and memory We're af-
fected prior to his attack of aphasia yester-
day. This question, no doubt, will be con-
sidered as one of Importance by the Com
missioners in their consideration of all the
circumstances and evidence connected with
the inquiry.
DIR. Dye stated that Mr.. Robinson's mind
was not necessarily affected prior to yester-
day. 1t is admitted. however that the
strain Mr.. Robinson has been subjected to
In preparing evidence and endeavoring to
support his charges of maladminist IA ton
and blackmail against Mr. Stutler may ha We
been responsible in measure for his pres
ent lapse of memory and mental trouble.
Mrs. Robinson Summoned.
A telegram requesting Mrs. Robinson to
come to Washington at once has been sent
to her at Indianapolis. and il is stated as
likely that she will reach the bedside of
her husband by tomorrow evening. Mr..
Robinson's serious illness, no doubt. will be
received with great surprise by his friends
in this city. n tss t6<ss e
During the Stutler inquiry Mr.. Robinson
has taxed his memory to a remarkable ex-
tent in his allegations. since the alleged
wrongful transactions charged against Mr.
Stutler are said to have taken place as long
ago as five years. Ever since the trial be-
gan II has been noticed that Mr. Robinson
was of a very nervous temperament. al
though he maintained a degree of COM
posture considered remarkable III a man
who was visibly so highly strung with re-
spect to his nerves.
The Stutler inquiry has been interrupted
four or FIVE times since 1t was Instituted.
from various causes. On one occasion Mr.
Stutler suffered a nervous breakdown and
it was found necessary to postpone the
hearing for several weeks. Then the case
was reopened for the Introduction of addi-
titnal testimony. and later the new charge
of blackmai was brought up after the
case had supposedly been closed and the
principals and the public were awaiting a
decision on the matter from the Commits
sioners. This last Interruption, however Is
eott sidared oY7< al No most Sarfafxz II, re-