The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-07-22
MAN or MYSTERY
MAY TELL PAST
Faint Hope That ID. G. R."
May Regain His Speech.
IN A MINNESOTA HOSPITAL
Stranger Found Six Years Ago Has
Never Been Able to Remember His
Past-operation Expected to Prove
Successfui-ldentity Still Unknown.

~ TITS
Past-operation Expected to Prove
sueeessful-ldentity Still Unknown.
Minneapolis, Minn.-For more than
six years ~. @. r." the Minnesota
man Of mystery" has been in the
State Hospital For the Insane at
Rochester, Mimi, unable to talk, una
BILE to remember bis past, and in all
that time not one person has appeared
| to claim him.
Yet there is hope that the mystery
will be solved. Recently physicians
made an X ray examination. While
this revealed that there was no frac-
ture Of the skull, 1t was thought there
might be a blood clot on the brain, so
an operation was performed
The operation was considered sue
cessful, but the surgeons found such
a degenerate condition Of the brain
cells that they give only slight hope
that u. G. r." will ever regain his
normal faculties. However, there is
just a chance.
"We expect no sudden change or
sensational return of memory" said a
doctor. What the outcome will be Is
problematical. A part of the memory
cells of the brain has been destroyed
by degeneration, but there is a pos
sibility that there are sufficient cells
remaining to restore the memory in
part, at least. If possible the hospital
authorities will teach the man TO
talk. With the large cyst removed
there Is assurance that the degenera-
ton OF the brain area will not increase
and the remainder of the brain Is un.
impaired. He can therefore be taught
to speak as a child is taught, it is be
heved. With the power of ~articula-
ton, 1t is thought that he may be able
to tell some of the facts of his life.
which now he can communicate only
by motions, and those very vaguely.
j. 9. r." Is not insane and has
never been insane. He was picked up
on the depot platform at Waseca,
Mimi, one night In June, 1907. How
he got there no n knows. His right
side from his temple to his foot was
paralyzed. He could not say a word
He could not make persons under I
stand him by gestures, nor could he
understand anything that was said to
him.
lie was a public charge, and as such
was cared for by the county. Arrange. |
ments were made for him TO live with
a German family. He was attended |
by DR.. w. A. Chamberlain, but his
case baffied the physician. DIR. Cham.
oerlain gave up hope of his
and on April "a, 1908, he was taken TO
the Rochester asylum. At the hospital |
ne has always had his liberty. He IL
what is known as an observation pa
tient who can be trusted.
To see -. G. R." once is to remem. |
Der him. Although he cannot talk. he
asks questions, as ii were, with his |
large, Intelligent brown eyes, which
haunt one with their pitiful entreaty.
He is about medium height. His black
hair, which is brushed well off his
forehead, is tinged with gray. He is
apparently about forty-five years of
age. Without his cane he has Difficult
ty In walking.
Still u. G. r." is now able to make
himself partially understood. BY con-
tinual pointings to a map he gave the
hospital surgeons the impression hat
was the SOL of an admiral and
had been an officer himself. He also
a spot near Baltimore as his
Repeated inquiries to the naval
department and Baltimore authorities
brought many replies Of lost persons,
put none which would fit the case of
u. @. R."
The United States navy has no rec
ord OF a missing man who tallies with
Ills description, yet y. G. r." has been
ible to make the surgeons believe posi-.
lively that he has served In the United
States navy.
The only thing he can write are the
initials u. @. r." Yet he does not
'eem to think at times that those are
lis initials, although they were found
IN his clothing. When asked about 1t
lie rubbed the injured side Of his head
md looked puzzled.
u strange man has been a favor
tie at the hospital. He has fully re-
-lized his condition, but not for one
moment does he permit himself to be-
morbid. He has a winning smile.
which Eliminates his whole counte-
lance. but his face In repose Is pa
hetic.
The surgeons were able to make It
nown to him what they intended to
o, and by gestures u. @. r." inform
d them that he welcomed the opera