The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-01-21
Strange Case Of a Girl
Now In Asylum.
REMEMBERS LITTLE OF PAST
Was Recently Found In An
Old Shed Near Union.
town. Ky.
MANY CASES OF LOST GIRLS

Hopkinsville, KY, Jan. 17.-NC
more puzzling nor interesting case
of mental arrangement, nor one
which appeals so to the sympathies
of the public generally, was ever
treated at the Western State Hos
pital for the Insane here than that
of the girl who was received from
Union county on December IA. This
girl was found in an old shed near
Uniontown about a week prior to
the time she was sent here. Her
mind is blank, so far as telling in
telligibly about herself, or even to
give her name, where she lives or
who her people are. At the hospital
she goes by the name of Alma Jones,
the first she gave, but there is moth
ing to indicate this is correct.
The girl has stated that she was
born at Johnstown, Pa, that she
lived in New York for eight years,
that her home is in Springfield,
down South" that she was in st.
Louis for long time, and, in fact.
will say that she lived in almost any
place that is suggested to her.
The hospital physicians have used
every endeavor to fathom her past,
but have failed. They believe she
lost ner memory from a blow on the
head or from some powerful drug
administered to her. She has shown
some improvement since coming
here. and says she doesn't care es-
pecially about going home, as she is
well pleased now with the treatment
she is receiving. From her talk the
physicians are inclined to the belief
that she really did come through Ev-
ansville, Ind, to Henderson, KY,
and thence to Uniontown from St.
Louis. and they think she was. per-
haps, drugged and started on her
journey by some one who had mo-
tive for so doing.
But somewhere anxious relatives,
possibly a husband and children, are
seeking her. Scores of letters have
been received at the local institution
since newspapers first published
brief items about the strange condi-
lions under which the young woman
was found, inquiring about her.
These were all from people who
have female relatives missing, and
until it was so plainly brought to
mind in this instance, the hospital
physicians say they had no idea of
of the girls who had strayed or been
lured away from their homes.
One anxious mother says her
fell under the spell of a
hypnotist and disappeared with him;
went off with her Sunday
School teacher, and so on through
nearly every story imaginable. but
through each runs the same note of
deep affection of her sorrowing rel
atives who are still hunting for her.
These letters come from many diff
ferent States, and from large cities
and small towns, and every days
mail brings increasing numbers of
them. Yet none of the descriptions
given have tit the woman here. The
hospital officials are answering each
of the inquiries in detail, and they
yet hope to establish the identity of
Alma and return her safe to her
home and people.
When Alma was received here
she gave her age as sixteen, but the
hospital physicians say she is prob
ably twenty-four or twenty-five. She
converses we'll and uses excellent
language without the slightest slang
or coarseness, showing that she has
been well brought up. She has
brown hair that has been well kept,
blue eyes, and her eyes, nose. head
and ears are normal. She Is five feet
and five inches in height, rather
slender built and weighs 124 pounds.
One of her upper front teeth is miss
ing and her teeth shows signs OF de-
cay and discoloration.
She freely consented to have her
picture made, but her nervous condi-
lion made II next to impossible to
get her with body and features COM
posed.