New-York tribune., 1913-05-26
/ etter Writer Believes &c. r.
Man Of the Mental Mask
Is a Hero of Spanish
American War.
PATIENT R0USED BY NAME
Ne Is Lieutenant Jacob R. Ros-
from, According to Newark,
N. j., Sailor-Years in
Minnesota Hospital
with Lost Identity.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]


Rochester, Mimi. May 25,-Offcials
n the State Hospital here believe that
o. c. r." the man of the mental
mask" their unknown and mysterious
sphasia patient. who is on the records
as Richard Roe" since he came to the
hospital years ago. has found himself
and is Lieutenant Jacob r. Rostrom,
of the United States Navy. hero Of
,he Spanish American War. Their
confidence is confirmed TO a certain de-
gree BY the demeanor of the unfortu-
nate man himself on hearing the name
Of Rostrom pronounced.
The identity Of - c. r." as a gal
lapt naval officer is established-so he
II the information is true-in a letter
from Edward Vogt, of Newark, n. j..
who says he is a sailor, who served
with Rostrom on the old battleship
New York I'm the Spanish American
War and participated in the battle
Of Matanz3s, Cuba, in which ROs-
uom received a number of scars.
letter would imply that Rostrom was
vogt's superior officer.
vogt wrote that his attention was
called 10 the case by reading an ar
tlcle in THE Newark Star" containing
y. c. RS" picture. and he inclosed
the newspaper illustration. declaring
4! was an excellent likeness of Lieu
tenant Rostrom. The inference that
an important discovery had been made
In Vogts letter was strengthened by
the happy expression and enthusiastic
manner which Richard Roe" assumed
when the name of Rostrom was pro-
nouneed. That's it," he announced
with Joy; that's It,"
- Immediately upon receiving the COM
munication to-day. DR.. A. +. kilbourne
closely examined u. c. r." The name
Of Edward Vogt was mentioned to him
and he nodded as II TO intimate that he
knew him. Then the name OF Lieu
tenant Jacob r. Rostrom was spoken.
For a moment the grayhaired hospital
hitHl lOOkSQ udLcQ. ntl III III
slant his eyes sparkled. his face
frightened as never before. and he re-
patedly clapped his left hand on his
knee, crying Hi! Hi! HI" his method
Of communicating in the affirmative.
A few moments later Richard Roe
with pencil on paper wrote u. c. r
and crossing out the &C" substituted
r." implying thAt should be the
middle letter.
Later the name of Rostrom left him
and his mind appeared dead on that
point, but that bis first name was Jacob
he emphatically indicated was true.
Credence is generally given Vogt's
story by officials on the hospital STAFF,
as the meagre information supplied by
Vogt tallies almost perfectly with the
stories that u. G. r." has repeatedly
told in his semi-coherent way in the
rast Or. Kilbourne will take up the
matter with the Navy Department
using all possible means to bring about
full investiga ton. so convinced is he
that he is on the right path. j. c. r."
has always maintained he was an off,
Ger in the United States Navy and that
he participated in the Spanish -Ameri-
can war.
Should his identity prove correct ef-
forts will be made al once 10 find any
relative and an operation on the brain
which is contemplated in an effort TO
restore his memory will be postponed
until the wishes of any kinsman may
be learned.
ln the official list OF officers Of the
Unit States Navy the name Of Lieu
tenant Jacob r. Rostrom does not ap-
pear.