Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-18
VICTIM
PUZZLES DOCTORS
Spring Lake Sufferer, Voice
less and Memory Gone, Can
Only Write Notes.

- JuI16 To- PitiiCs
a grown man, sits propped up in a
cot in the Ann May Memorial Hos
pital here, a mystery to all physi.
clans and surgeons and unable to
tell who he is or where he came
from-a man of education and refine
ment, with a loss of memory. He
has been dubbed billie" for lack oil
another name.
The patient cannot speak, although
apparently there is nothing wrong
with his vocal organs. He writes an
swers to all questions, but can re-
member nothing of the past. Physi-
cally, he Is in good condition; men
tally, he is a child when it comes to
thinking of the past.
He has been in the hospital since
June 4, and scores of persons have
journeyed miles to see If they could
identify him. He has been asked
time after time to tell something
about himself, but with the aid of
his pencil and paper he always an
swers that he does not know his
name, age, address, relatives or the
least thing about himself.
Was Found on June 4.
The patient was found on the road
near Wreck Pond bridge at Sea Girt
by Thomas H. Devlin. 1t was
thought at first that he was suffering
from a drug or liquor. Restoratives
were applied and he rallied. He
thumped himself en- the back of the
head to indicate that he was suffer
ing. He was watched carefully, and
the physicians believed he was suf-
fering from a form of epilepsy, due
probably to a blow on the head.
On the second day the physicians
thought he was suffering from Jack
sonian epilepsy" Examination of
the head showed that a bone near
the right temple had been trephined
a long time ago
A few days ago Billie" opened his
ayes and motioned for a pencil and
paper. He wrote a note to the man
occupying the adjoining cot, declar-
Ing he had had nothing to eat for
ten days Since that time he has
been scribbling notes constantly,
some of them ineligible, others
without meaning. His appetite has
been good and he appears to be able
to eat anything.
Sunday the physicians requested
billie to tell everything he knew
about himself.
Knows Very Little" He Says.
1T know very little" he wrote, lex
automobile and the people never
came back after me. If l could only
get the words to come l think l
could clear things. In my mind are
the words Philadelphia, New York,
Jersey City, Panama and May II.
When 1 try to think my head burns
like fire. l don't know who I am
or where l came from.
IT don't know where | belong. I
try to take a grip or the familiar
things and they elude me. Sometimes
I lie here asleep and when / awake 1
am held down. The nurse says I
have spells. I don't remember them.
Words like New York come to me,
but I can't remember. When a young
woman was here the other day she
mentioned Sixty-first street and Am
sterdam avenue in New York. l told
the nurse just how to get to the cor
ner. but now I can't remember.
Every nee in a while things flash
into my mind hat might give a clue
to my identity. but when I go to call
I can't, there is nobody near me and
when they come the lucid thought is
gone. l look at the books the nurses
give me. but the only thing I can re-
member is the face of HILL"
When billie" was found at the
roadside he had in his possession a
copy of a magazine and it was opened
at a page upon which was the pic
ture Of James J. HILL the railroad
magnate.
Is About 80 Years Old.
The mysterious patient apparently
is about 80 years old. He is nearly
six feet tall and weighs about 16C
pounds. Apparently he is of foreign
birth. but the facility with which he
writes English proves that he has
been in this country for some years
and was educated heIe.
He is dark c~omplexioned, has q
high forehead and ar intelligent face
dark brown hair and eyes and a heavy
head of black hair that he wears
brushed back pompadour> fashion
When found billie" wore in lieu OF
underwear a dark blue bathing suit
From this physicians argue that he
was a guest at one of the beach
hotels and apparently had dressed in