Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-07
SANITY QUESTIONED.
Three Cases Considered by Police Sur
1eonS TODAY

Tree alleged insanity cases claimed the
attention of Sanitary Officer Frank and the
police surgeons today One case involved
chain of peculiarly sad circumstances, and
the father of the young man was very
much affected by his trouble when he called
at police headquarters to consult the sani-
tary officer. The patient In the case is
Benjamin F. Robinson, twenty-five years
old, Spanish war veteran, whose home is
at 3069 Canal street Georgetown. 1t has
been but short time since a brother of
the young man, c. w. Robinson was sent
to ST. Elizabeth's Hospital for the Insane.
His mother, the sanitary officer was in
formed, is in the workhouse. Last night
about II 80 o'clock while Mr.. Robinson and
his son were in the Canal street house. the
latter became violent, destroyed some val
liable books and threw lighted lamp out
of the window His father became fright
ened and summoned Policeman Kuster
The officer took charge of the young man
and escorted him to the police station.
to be cared for until the surgeons could
examine him.
Robinson went to the Philippines during
the war and contracted tuberculosis upon
his return home. He was then sent to the
government hospital in New Mexico, but
became dissatisfied and returned home. 1t
Is thought his brothers trouble affected
him to some extent and made his condition
worse than it would otherwise have been.
Another patient in one of the three cases
is Cora Briggs, colored. fourteen years old,
whose father lives on Stanton avenue,
HilSdale When Cora was eleven years old
she was sent to the asylum because of the
unsettled condition of her mind and was
discharged as cured after she had been
given three months treatment. Since then
she gave no evidence of a recurrence of her
mental trouble until few days ago. Yes
terday she became somewhat boisterous and
threatened to jump from the upper window
Of her house and alarmed her father Be-
ing unable to control her, the father sum-
moned policeman and had him take
charge of Cora. The child was taken to the
house of detention and the police surgeons
were notified to examine her.
Upon recommendation of the police SUR
geons the colored girl was sent to the asy-
lum for treatment. The other patients
were sent to the Washington Asylum Hos
pital to be kept under observation
The third patient held for examination
Was James Lucas. colored. who boarded
at the house of Mrs. Wallace, 423 New
Jersey avenue northwest.
Jim wasn't church man." the police
Were told. but he was preaching a good
sermon this morning"
1t was about $50 o'clock this morning
when Policeman Sanders was summoned to
the house from the sixth precinct and told
that Lucas could not be induced to stop
preaching. The cause of the sudden re-
lfgfous outbreak could not be explained by
the people in the house and the policeman
took him to the station. Lucas has long
been looked upon as a simple minded man
who was harmless. He spent most of his
time about the Baltimore and Ohio depot
and grocery stores in that vicinity doing
odd jobs. After reaching the police station
Lucas became quiet and gave the police
no trouble.