The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-08-20
INSANITY PATIENT IS
BEATEN TO DEATH:
SHERIFFS BLAMED

Did Robert Evans Mes
sir come to his death
through blows and kicks
administered by King
county deputy sheriffs?
Messir's body, horribly
bruised and SCARED, lies
at Butterworth's morgue.
He died at the Steilacoom
asylum for the insane
Tuesday.
Messir, who was 81
years old, was the only
son of Mrs. Eugenie Mes
sir, a widow. living at
2232 Sixth av. The Mes
sirs came from Minnesota
more than 20 years ago.
Young Messir was for some time
employed by the Schwaba cher
Grocery Co. He was ambitious. and
studied architecture nights. taking
a correspondence course.
A few weeks ago. through over
study, he was taken sick. and DR..
Loer. Green building. was called.
"Loer.' said Mrs. Messir today.
wanted Bobby sent away, but I
would not consent. He was get.
ting better anyway and was not In
the least insane"
Deputies Take Him to Jail
Mrs. Messir said that, on the
evening following the Doctors cali,
. week ago last Tuesday. four dep
uty sheriffs In an automobile
come to the house. while she was
out. and took her son with them
to the county jail.
The next day Mesair was trie1
for vanity ana ordered etjI
ted TO StefIacoom. Mrs. Messir a.
tended the hearing and followed
her son out OF the court room
when two deputies conducted him
back to the jail.
when they had Bobby on the
sidewalk" the old mother declar-
ed. he asked where he was being
taken and why he could not 20
home with me. At the same time
he threw out both arms In an e.
fort to get away from the officers.
or course. he couldn't escape from
them. because he was still weak,
and they were both big men.
Says They Struck Him
But. apparently angered, the
deputies began striking Bobby
with their fists They knocked
him down. covered my boys
face with my hands to pro-
tect him as he lay on the sidewalk,
but I was jerked away. Then they
kicked him in the face and body.
Il followed them into the jail,
where my boy again resisted feeb-
ly. and four OF the deputies-the
same two as before and two more
set upon him and knocked him
down and kicked him.
She Can't See Him
II would know all four OF them
II should see them again."
Messir was taken to SteiIacoom
that night.
On the following Sunday, Mrs.
Messir went to the asylum visit
her son. but was not allowed to
see him.
THE doctors explained" said the
mother. that my boy was so
bruised and battered that he was
not fit TO be seen They told me
that he must have been brutally
treated. and that they doubted II
he would live"
Telegraph for Mother
Later in the week. Mrs. Messir
had telegram from the asylum.
saying that II she wanted to see
her son alive. she must come at
once.
DR.. c. o. Ireland attended Messir
and told his mother that he had
found two ribs broke and other In
juries.
HE told me that Bobby might
not get well, and IL he died. II
would be due to his treatment be-
fore coming to the asylum. Bobby
got nothing but the kindest and
best treatment at Steilacoom." she
said.
Mrs. Messir STAYED three days.
and. as her son seemed better, re-
turned 10 Seattle. Tuesday she re-
ceived a wire from DR.. Ireland that
her son was dead.
Bert Butterworth. the undertaken,
said today that he had never seen In
all his experience. a body in con-
dition worse than that OF Messir.