Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-09
GEO. GR|FF|THS NOT
INSANE, ,SAYSNURSE
Asserts His Charge Suffered
Nervous Breakdown and Doc
tors Advised Seclusion
KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH NEWS

George Grifiths was never insane
or thought insane. lie simply suffered
nervous breakdown aud physicians
advised "cclnston and quiet in the hope
OF restoring his health and saving his
"ycSight, which was falling
That was thN statement made today
by W. \. Finn. for eight years nurse
and Carctakcr for Mr.. Griffths, the
former Philadelphia business man who
disappeared sixteen years ago and for
whom his niece. Mrs. !. II. Kurtz, Of
Elkins Park. is now asking a guardian.
Mr. Griftiths is nearly eighty years
old. entirely blind and lives secluded
life in Wayne. Pa. Relatives have re.
Gently. traced his whereabouts during the
last sixteen years and have found that
he spent much of the time in "rcst
houses. where insane were also cared
for.
Finn was raking the lawn of the at.
tractivc house in Wayne when callers
arrived today. "Mr. Grifiths receives
no one. except his attorney and most
intimate friends" he said. "Oh. yes.
he is perfectly normal, sleeps. eats and
exercises as normally as most men of his
age. But he is totally blind and III his
scclusion he has made n different world
for himself
He keeps mp with current events and
is especially interested in foreign and
International affairs We read to him
q great deal. He likes biography, too.
and is thoroughly versed in most of the
biographies obtainablc in the library
here. He IS 4 staunch Republican and,
though he did not vote, was much in
tCrcsted in the recent election. OF course
he was pleased with results.
Meets Few Persons
But he meets fcw people. Mngling
with others, having strangers about
makes him nervous.
"Why didn't his family know more
about him in the last sixteen years?
Why. | believe his attorney. Mr.. Owen
Roberts. has explained that. Mr.. Grif-
tths was failing in health. So was his
wife. The former had already lost the
sight in one eye. Physicians, hoping to
restore his health and save his other
eye, advised complete retirement and
quiet. His nephew by marriage, Mr..
Louis ReiChncr. took care of his af-
fairs for him. shortly after Mr.. Grif-
fifth went to rest home his wife died.
This sorrow was followed by others
when several of his old and dearest
friends and a nephew died He lost in =
terest in his former nome and more and
more sought to be alone. He went en-
tircIy blind about two years after he
left home.
NO. he was ncvcr insane. It so
hOpponed that the sanitarium where he
stayed also received insane patients.
But Mr.. GriffithS was simply suffering
from nervous troubles from which he
has never entirely recovered. His friends
and relatives were not allowed to visit
him and knew little of his condition
simply because of doctors orders to al =
low him perfect quiet.
The home whore Mr.. GriffithS now
lives with Mr.. and Mrs. Finn and thci'
children. was purchased recently and
is owned by the former business man,
according to Finn. Il am not the ten
ant, said Finn. II am Mr.. Grifiiths'
nurse and companion and help take cur'
of the place.
House Beautifully Located
The house stands back from the stree,
on a beautiful lawn, whose trees ar:
now brilliant with color. An open
porch stretches entirely across the front
and a glOssed in porch across the wcst
side The latter is where Mr. Griffths
takes his exercise. The lower Sashes OF
the windows are tainted over SC
poSsers- by get no glimpse of the in =
terror.
Mr.. Griffths does not discuss tho
case which is now up concerning ap-
pointing a guardian for him. except
with his attorney. But | know he is
opposed to such move and wishes only
to continue living quietly aud undis.
turbed here Finn said.