Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-23
MAN WHO LOST MEMORY
LAST NIGHT DOES EIGHT
. MILE HIKE IN PAAMAS
Was Taken to Hospital Last
Evening and Put to Bed
Is Found at Pratum Today

After splashing through eight miles
of mud and rain, clad only in night
gown and nightcap, the unknown
man, whose mind went blank last night
and VINO was taken into custody by the
sheriff, appeared at the home of Will.
liam Roth. in Pratum, this morning,
and was detained there pending the ar
rival of Deputy Sheriff Oscar Bowers.
Last night the man was taken to the
Salem hospital and DR.. Morse gave him
drug to induce sleep, as the patient
seemed TO be nervous wreck. About
$3.50 this morning the effects of the
sleeping potion died out and the man
escaped from the hospital in mis- night
clothes and took out across country to
Pratum.
1t was daylight when he arrived there
and was seen by residents, who took
him TO Mr.. Roth s. Mr. Roth immedi.
ately notified the sheriff 3 office, and
the deputies were sent out to bring the
man back to the asylum, where he will
be committed.
Last night shortly after six O'Clock
the man left his grips at the desk of
the White House restaurant and ordered
a meal. After he had finished he paid
for the meal and went across to the
Central cigar store. At the cigar store
Mr.. Kane, the proprietor, noticed the
actions of the man, and began to ques
tion him. 1t was evident that the man 4
mind was an absolute blank. He re-
memoered only that he had eaten q
meal recently and when taken over tC
the White House he said he thought tn,
grips were his own.
He did not know his name, where ht
came from or where he was going anC
could not name a single friend who
might identify him. Tho man had th,
appearance Of being drugged, but tht
physician was of the opinion that thu
arrangement was due to nerves and wa
only temporary. The man was taker
to the hospital with the expectation
that few days Of rest and quiet woult
restore his memory. In his grips wer,
, some large photographs which indicated
that he might be a vaudeville perform
er, but no instruments were found no
any music in evidence. He had onl,
/ $l,lO on her person.
His collar bore the name O. Ross
The local theatrical men were unab
} to identify the man in the profession
nor had any of them signed up a singl
] act. He could not say whether o. Ros
was mis- name or not thought he wa
able to converse with intelligence an
replied to the questions of the officer
: to the best Of his knowledge, which
however, only began with bis appear
ance at the cigar store.
He was committed to the hospital 70
the insane today, and IL is probable tina
! his memory will return soon. Suca case
are frequent to the medical profession
but such complete lapses Of memor
are usually due to a blow on tho hea
or severe shock. They are general
temporary If the patient is in good phy
} steal condition and he is usually abb
to connect up most Of the past event
Of his life The man appeared to b
about 2S years Of age, was about
$ feet tall, of slender build and had dar
hair and eyes.
! A further search Of the clothing O
! the man revealed another garment beai
! ing the name, o, Rose, and once he mer
toned the name, 81. Joe. When Der
uty Sheriff Oscar Bowers asked him
: his parents resided there he smiled ON
answered yes. To most Of the question
+ today he only answered with q blan
stare, He wore also button Of tn
"Tuna Club" and II is presumed he
o member Of somc organization Of th
character in California where Tun
Q fishing is great sport, Most Of b
D clothes we're purchased in Seattle.