The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-03-15
SIDE LIGHTS
ON MICHIGAN
SLAYER OF cHAS. j. REINDELL is
COMING TO HIMSELF
AGAIN.
STRANGE MENTAL STATE
After More Than Year Of Seeming
Helpless inbeeility Hamburger Be-
comes Normal.
Puzzled the Doctors.

Henry Hamburger has emerged from
the strange state Of being in which
he was received at the Ionia asylum
for the criminal insane. Hamburger
is the Detroit boy who slew Charles
j. Reindell. a bicycle repsirer. in his
little shop on Capitol square, the even
ing Of Dec. 2. 1899. by beating him
10 death with a piece of iron pipe.
From the moment of his arrest. on
his twentieth birthday, II will be re-
membered, Hamburger became as one
dead, sitting with his head lowered,
never speaking-apparently insensi-
Bile TO everything. His first show OF
life was an attempt TO cut his throat
in the Wayne county Jail.
When the boy was received at the
asylum he realized absolutely nothing,
was undressed and put to bed like
an overgrown baby; was dressed by
an attendant in the morning and seat
ed in one of the wards, where he
would remain all day in the dropping
position noticed at his trial His head
bent forward on his breast; his arms
hanging listlessly by the side of his
chair never so much as winking an
eye for hours at time. Occasionally
an attendant passing his chair would
lay Hamberger's hanging arms in his
lap, and there they would remain i'm
movable until again moved by the at
tendant, paying no attention TO any
one and when spoken TO could not be
aroused. 1t was necessary to feed
him with a spoon and occasionally
lift him TO his feet and walk him
around the ward for exercise.
After a year or so of this puzZling
condition il was discovered that Ham
berger was becoming conscious, in
slight measure. that there was some
thing going on about him. He could
move his hands little, and struggled
to change his position. Then almost
impeTceptibly, from day TO day his
condition improved. Very slowly his
faculties were aroused, and like babe
he began to take notice of things,
was interested in what others were
doing; joined his companions in play
ing checkers and other amusements,
and as he became able assisted in
sweeping and cleaning the ward in
which he was confined Books were
given him as gradually his field be-
came larger. and he appeared TO en-
Joy and understand what he read.
All this time and until about a year
ago he never spoke a word, and IL
was thought by some that the vocal
cords were severed when he cut his
throat in an attempt to commit sui
eide in Detroit, and that he would
never be able to articulate. But one
day after many attempts and with
painful effort he managed to speak in
whisper, and with constant practice
became able 10 converse fluently in
whispers. Another day he was seized
with a coughing spell and after re-
covering from that he started to speak
In a whisper to an attendant. when
TO his establishment he spoke aloud.
Soon after that his mother visited
him, and when her son addressed her
in ordinary tones OF voice. her JOY
at his recovered speech was pathetic
She. like all good mothers, continued
to love, and hope and pray for the
ultimate recovery of her boy. during
all the weary months his mind was
blank.
Hamburger today, though not in
strictly normal condition. is fine
looking, upright, wide awake young
man, intelligent. aud energetic, and
would attract favorable notice in any
crowd DR.. o. r. Long, superintend-
ent OF the asylum, says: 1T is posi-
BILE that Hamburger may in time be-
come entirely normal and At TO be at
large. | do not believe that he has
now, or would develop criminal ten.
denotes"
AS Hamburger was given by the
court a life sentence. he can be re-
stored to liberty only by the clemency
of the governor.